Project: DYNAMIC EQUILIBRIUM OF LIFE
Client/Location: Signature Pavilion, Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan
Design And Development: Takram
Installer: Tanseisha
Other Credits: Shin-Ichi Fukuoka, NHA, KPD, HAKUHODO / YOMIKO CROSSCOM
© Photography by Junpei Kato
Returning after 55 years, Expo 2025 was the second World Expo to be held in Osaka, Japan. 'Designing Future Society for Our Lives' had been chosen as the overall theme.
While countries and private companies from around the world exhibited their pavilions, eight official Expo 'Signature Pavilions' were created as well. In these pavilions, eight producers presented their own interpretations and contributions to the discussion.
Takram participated in the signature pavilion with the Theme 'Quest of Life' by professor and author Shin-Ichi Fukuoka. Exhibits in this pavilion allowed visitors to experience the producer's philosophy 'DYNAMIC EQUILIBRIUM OF LIFE'.
Takram approached MADRIX two years before the official opening of the Expo based on a recommendation by an LED-staging expert regarding the MADRIX 5 Software and its usefulness for stable operation in a large-scale exhibition. It was mandatory to create an exhibit of the quality befitting an Expo signature pavilion. Therefore, Takram tested the usability of the MADRIX 5 Software with a smaller MADRIX 5 entry license beforehand and confirmed that the specifications were sufficient with overall evaluation of video playback, DMX settings, external control, and performance. The team knew that is was critical for all equipment to operate flawlessly for 12 hours daily for a total of 6 months during the exhibition period.
During the planning phase, Takram shared the project's concept and discussed basic ideas for LED control and the required PC specifications. MADRIX supported the team's plans by matching what Takram wanted to achieve with the capabilities of the MADRIX 5 Software. Initial problems during operation were shared by Takram and resolved by MADRIX with attentive support and software updates.
Following a 3-month tender that resulted in the team's selection as the best proposal to make the producer's idea as pure an exhibition as possible. The project took around 2.5 years to complete. 10 people worked in the planning and design stages, while 5 were responsible for the production phase; with other collaborators joining from time to time.
While the mainstream of video equipment, such as displays and projectors, seems to know only one direction to make everything brighter, more detailed, and more vivid, Takram dared to pursue a low-resolution, monochrome, and delicate light-based expression in this project. Images and visualizations are interpolated in the viewer's mind, thereby creating a unique and memorable exhibition for each visitor.
Still, on the control side of things that required the ability of controlling hundreds of thousands of LEDs smoothly; with a target of 30 FPS, the ability to handle multiple GB-sized video material, and the ability to create interactive effects using sensors.
From a creative perspective, the goal was to have visitors experience rather just to learn the concept of dynamic equilibrium. The exhibit tried to convey that living things are constantly being synthesized and decomposed on a particle scale, and that this has been going on uninterruptedly for 3.8 billion years. It can be viewed by 80 people at a time and ran approximately 40 times per day.
In total, the completed exhibit spanned across a diameter of 10 m, with 30 m overall circumference and a height of 2.5 m.
On the technical side, the project had to meet various requirements:
- It needed to withstand sunlight and salt damage because the venue is on a reclaimed land facing the sea.
- It needed to be installed freestanding inside a membrane structure.
- It needed to be possible to assemble and disassemble it inside the building due to limited entrances and exits.
- It needed to be able to relocate or reuse after the exhibition ends.
326,088 white LEDs on 36,232 custom-made LED boards are pixel-mapped with a MADRIX 5 maximum license, fed by 49 DMX controllers, and powered by 83 5V/100A power supplies.
Fixed spatial lighting was important for visitors to enjoy the internal architectural structures and for safety reasons. This part of the lighting system was also DMX-controlled to create an immersive experience in conjunction with the exhibition.
Moreover, the exhibit combined light and sound in order to create surround sound with multiple speakers placed inside and around the LED installation.
Accessibility zones were set up with tablets and vibration devices for people with visual and hearing impairments to enjoy.
Another key element was the interactive system. By detecting visitors, their movements could be expressed with light and allowed them to experience that they themselves are part of the flow of life.
While a lot of prototyping went into the custom PCBs, a dedicated workflow using 3D CG software helped the team work on the exhibit's content to express the flowing movement of particles and the lively appearance of living creatures. They created a system that allowed previews on the exhibition equipment in real time during development, including an Unreal Engine simulator capable of playing back full-scale content and a workflow for sending content directly from production tools to the exhibition equipment. These tools helped the team refine the content before final delivery. Ultimately, the content was exported as video compiled from image sequences and played back using MADRIX Software, ensuring stable operation throughout the exhibition.
Expo 2025 opened its doors from April 13, 2025 until October 13, 2025.
Takram would like to express theirs thanks to MADRIX as they were very supportive und supported the success of the Expo exhibit.
MADRIX would like to express theirs thanks to Takram for their trust and for choosing MADRIX Lighting Control.
About Takram – www.takram.com
Takram is a design-innovation firm founded in 2005 that bridges and integrates design, technology, and business. Our multidisciplinary team –including design engineers and business designers– takes on groundbreaking projects; from service and product design to brand strategy and visionary planning, shaping the future of organizations. What sets Takram apart is its diverse team, bringing together a range of expertise, outstanding communication skills, an entrepreneurial mindset, and a global outlook. With studios in Tokyo, London, New York, and Shanghai, Takram is strategically positioned to serve clients worldwide.
About MADRIX – www.madrix.com
MADRIX is all about powerful yet simple products for creative LED lighting. This includes compelling tools for lighting management, monitoring, and control.
Benefit from years of experience and industry knowledge. inoage develops lighting software since 2005. This dedicated team created the award-winning controller MADRIX 5. MADRIX products are proudly designed, engineered, and made in Germany and located in the beautiful city of Dresden. The MADRIX Team is creating high-quality products for you that are easy to use and reliable. Innovative features and an unrivalled integration of software and hardware bring you the best results.
Project: Gewan Island, Cristal Walkway
Location: Gewan Island, Doha, Qatar
Client: United Development Company (UDC)
Lighting Contractor: Lemax Group of Companies
Lighting Control System Design And Programming: Tamas Gula, Pixel System Engineering
Equipment Crystal Walkway:
- 1x MADRIX 5 basic
- 1x MADRIX LUNA 4
- 1x MADRIX LUNA 8
- 1x MADRIX LUNA 16
Equipment Crystal Plantation / Landscape / Gewan – Abraj Quartier Bridge:
- 3x MADRIX AURA 2
- 3x MADRIX STELLA
- 3x MADRIX ORION
The Crystal Walkway on Gewan Island, Qatar, developed by the United Development Company (UDC) is a climatized outdoor pedestrian walkway and the commercial hub of Gewan Island. Nestled between 15 buildings, it is a place for shopping and relaxation.
Crystal Walkway secured a Guinness World Record in 2024 for The Largest Outdoor Interactive Lighting Canopy, spanning 3,689.55 square meters (39,713.98 square feet). This architectural marvel, part of the 450-meter-long, air-conditioned Crystal Walkway, features over 2,400 LED RGBW lighting fixtures distributed on 45 custom-designed shade structure with a state-of-the-art lighting control system by MADRIX, creating dynamic color displays and different arrays of lighting effects.
Thanks to the local wireless mesh network, the lighting scenarios can be controlled by a tablet on a custom-made user interface via OSC commands.
By day, the canopy provides shade; enhancing comfort in Qatar’s warm climate. While at night, it transforms into a mesmerizing light show, elevating the ambiance of the retail and dining hub. The energy-efficient LED technology saves 20 % – 50 % compared to traditional lighting, supporting Gewan Island's sustainability goals with reduced energy consumption and maintenance.
This record, awarded on December 9, 2024, highlights UDC’s commitment to blending innovation, aesthetics, and eco-friendly design, making the Crystal Walkway a premier tourist destination.
Apart from the Crystal Walkway, MADRIX was used to control the lights for the Crystal plantation. It features 45 custom crystal artwork installation, landscape and marina lights, and the lighting of the bridge that connects Gewan Island with Pearl Island.
All lighting installation works were carried out by Lemax Group of Companies who were the driving force behind the project success.
Architect: MELIKE ALTINISIK ARCHITECTS | MAA
Client: Republic of Turkey Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure
Lighting Design: Realities United
Lighting Manufacturing & Installation: HERA LED
Lighting Control & Monitoring: MADRIX
Istanbul's new TV & radio tower is a project of superlatives. Currently being one of the most prestigious architectural projects in Turkey, if not the world, it was inaugurated on May 29, 2021. A look behind the scenes reveals interesting details and the inner workings of the ultimate lighting system of this mega structure.
The monolith rises staggering 369 meters high. Located on Küçük Çamlıca, small Çamlıca hill, it still towers 584 meters above sea level, making it the tallest building in Istanbul and the highest tower in Europe.
Famous architect Melike Altınışık spearheaded the multi-year project. It is not only a highlight of modern architecture, but also serves a very specific purpose. Before, 33 TV and radio antennas were situated on the ground of the hill. Now, their majority is concentrated into the single 145 meters steel antenna atop the new concrete structure. This reduces the electro-magnetic pollution by a factor of 15. At the same time, 100 channels can be broadcast simultaneously: world record.
During the tender, HERA LED successfully made it to the last three companies competing to create the lighting system. They had been closely following the construction from the beginning. Their commitment paid off, since they could convince the ministries and contractors with the help of the technical features of their system. The competition specified products with 24 V that on top used proprietary protocols.
HERA LED knew that this was not feasible due to the structure of the building. Instead, HERA's fixtures work with 48 V and the DMX512 communication standard. Usage of 48 V as well as their own software conversion to 16-bit data allowed them to use much longer cables for power and data, and they finally won the contract thanks to these superior product attributes.
First specified as adjustable white fixtures, the lighting system was later revised by the Ministry to feature RGBW color mixing. HERA LED opted for 36 units of their 'Procolor® AC SC Flood Light Beam Spot' to surround the large antenna on top at several different levels to literally crown the design, as the tower is said to recreate a women's silhouette. But that is only a tiny part. Istanbul is one of the largest cities in the world, attracting a steady flow of tourists. Being the new landmark, the lighting design needed to reflect the pounding, urban rhythm of the metropolis that never sleeps.
No less than 6,200 meters of linear IP67 lighting fixtures make up a media display that covers the entire facade of the building. The 'Sword® 100x3 RGBW 150 cm Radius Diffused' were custom-designed for this project. They feature 1 individual pixel including 3 mid-power LEDs every 10 cm as light dots to ensure visibility over a wide area. The result is a spectacular media facade that uses individual LED pixels to create an immense surface area for dynamic lighting effects.
MADRIX® 5 control software was once again chosen for its "user friendliness and its endless possibilities for dynamic animations". The software generates parametric content in real time and individually maps it to any gridded fixture arrangement with the help of pixel mapping. "We needed that kind of technology to emphasize the architectural features and make it even more exciting", says HERA's Project Sales Director Serkan Demirel.
The MADRIX® 5 Software provides well-defined, pixel-perfect, fluid, and video-like visuals that do not have to be inconveniently pre-rendered as video files and make changes possible within seconds. Communication is based on DMX, a technology that has been established in the entertainment-lighting industries for a long time. Due to the high number of 248,000 controlled DMX channels, a 'MADRIX® 5 ultimate' software license is in use. And with that, the tower lights up spectacularly at night.
Such an elaborate lighting system requires not only great content, but reliable performance for signal distribution as well. 314 MADRIX® STELLA controllers receive the Art-Net control data over Ethernet network and distribute it to the fixtures over DMX cabling. This approach is common and widely established. Still, it means that this is the highest number of MADRIX® STELLA units in only one installation to date.
Just as a single software is used for control, a single application is used for monitoring. Due to the high visibility of the large tower across Istanbul, its importance to become the new symbol of the city, and the realization that otherwise it would not be possible to easily locate malfunctioning fixtures, monitoring was explicitly required in the project's tender.
Enter MADRIX® RADAR. On the one hand, each lighting fixture is equipped with several sensors. This means that valuable data about the state of operation can be sent out by them in regular intervals. On the other hand, MADRIX® RADAR acts as the read-out by presenting all these different data points in a cohesive overview. The software can automatically initiate data and sensor requests in time intervals ranging from 60 seconds to 24 hours. In addition to mere numbers and values, graphs and graphical overviews provide quick visual assistance.
In-between, MADRIX® STELLA sends these RDM requests and replies back and forth between software and fixtures. It does so at the same time as it forwards the Art-Net data at its high frame rate for smooth live control from MADRIX® 5. The STELLA controllers process control data and monitoring data simultaneously and during live operation in a way that does not result in interferences. In this way, the unit's system is designed to prevent visual flickering or other signal interruptions. Continuous monitoring, let alone for thousands of fixtures or even in real time, was simply not possible with RDM before MADRIX® RADAR.
"Thanks to the high-speed communication of MADRIX® RADAR and MADRIX® hardware products, we can remotely monitor different voltages (Input Voltage, MCU Voltage), temperatures (PCB, Regulator), lumen-maintenance life, power cycles, and the status of each fixture every single day. In case of irregularities or problems, the software automatically sends us status reports by e-mail," explains Demirel.
By using MADRIX® RDM nodes, the MADRIX® RADAR software license is already priced into the product. The combination of MADRIX® software and hardware thus offers a competitive advantage no other system provides. "Visual inspection of the lighting system is impossible for large-scale projects", he continues. By employing this monitoring process, HERA's engineers can readily watch critical technical parameters, observe weak points, and even anticipate product failures based on the long-term data history; another unique feature.
The level of insights into the system is unprecedented. That is why HERA LED calls it nothing less than a "revolution in lighting". "From now on, we are designing all projects with MADRIX® RADAR, because it is the world's best lighting monitoring system. This is the technology of today and the future."
About HERA LED – www.heraled.com
HERA LED has over 15 years of experience in manufacturing and projects. The company was founded in 2004 in the field of architectural and entertainment lighting.
HERA's highly qualified team of engineers, architects, and technicians aims to provide safe and sustainable lighting for your project according to the highest standards and wants to make your lighting design stand out. Its proficient R&D team conducts research, design, and production in the company's own production facilities.
Thanks to this vertical integration, HERA LED has successfully carried out over 300 prestigious projects until today and has become a leading manufacturer in Turkey as well as internationally.
About MADRIX – www.madrix.com
MADRIX® is all about powerful yet simple products for creative LED lighting. This includes compelling tools for lighting management, monitoring, and control.
Benefit from years of experience and industry knowledge. inoage® develops lighting software since 2005. Our dedicated team created the award-winning controller MADRIX® 5.
MADRIX® products are proudly designed, engineered, and made in Germany. We are located in the beautiful city of Dresden. We are creating high-quality products for you that are easy to use and reliable. Innovative features and an unrivalled integration of software and hardware bring you the best results.
Venue: Nova Restaurant & Lounge
Location: Allentown, PA, USA
Manufacturers: Chauvet, USA / MADRIX, Germany / SONNEMAN, USA / Tirso Lighting, USA / WAC Lighting, USA
Distributors: Inner Circle Distribution, USA
Installers: Tirso Lighting, USA
Lighting / Visual Designers: Tirso Lighting, USA
For this project, we were responsible for not only for the lighting design but also for the design of the interior. We were commissioned by the managing partner of Nova Lounge to create a futuristic design that would create a great atmosphere for the guests and customers.
We achieved this by designing a series of linear, aluminum light boxes. These aluminum structures where all built off site and delivered with all of the lighting already pre-installed. We took this approach to reduce the amount of days that this establishment had to close for. This business was only closed for 9 days while renovations were being conducted. We are pleased to say that the project was an overall success and that the end product we created speaks for itself.
The lighting used was:
7x SONNEMAN - Gotham Light Pendant,
3x SONNEMAN - Gotham 5 Light Pendant,
70x WAC Lighting - Summit Track Head - Black,
200 Feet of Linear H-Track,
1x Chauvet - EVE E-50Z Gobo Projector,
1000+ Feet of RGB Led Strips,
1x MADRIX NEO.
In the end, a very distinct look was achieved by creating modern patterns that look intriguing on their own as decoration elements but even more so when the light comes on since they are back-illuminated.
The control system we opted to go with for this restaurant was MADRIX. The MADRIX Software runs on its own dedicated computer from which the client has the option to use the touch screen and select presets or they can use a mobile, tablet-sized device which has an onboard app which can be used to trigger presets as well. This allows for very easy control of the system to choose from simple scenes with solid colors to more dynamic, pixel-mapped effects.
Some of the challenges we faced in this project had to do mostly with building the aluminum structures and sourcing the covers that were made from a plastic. We did not want any seams on the face of the structure where the design lies. Therefore, we had to find a plastic that was 33 feet long for the longest piece and 18 feet long for one of the shorter pieces.
Venue: Hotel Pullman Berlin Schweizerhof
Location: Berlin, Germany
Manufacturers: eFour Media Architecture, Germany / MADRIX, Germany
Distributor: Visionstage, Germany
Installers: eFour Media Architecture, Germany
Architects: Sundukovy Sisters, Russia
Lighting / Visual Designers: Kardorff Ingenieure Lichtplanung, Germany
Photos: Kardorff Ingenieure Lichtplanung
Photographers: Linus Lintner
Hotel Pullman was voted one of the top 4 bar & restaurant projects of the MONDO-DR Awards 2018.
The interior design of the entrance, bar, and restaurant area of this five-star hotel in Berlin was to follow two main design criteria: the German Bauhaus design style and 'zoo' as design theme, an inspiration caused by the proximity to the Berlin Zoo. A volumetric, three-dimensional light sculpture as key element of the interior design was translated into an 18 m wide and 10 m deep 3D LED installation comprising of nearly 900 custom-designed, 360-degree viewable LED tubes made by eFour Media Architecture in a high-quality architectural finish. Content for the volumetric LED install with individually-controllable pixels is generated and scheduled using a MADRIX server that outputs DVI video data in 'mapping mode' to the central video processor of the LED install.
Content of the 3D light sculpture had to follow the main architectural design theme, hence the content is based on animal and zoo elements. The various lighting scenes had to change during the course of the year following the seasons of the year as well as Christmas times. Furthermore, the content had to vary intensity and dynamics during the day. Since the entire installation is requested to run 24/7 and totally independently, a playback system was needed that incorporates an astronomic clock as well as a true calendar function that allows auto-calculations of start dates of the seasonal content and events for every new calendar year. In its final programming, the three-dimensional install displays waving grass fields with butterflies, fishes swimming in waving water, falling leaves in autumn, as well as snowflakes, sparkles, and burning candles during the festive seasons. A special 'highlight scene' is processed every day at 7 PM showing 'the metamorphoses of animals', where the guest can enjoy snakes, fishes, zebras, even elephants.
Neither hardware nor software are 'off the shelf'. The vertical LED tubes have been tailor made by eFour Media Architecture based on a very detailed specification provided by the lighting consultants of Kardorff Ingenieure. The MADRIX Software had to be extended with specially-programmed macro functionality to allow for the use of the astronomic time and calendar events, and guarantee 24/7 independent operation. No less challenging was the fact that the entire installation has been executed while the hotel was kept entirely open to the public, which put the installation on a very strict time schedule and the execution of the installation had to be divided into multiple phases.
The project is a perfect example of how urban characteristics, modern and state-of-the-art technology, as well as the most aesthetic content creation are combined, and lead to a pleasant and exiting viewers experience.