10 years seventies 70’s:
The high-calibre museum specialist
What began ten years ago with a project-specific luminaire development as a tribute to the renowned architect Fritz Bornemann for the Deutsche Oper Berlin has evolved into a highly professional luminaire family in 2024 that is specially tailored for use in museums and exhibitions at the highest level. mawa’s current seventies 70’s generation includes surface-mounted, recessed and pendant luminaires as well as contour and track spotlights and combines the performance and variety of its predecessor models with modern, modular configuration options.
Perfection in every detail
Externally reduced to the essentials and adaptable to any professional lighting situation, the seventies 70’s series impresses with its powerful inner life. With its variety of models, it offers architects and lighting designers at mawa the largest selection of beam angles and lighting solutions. The museum-certified luminaires have a modular design and can be flexibly adapted to the respective project requirements. A wide range of components and accessories offers additional options for targeted light modulation, glare control or infinitely variable focussing through to project-specific custom designs.
The seventies 70’s series ⎯
modular, flexible, and customisable
Together with designers Jan Blieske and Jan Dinnebier, mawa Managing Director Christian von Sassen and Head of Development Daniel Frey talked about seventies 70’s ⎯ a jack-of-all-trades in the lighting market.
The character
seventies 70’s was originally developed as a track spotlight, now represents an entire luminaire series that also includes surface-mounted, recessed, and pendant luminaires.
“The main criterion during development was to find a geometric shape that was as restrained and seamless
as possible, with a flush front edge and no additional components on the housing. At the same time, the seventies 70’s has this completely timeless, cylindrical shape that everyone recognises and can imagine. It is a shape that does not offend. It satisfies all architects because it is simple ⎯ just normal.”
Jan Blieske
The prelude
In 2010, Jan Blieske and Jan Dinnebier were commissioned to renew the lighting of the Deutsche Oper Berlin, which was originally designed by architect Fritz
Bornemann.
“We had found historical photos from the opening period that showed the original luminaires. The spotlights were an essential part of Bornemann’s intended lighting and a defining feature in the foyer of the building. He pursued an extremely clean concept for the Deutsche Oper and intended to flood the walls, which was not possible with the technology of the time, as there were no wall grazers or wall washers. He made do with standard light bulbs and ring louvres, but they gave off very little light.”
Jan Blieske
When they began the project, the original Bornemann bracket luminaires were no longer in existence. Instead, they found a wide variety of modern, track-mounted ceiling lights. Yet, it was still too dark.
“Our concept was to return the lighting to Bornemann’s original vision, completely ridding the architecture and ceilings of the hodgepodge and using only the historical luminaire positions. We developed entirely new LED luminaires for this purpose.”
Jan Blieske
This project-specific replica, combined with modern lighting technology, laid the foundation for today’s seventies 70’s series.
The genesis
The lower ceiling height on the ground floor of the Deutsche Oper led to the desire to reduce the size of Bornemann’s luminaire model.
“Even back then, cylindrical luminaires were ten a penny. However, the spotlight had to be powerful, and that was only available in large sizes. That’s why we developed a smaller version together with mawa.”
Jan Blieske
During the project, it quickly became clear that this product was destined to become a series.
“A partition was pressed into the radiator to dissipate the heat. We struggled for a long time to keep the back as simple as possible and to determine how best to integrate the joint into the housing. This resulted in its square shape. I can remember countless versions.”
Jan Dinnebier
What makes it special
“The luminaire series is particularly impressive due to its modularity. An incredible number of lighting tasks can be covered with a single luminaire series and a single design.”
Jan Blieske
A large selection of now six different reflectors can now be used with each model, and can be exchanged without tools and supplemented or combined with a wide range of accessories as required.
“seventies 70’s is the perfect tool: unobtrusive and understated, with a simple design, yet it can handle (almost) anything.”
Jan Blieske
The trend
It is this modularity that will continue to pave the way for the future, as the range of accessories is continuously being developed and, in some cases, customised for specific projects.
“If something specific is needed in a project, you have a great partner in mawa to develop it together. That’s the great strength of the company.”
Jan Blieske
In addition, new LED modules or completely new luminaire types enrich the series and make the hearts of the target group working in museums and exhibitions beat faster.
