Completed in November 2024 in St. Moritz, Switzerland, the Retirement Home Du Lac was designed by BGP Architekten Zürich for the communities of St. Moritz, Silvaplana, and Sils i.E./Segl, with lighting design and product development by Spektrum, led by Eva Trösch alongside Paul Ehlert and Stefan Buerkli.
The project combines care rooms, assisted living apartments, and a public restaurant with outdoor areas, forming a hybrid environment that accommodates both residents requiring support and individuals living more independently. The lighting concept was developed to reinforce this spatial diversity, with three primary objectives: to improve orientation through dynamic lighting, to create calm, restful areas through controlled light levels, and to introduce character through targeted accents. Together, these strategies contribute to a broader sense of community, safety, and familiarity.
A key strategy focuses on the illumination of vertical surfaces in circulation and shared areas, improving spatial legibility and facilitating navigation. This enhances the perception of depth and openness, making the environment more accessible and comfortable to inhabit. Dynamic lighting supports wayfinding throughout the building, while quieter zones are defined through softer, more stable light conditions.
The system is based entirely on energy-efficient LED technology, calibrated to provide only the necessary amount of light. Daylight integration plays a central role, reducing reliance on artificial lighting and supporting the natural daily rhythm of residents.
