Client
Dresdner Bank AG

Architecture
Architektengruppe N+M, Offenbach (formerly Novotny Mähner Assoziierte)

Art
Magdalena Jetelová („Escape Velocity“)
James Turrell („Lightshaft II“)

Photos
Robert Mehl

Project team (for Werning Tropp and Partner)
Frank Bernhard Vetter
Markus Tuppen

The lighting design for the Galileo high-rise building in Frankfurt extends throughout the entire building, including the English Theatre on the ground and basement levels, as well as the „James The Bar“ bar. Indirect lighting was particularly employed in the office spaces, creating a pleasant working atmosphere while also taking the transparent, glass facade into account, ensuring the building is perceived subtly and clearly within the Frankfurt skyline. This lighting strategy avoids harsh lights and instead emphasises soft, indirect effects that harmoniously shape the external presentation and support the high-rise's transparency.

Customised lighting has been developed for the English Theatre and „James The Bar,“ enabling flexible lighting moods – from dramatic spotlights for theatre performances to warm, inviting accents in the bar, making the space cosy and appealing. These solutions ensure functionality and visual well-being, adapt to user needs, and enhance the overall experience.

The integration of artistic elements rounds off the concept: the light art by James Turrell is located in the lift lobbies of the Gallileo Tower and the neighbouring Commerzbank Tower, where coloured neon tubes in glass floors create a vertical band of light, visually connecting the buildings. Our team provided technical support for and implemented Magdalena Jetelová’s light art by installing cold-cathode lamps with sensors in the translucent glass staircases and walkways, which interactively illuminate users’ movements and create a dynamic experience.

Through this holistic lighting design, the Gallileo high-rise becomes a versatile location, combining functionality with aesthetic sophistication and enriching the urban environment.