It’s reported that Cape Town-based light manufacturer Kubik has manufactured a color-changing LED floor with 95m², which is the largest of its kind in the world. The glass floor, designed by UK-based architect Darnton Elgee's Mari Stassen, was manufactured in Montague Gardens in 134 modular elements, and was shipped to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) earlier this month.

The floor elements will be assembled like a jigsaw puzzle in less than four days, and was the highlight of the new showroom of UAE-based furniture giant Pan Emirates, which is situated next to the Mall of the Emirates. Almost 15 000 LEDs were used for this project. The red, green and blue color-changing LEDs have an expected lifespan of 10 to 15 years. The color settings and animation are controlled by an in-house developed computer system.

Kubik MD Dirk Durnez says that the illuminated floor is a branded architectural application that will not only set any desired mood in a venue, but will also allow clients to highlight products and showcase product launches and promotional events. He notes that the illuminated floor is a true marketing tool. They believe this will set a new trend in the way architects, interior designers and showroom designers design shops and shop-windows. The Kubik floor allows brands to stage their products.

Kubik finance director Jean-Michel Koenig says they are convinced that the world's largest color-changing floor will boost awareness of this new approach in shop and showroom design, as well as architecture and interior design for corporate, commercial and even private use.

A team of three electrical and electronic engineers, led by Kubik's Mike Hudson, spent eight weeks on research and development and built the modules for the floor in less than four weeks. Besides the aesthetical, illumination and market-related brief, the development team was asked to create a product with a minimum ten-year lifespan as well as to create an energy-saving, recyclable, ‘green' product.

Kubik says that the high-quality electronic components and the LEDs, which are mounted on a heat sink aluminium frame, the right selection of cables and the thermostat-controlled power consoles, guarantee a power consumption of only 35 Wm2, which is equal to a small light bulb or night-table lamp.

Hudson says that all the materials were chosen with recyclability in mind. He notes that glass is 100% recyclable, as are the aluminium frames and, thanks to the intelligent design and the use of low voltage, they can reduce the amount of electrical cables and components to an absolute minimum.