1.Project Overview

Situated on the waterfront of Bergen, Norway, the new Cultural Center is a masterpiece of modern timber architecture, featuring soaring gable roofs and panoramic glass walls that frame the historic harbor. The “Fjord Lounge” serves as a public reading and meeting space. The client required a lighting centerpiece that could fill the immense volume of the wooden cathedral-like ceiling without obstructing the breathtaking views of the city and the sea.

2.The Challenge

Designing for this high-traffic public space presented three specific challenges:
Volume vs. Transparency: The ceiling is over 8 meters high, requiring a massive fixture to feel proportionate. However, a solid chandelier would block the view and feel heavy. The design needed to be large in scale but visually “porous.”
Glare Control for Readers: As a space designated for reading and quiet conversation, visual comfort was paramount. The light needed to be powerful enough to reach the floor but completely diffused to prevent glare on book pages or digital screens.
Installation on Sloped Ceilings: The complex timber rafters of the gable roof made standard mounting impossible. A customized suspension system was needed to ensure the chandelier hung perfectly level despite the angled ceiling.

3.The Tikanna Solution

We engineered the “Community Ring,” a minimalist yet structural chandelier designed to integrate with the timber architecture:
“Ghost” Structure: We utilized a single, massive matte black steel ring (3 meters in diameter) as the primary frame. From this, we suspended a curtain of individual glowing LED loops using ultra-thin aircraft cables. This design mimics the vertical rhythm of the rain (typical of Bergen) while keeping the center of the fixture completely open to preserve the view.
360° Diffused LED Loops: Each small hanging ring is a custom-molded silicone LED loop that emits light in all directions (360 degrees). This creates a soft, shadow-free illumination that is ideal for reading, acting like hundreds of soft candles floating in the air.
Architectural Alignment: The matte black finish of the main ring was matched exactly to the window frames of the building. We designed a custom adjustable cable gripper system that anchored securely into the wooden beams, allowing for precise leveling during installation.

4.The Result

The chandelier successfully defines the “zone” of the lounge without building walls. It creates a warm, psychological shelter under the high roof. The client was thrilled that during the day, the fixture is a sculptural outline framing the harbor, and at night, it becomes a glowing beacon visible from the waterfront promenade.