Exhibition lighting is a specialized field that focuses on the strategic use of light to enhance the visual appeal and effectiveness of exhibition spaces. It is designed to emphasize key points, guide visitors, and create a compelling and focused experience 2345. The lighting in these spaces should be able to faithfully express the color and texture of the exhibited works, making them appear three-dimensional, while also preventing damage from ultraviolet or infrared rays emitted by the light sources 2. Exhibition lighting can include various types of lights such as LED spotlights, accent LED lighting, LED floodlights, and LED light boxes, each serving different purposes like highlighting products, creating ambiance, or increasing brand visibility 35. Natural light is also considered in museum settings for its ability to accurately reveal the colors of the objects on display and contribute to the well-being of visitors 4. Overall, exhibition hall lighting plays a crucial role in making exhibits stand out and in creating an engaging environment for visitors.

Project Introduction

NIO is a Chinese electric vehicle company with showrooms, known as NIO Home, in major cities across China. These showrooms showcase the lifestyle under the NIO philosophy. Here, customers can not only admire the cars but also enjoy exclusive coffee and relax in the knowledge museum, a space for solitude, while NIO also holds many activities for visitors to participate in.

This newly built showroom in an existing shopping mall covers an area of 2400 square meters and is one of the largest NIO stores in China.

The storefront design is minimalist, with a glass facade that effectively displays the interior layout to passersby. Directly opposite the storefront, the left side is divided into a technology area (Gallery area), and the right side is divided into a leisure area (Club area). In terms of lighting, the design team has used a contrast between high color temperature and low color temperature to create a lighting atmosphere that resonates with different spaces. Ambient lighting creates a bright and comfortable large space, while accent lighting highlights the display effect of the cars.

Energy-saving Measures and Their Effects

Efficient LED lights are used. The DALI lighting control system is employed to manage energy usage and set scenes. DALI allows for individual control of each light fixture, enabling the lighting to be turned off when a space is not in use. This allows the owner to adjust the lighting for the ever-changing layout of the exhibition hall.

Uniformly arranged in the entrance area are downlights with an IP44 wide-beam angle, creating a uniform “light blanket” along the facade. The purpose of this is to match the internal space with the external space, allowing the two spaces to permeate each other. To highlight the features of the curved glass curtain wall, single-sided curved surface-emitting flexible linear lights are installed at the top of the glass curtain wall. The general lighting consists of a built-in recessed system with three adjustable spotlights in a group. The client wanted a completely flexible lighting system without seeing a large number of fixtures. The spotlights are grouped into sets of three and connected to a DALI control system.

Innovations in Lighting Design

The recessed lighting system is controlled by a DMX system, which can be programmed and change lighting scenes based on time and specific event types. The children’s activity area is not only fun but also very futuristic. The same mirror ceiling with built-in lighting troughs used in the exhibition hall is also used here. The curved details at the corners are set to add streamlined curves to the ceiling. Surface-emitting flexible linear lights are used to provide additional lighting and create visual linear light spots on the ceiling.

Project Actual Operation Evaluation

The interior lighting design of the Tianjin NIO showroom creates an elegant, warm, and unique space, with the core design element of “a small house in a big house,” dedicated to creating a pleasant lifestyle for users and building a “user brand” on a global scale. In terms of lighting, the storefront design is minimalist, with a glass facade that effectively displays the interior layout to passersby. Directly opposite the storefront, the left side is divided into a technology area (Gallery area), and the right side is divided into a leisure area (Club area). In terms of lighting treatment, the design team used a contrast of high color temperature and low color temperature to create a lighting atmosphere that resonates with different spaces.

Since its operation, the project has received good feedback in terms of communication, and the experience in lighting design and construction of the project is worth learning from and promoting.

About NIO:

NIO is a Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer with a mission to provide high-performance smart electric vehicles and an ultimate user experience, dedicated to creating a joyful lifestyle and building a “user brand” on a global scale. The company was founded in November 2014, initiated by Li Bin along with other top internet companies and entrepreneurs, and has received investments from a number of well-known institutions. NIO focuses not only on technological innovation and the development of smart driving technology but also emphasizes the importance of design, striving to provide users with a pleasant sensory experience. In addition, NIO also provides users with social interaction and multifunctional community gathering places through offline experience spaces such as NIO House. NIO’s product line includes high-performance electric SUVs and supercars, and the company is also involved in the research and development of smart driving technology, as well as promoting lifestyle products through brands like NIO Life.