Larios Shopping Mall, Malaga, Spain

Architect: Arquitectura B+R; Esteban Becerril Herrero, Ramón Ramírez Miranda
Lighting Designer: Amparo Carrillo

With dynamic light playing an increasingly important role in European retail, Larios Shopping Mall in Malaga, Spain uses the new medium as an eye-catching beacon for shoppers.

Located on the beautiful Andalucian coast of southern Spain, Malaga is not for want of attraction. The birthplace of Pablo Picasso, and home to countless historical attractions, Malaga is an enticing city in one of the world’s most visited countries.

Yet, attraction was exactly Larios Shopping Mall’s greatest concern.

Owned by the Sacyr-Vallehermoso Group, who opened the shopping center four years ago, Larios offers 45,000 square meters of space that includes 137 retail stores, a 10-screen cinema, and 15 bars and restaurants. Despite the impressive numbers, over time the ownership group noticed a somewhat disturbing trend. Day by day, customers were becoming more difficult to impress.

Consequently, the Mall developed a clear purpose - to attract customers to the Mall and increase the time they spend there.

Seductive Lighting
With a redesign called for, Martin Architectural provided the finishing touch to Larios Shopping Mall’s new look, a remarkable façade illumination that has emerged as a shining new symbol for the area, a convergence of dynamic lighting technology with a stated desire to increase business.

Designed by architects Esteban Becerril Herrero and Ramón Ramírez Miranda of Arquitectura B+R, the project was carried out by construction company Inabensa of the Abengoa Group.

Martin Architectural’s Spanish representative, Ecler, was responsible for the definition and sizing of the lighting in close co-operation with the designers. Ecler’s Amparo Carrillo, who managed the project for Ecler, designed the façade lighting scheme based on the ideas of the architects.

Dynamic Solution
By incorporating a sizeable canopy facade, which is dynamically lit in color, the mall remains constantly fresh in the eyes of visitors. At the mall’s main entrance,

Solidaridad Square

, 18 Exterior 600 Compact luminaires wash the façade in an even layer of color while a pair of customized MAC 500 profile spots in all-weather protection domes project graphics. (Four additional customized MAC 500s are located at the Picasso and Aurora entrances.)

The new lighting scheme is DMX-controlled from a Martin ProScenium with six RS-485 Optosplitters used for amplification. ProScenium is a visual, PC-based lighting control package with light sensitive on/off capability.

Ecler’s local representative in southern Spain headed the commercial aspect of the project, guided by Juan Antonio Ramos and Alberto Asegurado. The entire system was set up and programmed by Ecler’s Eduardo Muñoz, and Serafín Jaime of Acústicas Profesionales.

With other shopping malls and several hotels nearby, as well as a new AVE railway station (Spain’s high speed train), the area is quickly growing in popularity. The Mall has become a true meeting point and serves as an economic boost to one of Malaga’s fastest growing areas.

Equipment:
18 x Martin Exterior 600 Compact
6 x Martin MAC 500 (customized)
1 x Martin ProScenium 
6 x Martin RS-485 Optosplitters
2 x all-weather protection dome