ASB Architectural equips Microsoft Lagos with digital window

After installing the impressive waterfall for the Microsoft headquarters in Ireland, ASB Architectural changes continents for its next installation for the software company: In Nigeria, a multifunctional wallpaper was created. With its LED density, it provides a unique spatial experience.

The Nigerian metropolis of Lagos has been graced by an architectural sensation. For the Microsoft branch there, the innovative Bavarian company ASB Architectural has installed a glass wall equipped with LEDs that functions like an enormous, digitally controlled screen. The screen covers an area of 7 m² and is equipped with LED lights spaced 0.94 mm apart. “This resolution is truly cutting edge. A higher resolution has never been installed anywhere”, says Christof Babinsky, managing director of ASB Architectural, who has already supported numerous projects of this kind. “In order to make good use of the high resolution of the LED modules, we had to develop our own glass for the screen in Lagos”.

Designing spaces flexibly and promoting interactions

ASB Architectural came to the attention of Microsoft Nigeria due to the impressive installation at the company’s European headquarters in Dublin. In the entrance area, a virtual waterfall pours into an artificial lake. The glass surfaces equipped with LEDs are a prime example of successful spatial design. “We aim to create spatial experiences, promote interaction and use spaces more flexible”, says Babinsky. “All this is made possible by our technology, which we always adapt precisely to on-site conditions and customer requirements”.

In the case of Microsoft Nigeria, the client wanted to create a digital window into the Microsoft world. Unlike in Ireland, where the pixel pitch is 25 mm, a pitch of less than 1 mm was chosen for the surface in Lagos. According to Babinsky, this is probably the “world record” to date. But the entrepreneur is less concerned with record breaking performances. “The installation has a strong effect on all visitors to the Microsoft branch. It is definitely a highlight”, says Babinsky. “The projects we plan are always statements and clearly enhance their surroundings. We aimed to design the installation in such a way that it would not be perceived as a screen. And that is the case in Lagos”.

Easy to clean, reflection-free and impressive in the long term run

The screen was integrated into a glass facade and is controlled by computer via an interface. The glass surface in front of the actual display covers 8.5 m². The colour of the surfaces not backed by LEDs has been adjusted so that the display is not visible when switched off. This highlights the meticulous attention to detail that ASB Architectural puts into its projects. The latter also applies to the glass that is placed in front of the LEDs and has several functions. “We use a special frosted glass”, says Babinsky. “This ensures that no reflections disturb the viewer and that a two-dimensional image is created by the rear projection. So as a viewer, you don’t perceive the projection as a string of pixels but rather as a high-resolution printed surface”. In addition to these optical advantages, the glass surface protects the LED lights from impacts. The scratch-resistant glass also ensures that the screen is easy to clean. The screen front in Lagos will thus remain a long-term experience for all those who visit this Microsoft branch.