Vienna State Opera

World-unique light installation.

The Vienna State Opera, known as the “First House on the Ring”, is one of the world’s most renowned opera houses. In 2020, its façade itself became a stage – with an extraordinary lighting installation by hansen that has since become a permanent part of the building.

The Project

During the lockdown in 2020, the Vienna State Opera was closed. Nevertheless, the building was meant to remain visible from the outside and communicate that the house was still alive.

The idea was to create a subtle lighting installation that would complement the historic architecture while communicating current information. Five individually manufactured matrix elements were installed, functioning similarly to the segments of a digital display.

Unlike a conventional video wall, the installation was deliberately designed to be understated and blend harmoniously into the façade. At the same time, letters and numbers needed to be displayed in RGB.

The Solution: swing~light RGB

An individual solution based on hansen swing~light RGB was developed for the project. The flexible LED elements were mounted on a steel framework to create five matrix displays.

Each matrix measures 3,000 × 3,600 mm and can be controlled individually. Thanks to the special arrangement of 15 segments, the system can display not only numbers but the entire alphabet.

Toni Maroni from Northern Germany was also brought on board as a specialist for customised control systems and contributed to the development of the individual control solution.

Individually Developed and Pre-Assembled

Initial samples were produced at the hansen facility in Northern Germany and provided to the project partners in Austria. Following approval, the final solution was individually manufactured and pre-assembled.

The specially developed control system turns the lighting installation into much more than simple illumination. A custom-programmed user interface allows texts to be planned and programmed up to one week in advance.

For example, current programme information such as “17 – 20 UHR ZAUBERFLÖTE” can be displayed directly on the façade.

The Result

What was originally planned as a temporary lighting installation became a permanent communication element of the Vienna State Opera.

The five LED matrices combine modern technology with historic architecture, transforming the façade into a stage for current information. A unique solution that demonstrates the possibilities of individually designed lighting.

During the summer, the display is switched off when the loggias of the State Opera are open. From autumn onwards, the illuminated messages return – becoming part of the daily life of the opera house once again.