LEDFlex Group - Suspense

Suspense

Category

Infrastructure

Lighting Design

Void AS

Location

Oslo, Norway

The Project

At Oslo’s new Construction City, the nine-storey atrium is defined by Suspense, a kinetic installation that redefines the role of light in architecture. Conceived in collaboration with Void, this third and most ambitious collaboration with LEDFlex unites precision engineering, high-resolution pixel technology, and monumental scale.

Suspended 35 metres above the atrium floor, forty aluminium beams rise and fall through the choreography of 80 synchronised winches. Their shifting geometry transforms the atrium into a living monument to construction, embodying progress and constant evolution. More than an artwork, the canopy gives the building a pulse, an architectural element in motion that continually reshapes atmosphere and space.

Performance was central to the design. Over 500 metres of LEDFlex Ultimo Neon 16 RGB Pixel Short Pitch were integrated across the beams, delivering 9,600 individually addressable pixels. This enables seamless, high-resolution animations across the entire canopy. To withstand constant movement, LEDFlex engineered bespoke silicone inserts to lock fixtures into their profiles, ensuring precision, safety, and serviceability.

Engineering innovation underpinned the project’s success. Meeting the stringent safety requirements of a public atrium demanded a custom winch system that underwent two years of testing, redesign, and EU Machinery Directive certification. Concealed above the ninth-floor mezzanine, colour-matched winches and dual suspension cables carry both power and data, enabling fluid, uninterrupted motion while disappearing into the architecture.

Sustainability was equally integral. Beams were fabricated from Hydro CIRCAL low-carbon recycled aluminium, while TM66-assessed LEDs and intelligent controls reduced energy demand. The scheme replaced, rather than added to, the atrium’s planned lighting, minimising light pollution and eliminating redundant fixtures.

Suspense ultimately positions light not as ornament but as structure. By embedding illumination within motion and material, LEDFlex and Void have transformed the atrium into a living canvas, setting a new benchmark for kinetic architectural lighting.

Products Specified