ingo maurer’s guddevol street lights create an intimate setting in luxembourg 
all images courtesy of ingo maurer

‘guddevol’ is composed of five large round lighting objects which hover over the ‘place des hauts-fourneaux’, a small intimate public space in luxembourg. standing as the first ‘street lights’ designed by ingo maurer, ‘guddevol’ is characterized by large disks of approximately 420 cm in diameter, with an opening at their center. each of these are kept above ground at a slight angle, supported by three slender, mat black poles that reach heights of approximately five metres. on the upper side, several curved openings of various measurements are equipped with recessed LEDs, with a circle of LED uplights fixed around each pole. they illuminate the surface of the disks, turning the slices into bright white circles that contrast the dark structures of the furnaces above them. ‘guddevol’ was carefully designed to provide luminosity for the ground, while avoiding unwanted upwards scattering of light. ingo maurer named his design ‘guddevol’, luxembourgish for ‘have a good flight’, which makes an ironic title, as the disks are similar in shape to a UFO. 

five large street lights hover over the public space

the lights obscure appearance fuels the imagination, as bright areas become a stage in which children can dance and play, weaving in and out underneath the structure. the puddles of light brings groups of people together to chat and enjoy the installation, creating a unique sense of community. ‘guddevol’ was first introduced in 2014, more will be installed later in 2016 in the city’ centre. 

the puddles of light brings groups of people together to chat and enjoy the installation

the lights obscure appearance fuels the imagination, as bright areas become a stage in which children can play

the disks are similar in shape to a UFO