Project Overview

The brief: humanize a cold, unattractive pedestrian underpass. Located near Hotel Elizabeth on a main city route, the space was heavily used but visually uninviting.

As part of the European Capital of Culture Trenčín 2026, the studio : designed an LED ceiling installation that transforms the space into a soft, immersive environment. Using 130 RGB addressable LED pixels, the ceiling now simulates a moving sky.

A thick white textile layer was installed below the pixels. Once illuminated, it diffuses the light and creates the illusion of clouds flowing across the sky.

The Challenge

  • A pixel LED installation in a public underpass comes with real-world constraints:

  • Despite these challenges, reactions from the public were positive from the beginning. People were curious and excited to see the transformation.

  • Custom wiring: All pixels were connected using custom-made Ethernet cables, produced directly on-site.

  • Ceiling construction: It was necessary to drill holes into the structure and mount each LED pixel precisely.

  • Public operation: The underpass remained fully open, with constant pedestrian traffic during the entire build.

  • Weather conditions: Cold, wind, and unstable spring weather made installation physically demanding.

Technical Solution

The installation is based on analog RGB pixels controlled via SPI protocol, combining simplicity with precise control.

At the core is an LED Ethernet controller (LEC3) acting as a powerful SPI pixel controller. This type of system is commonly used in professional LED installations and works similarly to an Art-Net LED controller or eDMX to SPI converter.

Key elements of the system:

  • addressable LED pixel strip concept
  • SPI protocol LED control
  • LED Ethernet controller (LEC3)
  • custom Ethernet signal distribution
  • LED Strip Studio software for programming

In Operation

The installation is designed to be simple and interactive.

A router hidden in the ceiling enables wireless access.
Users can connect via smartphone using and switch between 7
pre-programmed lighting effects.

These effects were created to resemble natural sky movement:

  • slow
    cloud transitions
  • soft
    gradients
  • calm
    ambient lighting

Future Expansion

The system is ready for live control and performance
use.

It can be connected via Ethernet to external software such
as:

This allows real-time control, making the installation
suitable for events, performances, or interactive digital art
experiences.

Result

In one week of work by a two-person team, a previously dull
and uninviting underpass was transformed into a modern architectural
LED installation.

This project shows how addressable LED
strip technology, LED mapping software, and thoughtful design can turn
everyday infrastructure into a unique visual experience.