Central Station, Antwerp, Belgium
July, 2025
A new identity has been unveiled for Antwerp’s stunning Central Station with a beautiful illumination scheme, controlled by a system from Pharos Architectural Controls.
Antwerp Central Station, inaugurated in 1905, is an architectural highlight of the Belgian city. Known as the ‘Railway Cathedral’, it is considered to be one of the most beautiful train stations in the world. Influenced by the Belgian art nouveau movement, the station is iconic thanks to its 75-m high dome sitting atop the main hall, with a 44-m high arched glass roof covering the tracks.
The lighting is part of a wider public lighting scheme, commissioned by Antwerp City Council to make the Belgian city’s nightscape safe and welcoming. Susanna Antico Lighting Design Studio was appointed to create the lighting design scheme for the Central Station. The illuminations needed to be contemporary and future-orientated, focusing on the building and the surrounding environment. A system from Pharos Architectural Controls was specified for the project, delivering much needed control for both visual effects and sustainability.
The Pharos system was identified as the right technology for the project by system integrator Keystone Technologies. A trusted partner of national grid operator Fluvius since 2018, Keystone Technologies has provided lighting control system design, integration, and programming for various public lighting initiatives. Building on this established relationship, Keystone Technologies was appointed to deliver the lighting control for the Antwerp Central Station project, with Fluvius serving as the lighting grid operator.
A Pharos Designer LPC (Lighting Playback Controller) with two universes of control is managing 820 luminaires across this large-scale installation via Art-Net for precise DMX lighting control. The LPC is also controlling the power supply relays via a TCP-Modbus IO Module.
The Designer LPC features individually controllable and independently running timelines and scenes. Automatic scheduled playback is provided by the LPC’s real-time clock, and location settings ensure programming associated with daylight is accurate all year round for local sunrise and sunset timings.
Local access and override controls are provided by a Pharos Designer TPS 8 (Touch Panel Station 8) for manual on-site control of power modes and an interface for local maintenance via seasonal or test scenarios. The Designer TPS is an elegant interface with a customisable, capacitive touchscreen, compatible with any Pharos Designer controller. It allows for direct communication with the control system for real-time adjustments, as well as secure access for maintenance personnel to prevent unauthorised changes.
The Pharos system is working collaboratively with the SixEye platformto provide a cloud-based user interface for monitoring, scheduling, and manual remote control of the site. Having worked with Pharos Architectural Controls on a wide variety of projects, Keystone Technologies were easily able to demonstrate the exceptional capability and reliability of their solutions.
Mark de Gruyter, Sales Director at Pharos Architectural Controls said: “The Central Station in Antwerp is a hugely iconic building due to its unique and eye-catching architecture. The illuminations have truly enhanced this stunning traditional structure through the application of sophisticated white light, as well as illuminating the surrounding area to make it feel safer and more welcoming. Plus, with the added control, it contributes to the building, and wider city’s commitment to developing more sustainable and efficient environments. It’s always a great achievement when technology from Pharos is supporting such a high-profile project.”
Steve De Busschere, Founder at Keystone Technologies said: “We were delighted to be appointed to work alongside Fluvius once again on this impressive public lighting project. After understanding the brief, we knew straight away the LPC and TPS from Pharos offered the functionality and reliability we needed. Adding to this, their seamless integration to work alongside the SixEye platform made the project run even more smoothly and to time.”
Susanna Antico, Owner of Susanna Antico Lighting Design Studio, now Loomit studio, states: “The design is an intricate reflection of the constant movement and vibrancy of the station and surrounding area. It is representative of Antwerp as an active, dynamic and contemporary city. It has been enabled and brought to its successful conclusion by the efficient collaboration of all the project’s partners, including Pharos Architectural Controls.”
The new lighting project for Antwerp Central Station has created visual interest and enhances the perception of the rich architectural details. It is also delivering a comfortable ambience for those passing through quickly to easily find their way, but also for those looking to enjoy a moment of relaxation.
Project Credits:
Contracting Authority: Antwerp City Council
Light Designer: Susanna Antico Lighting Design Studio
Lighting Controls: Pharos Architectural Controls
Lighting Grid Operator: Fluvius
System Integrator: Keystone Technologies
Installation: Maes Industrial Lighting
Building Owners: SNCB | KMDA
Photographer: Benno Van den Bogaert