Advent preview – The Christmas house in Coesfeld

The solution is simply illuminating and thrills everyone who sees it. But the path there was a long one, even though the request of the communal marketing club Coesfeld & Co. e.V. was nothing out of the ordinary. Numerous buildings serve today as over-dimensional Advent-calendars. It’s the time of the year when artificial light becomes light art in XXL-format. The promoter of the economy in Coesfeld, however, didn’t want just to open a door each day to lighten the market square every night. They were looking for an individual light installation for their special location and together with competent partners they found a convincing solution.

So since December 1st print designer Marco Henkenjohann’s biblical Christmas story has now been shining in 24 pictures over Coesfeld. For that the artist composed collages with various materials, which were processed as scanned digital prints by Alexander Hetfeld.

The advertising professional with his business “ha-Aussenwerbung” from Coesfeld was not just one of those who promoted the Christmas house, but he was also responsible for bringing it to reality. There were a few hurdles to take before it was finished. The pictures had to be fitted into the windows in such a way that neither the sandstone surface got damaged nor the space behind became useless for the office work by hindering light and sight. As opposed to a conventional Advent calendar moreover all pictures should be visible from the beginning, but the respective “picture of the day” should be visually accentuated by light effects. Alexander Hetfeld chose EPS CRYSTAL tensioning technology as a frame solution and a black back-printed mesh fabric as print material. The whole was set up on an aluminium basic frame, which was fitted into the window opening with a self constructed tensioning system. For that bolts were screwed through the frame and furnished with ball joints. That made it possible to locate the frames stable, flexible and without marking the front. As the feet were furnished with rubber pads, too, damage to the sandstone could safely be avoided. The pictures were fitted flush to the front, whilst the frames were built in with 2 cm gap all around, so that the necessary light technique could be installed easily. The smart installation was completed by an electronic BUS- system with variable control possibilities. So now all pictures can individually be shown in the right light. Normally the picture of the day is first illuminated by itself for 15 minutes before all the other pictures are added.

The premier was successful and for the next 3 years all window spaces have already been booked. When the frames are removed after Christmas, they can easily be stored and used again next year. Of course, to change the motives is no problem either. Thanks to the utilised tensioning technology the print can simply and cheaply be exchanged.

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