Header: Courtesy of Pipe Lighting Gmbh
After working in the film industry and noticing crew members’ difficulties with lighting fixtures, Eduard Bochanov and Evgenij Vetlugin decided to be part of the solution. By founding their own lighting design studio, Pipe Lighting, the two friends started working on the Pipe Lighting system, which addresses several challenges they had encountered countless times before.
Traditional lighting setups often require a combination of separate components to create the directors’ desired effects—such as light sources, diffusers, and support systems—each contributing to increased complexity, bulk, and setup time. In contrast, the Pipe Lighting product uses a soft, inflatable shell that provides structural integrity and acts as a diffuser, making life a bit easier for crew members.
The shell’s shape and rigidity are achieved through air pressure, a detail that eliminates the need for external frames or mounts. Inside the shell, LED strips serve as the light source, while the white surface of the shell functions as an integrated diffuser, offering a softbox effect without additional accessories. The internal design, which combines the air volume with the distribution of LEDs, ensures uniform light output and efficient heat dissipation, removing the need for heavy radiators or cooling fans.
When deflated, the fixtures can be transported in hand-luggage-sized containers, making shipping more efficient; plus, fewer crew members are needed on set to handle and operate the system. Additionally, the device minimizes environmental impact by reducing reliance on diesel generators and heavy copper cabling.
Manufactured in Hamburg, the production process emphasizes sustainability, with policies focused on recycling and reducing the environmental footprint. This approach earned Pipe Lighting GmbH the Winners’ prize in the Entertainment Lights category at this year’s LIT Lighting Design Awards.
