Before the Washingtonplatz in front of the Berlin main railway station assumed its final appearance, a single light pillar illuminated the area.

The berlin railway station has been running now for a long time, but around the glass palace construction is continuing: with the Europaplatz in the North and the Washingtonplatz to the South, two important railway squares are being created.

The location of the Europaplatz has been determined by traffic factors, and the Washingtonplatz features a view over the Spree to the government sector. This square should not only serve as a route hub for travellers and residents but also as a site for lingering. Situated in front of the former Lehrter railway station, it was named in 1932. But after the Second World War the square disappeared, and no more than an ugly crossroads remained. With the return of the railway to the historic site, the once so proud Washingtonplatz is to again regain its earlier importance.

It will be constructed according to designs from landscape architects Martha Schwartz and Gabriele Kiefer. Their concept consists of an open site characterised by steps and bordered on the West side with a tree grove. The Café Pavilion that until now was situated on the lower part of the square will be replaced by a 40 metre high cube designed by the now deceased Oswald Matthias Ungers.

With the slimline pillar luminaire erected near to the entrance to the station, the Washingtonplatz already features one creative highlight. The 26 metre high mast constructed of centrifugal concrete is crowned by a 5 metre high light module whose six slots can accommodate up to 60 projectors. The solitairy unit will be supplying the square with light all be itself until the addition of a further two pillars. The eye-catching light units were designed by the Berlin lighting design offices of Licht Kunst Licht. "The aim was to illuminate the two hectares with narrow distribution luminaires for maximal visual comfort," explained Stephanie Große-Brockhoff from Licht Kunst Licht.

The office carried out numerous calculations in order to carefully define the optical demands. This process divided the sector into five zones. Highly frequented areas such as the plateau, stairwells and circulation routes were to be more highly illuminated that peripheral areas. The calculations estimated that 46 projectors were sufficient to illuminate the whole sector without glare. Functionally convincing, formally reduced: The slimline light monument lights up the Washingtonplatz before final completion with an appealing shine.