“Light is a very specific element of a room; without light there is no room,” says architect Volker Miklautz. He designed the new MPreis and Baguette branch in Patsch. And because light plays such a fundamental role, it requires an expert hand. One like Prolicht’s.

In the beginning, God created light. This was a natural priority to enable him to see anything. On the other hand, it is also an impressive illustration of the importance of light. It’s not just about seeing. It’s about emotion. Light creates an atmosphere, which means that the appearance of the light source is not always important. “Correctly placed, any light can create a good atmosphere. Naturally, luminaires can also become design elements themselves,” explains Walter Norz, managing director of Prolicht, from Götzens. And he should know. Prolicht exports its products to some 70 countries around the world, with the majority of deliveries going to B2B clients, manufactured exclusively to order. A light only goes into production once it has been approved by the client.

Cause and Effect

When it comes to light, it’s all about effect. Luminaires can be integrated almost invisibly into the architecture, but alternatively the feel and design of a lamp can also make a decisive contribution to the atmosphere. Both approaches are used to good effect at Baguette in Patsch: hidden spots provide precision lighting where it’s of essence and an almost sculptural light cord that perfectly continues the architectural concept of DI Volker Miklautz. It forms a kind of cloud that complements the wooden slats on the ceiling – the silhouette of the Patscherkofel mountain.

Volker Miklautz also believes light is essential to architecture. “The vibrancy of a place is only made visible by light,” he explains. In his design for MPreis and Baguette, he incorporated natural daylight into his creation as well. Gentle daylight filters into the market hall between the beams of the roof. The Baguette area opens out onto the landscape with floor-to-ceiling glazed panels, turning the outdoors into a kind of monumental framed picture. Depending on where you sit, this “monitor on the west” shows a panorama from Serles, across the Stubai Glacier, the Nockspitze (Saile) and the Inn valley to the Nordkette. Miklautz particularly wanted to bring the “Kofel” into the village. That’s why there is a silhouette of the mountain on the ceiling of Baguette, washed over by a cloud of light. Miklautz says, “We worked with Prolicht to design this cloud.” The freeform design gives Baguette its own unique identity and the delicate interplay between natural and artificial light creates a very special atmosphere. “It’s not enough to just create something functional,” maintains Miklautz. “You have to put people at the heart of everything.” What’s inside is made visible by the materials, design, the special arrangement of the interior spaces... and also the lighting concept. That’s why it is so important to consider the planning of your lighting and be absolutely clear on what you actually want to achieve. And that’s what closes the circle: Prolicht does not produce a single luminaire that is not already designed for a specific room. Whether that light is an allegedly tiny spotlight or intended to fill the room.

Lighting Solution

The slatted ceiling in the Patsch branch of Baguette illustrates the Patscherkofel mountain, creating a cloud around it with the aid of the SUPER-G variable lighting system (Colour: Hampton Bay) by PROLICHT. This snakes over the dining area in ten modules with different radiuses and a total length of 20 metres. Above the counter is the IDAHO 100 profile product family with INVADER spotlights. This provides clean lighting for baked goods, using special gold LEDs to make them look as crisp and appetising as they taste. The INVADER spots around the central console are fitted with typical KORONA CONES – coloured cone inserts that set the spotlight well back and thus possess excellent anti-glare properties. Distinct areas can be created using different light temperatures. The lighting is integrated unobtrusively into the architecture, providing a pleasant background illumination.

Architect: Volker Miklautz | Lightplanning: PROLICHT GmbH | Photo: Christian Flatscher