Grünenplan / Moscow, June 09, 2009 – The Maison Baccarat, designed by Philippe Starck, that the crystal manufacturer Baccarat opened in Moscow in 2008 excels with its historic building and luxurious design. The floor of the Baccarat Boutique gives the room a clear, bright light and was designed using “Opalika” from SCHOTT. The French crystal manufacturer Baccarat, international leading luxury brand, symbolizes the French Art de Vivre around the world and stands for luxury, elegance and contemporary crystal creations. To ensure that the precious exhibits in the new Maison Baccarat in Moscow are accentuated properly, the designer Philippe Starck decided in favor of an illuminated floor made of special-purpose glass from SCHOTT, the technology group based in Mainz, Germany. The product used, “Opalika” consists of two layers of low iron oxide white glass and an opaque white flashed opal layer that are bonded together using a drawing technique.
Unlike punctiform spotlights, “Opalika” emits light evenly, without revealing to viewers the contours of the white neon tubes that are found behind it. The result is a light that casts hardly any shadows, resembles the natural light of the sky and gives the boutique a pure bright luminance. “Opalika” is used quite often in illuminated ceilings, decorative lights and backlit partitions. Thank to its durable and easy to clean surface, this specialized glass is also suited for use as a floor.
Besides this white flashed opal glass, other light design solutions from SCHOTT are also in use here. Fiber optic lighting inside a display case sets the stage for crystals just perfectly. The “SpectraFlex” Excel light conductors and the SpectraNova light source are used at the top of the display case. The light shines down on the crystals that are lying on top of a mirror. This reflects the light so that the crystals not only sparkle, but also present their polished sections and purity much better.
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