Ceilings as the Fifth Facade

Recognizing ceilings as expressive surfaces, akin to walls and floors, unlocks new design potentials. Durlum’s LIVA system embodies this approach. With an open area ratio of up to 95%, it enhances technical accessibility and facilitates deep light penetration, enriching spatial quality. 

Project of the Month: Retail Space, New York – Defining Silence with LIVA

Situated in the heart of New York, Retail Space transcends its commercial function, presenting a narrative of architectural expression. The integration of Durlum’s LIVA multidirectional open-cell ceiling system imparts rhythm and depth to the project. Its geometric grid supports visual coherence while discreetly concealing technical installations like HVAC systems, sprinklers, and lighting. This structural simplicity fosters an aesthetic born from functional invisibility.

Complementary grey and white wall claddings reinforce this design language, establishing a sense of continuity across horizontal and vertical planes. LIVA’s adept handling of acoustic control, light permeability, and maintenance ease transforms concealed engineering into a visible design asset.

LIVA and Light: Between Fluidity and Unity

The geometry of the LIVA system orchestrates light directionality. Its expansive open-cell structure permits both natural and artificial light to permeate freely, achieving uniform illumination and enhancing energy efficiency by reducing reliance on artificial lighting.

In the Pulse building at the University of Technology Delft, LIVA demonstrates how ceiling design influences educational environments, becoming an iconic element that shapes the learning atmosphere.

The Quiet Lead in Acoustic Performance

Beyond visual composition, LIVA excels in acoustic performance. Through micro-perforations and specialized acoustic substrates, it effectively controls reverberation, crucial in high-traffic spaces like offices, hospitals, and educational facilities.

At Medicana Ataşehir Hospital, the integration of LIVA with PUNTEO-J60 LED lighting fixtures achieves both visual harmony and functional coherence. The soft lighting supports patient comfort, while LIVA’s rhythmic structure contributes to a tranquil environment.

Strategic Convergence of Ceiling Systems and Lighting

When combined with Durlum’s PUNTEO series LED fixtures, LIVA transcends its role as a mere surface, becoming a structure that communicates architectural language through light. In community centers, solutions like PUNTEO-Q50 delineate defined zones, guiding users through rhythm and orientation.

Flexibility and Modularity with LIVA

LIVA’s modular design allows seamless adaptation to diverse project requirements. Customizable blade heights, widths, and transition details offer tailored solutions. 

In commercial spaces like Castle Towers Shopping Centre, open-cell ceilings facilitate navigation and enrich the shopping experience visually. Durable, easy-to-clean materials ensure long-term usability.

Invisible Advantages in Technical Accessibility

LIVA’s open structure ensures easy access to technical systems such as fire sprinklers, ventilation, and wiring, maintaining aesthetic integrity while allowing for efficient maintenance—a critical aspect in hospitals and office buildings.

Ceilings in Spatial Identity Creation

User-centric design in modern architecture emphasizes the connection between individuals and spaces. LIVA ceilings contribute to this relationship by integrating visual, acoustic, and functional elements, offering designers the freedom to create distinctive environments.

Shaping the Future: LIVA’s Impact at EWS Schoenau

The EWS Schoenau Headquarters, driven by sustainability, utilizes LIVA not just as a ceiling solution but as a key component in spatial sustainability. In areas like event spaces and cafeterias, LIVA distributes light evenly, creating an airy ambiance.

Integrated black frequency absorbers within the open-cell structure control reverberation, enhancing social comfort. The cohesive design, complemented by the QUADRA system in corridors and service areas, underscores Durlum’s attention to detail.

A Design Language that Speaks Subtly

Often overlooked, ceiling systems like Durlum’s LIVA transform the background into a stage, offering designers expressive potential, users comfort, and architects collaborative solutions. By bringing architectural rhythm to the ceiling plane, LIVA emerges as an unsung hero in urban architecture.

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Cover photo: ©Peter Dant | Project: Retail Space, New York | Product: LIVA multidirectional open-cell ceiling