ERCO x JUNG showroom at Ledigenheim Munich

The two design brands have seized the opportunity to open a collaborative showroom of around 450 square meters on the ground floor and basement of this special ensemble, in the former premises of a bank. As a leading international specialist in architectural lighting, ERCO demonstrates how the considered use of light effectively models spaces, supports activity and creates atmosphere. In parallel, JUNG showcases the breadth of intelligent switching and control systems – from classic designs to smart building solutions that combine comfort, aesthetics and functionality. Choosing Ledigenheim as the location makes a clear statement: Contemporary product design is presented not in a neutral space, but in a building of cultural and social relevance.

ERCO x JUNG – contemporary design and intelligent technology

Against this architectural backdrop, the two companies have created spaces that clearly express their core competences: smart switching and control, and efficient architectural lighting. Only the interplay of intelligent control and perception-oriented lighting makes spatial quality tangibly perceptible.

In close consultation with the heritage conservation authorities, architect Felicia Lehmann of Lehmann, Tabillion & Castorph Architektur Stadtplanung Gesellschaft mbH in Munich developed a design concept that respectfully carries forward the character of the existing building. Major conversions and extensions were deliberately avoided. Instead, the original scale of the rooms was restored. Plain white walls, restrained built-ins and a newly laid terrazzo floor reference the architecture of the period. The shared entrance area with lounge and café forms the connecting element between the two brand spaces, while the showrooms are arranged independently in the wings of the plan. The striking façade of Ledigenheim remains untouched; only the lighting in the inner courtyard has been re-interpreted and now enables various light scenes.

The JUNG showroom, by contrast, presents a clean, uncluttered impression with consultation and sampling zones. JUNG demonstrates the breadth and functionality of its switch ranges and control systems – from KNX and JUNG HOME to JUNG UNIQUE and Les Couleurs® Le Corbusier®.

At the centre of ERCO’s work is not the product, but the interplay of light and space – in the spirit of ’Light instead of luminaires’. This approach can be experienced directly in the new showroom: Architectural lighting and building technology enter into a dialogue that opens up new scope for design. We see this place as a living forum that we intend to enliven with workshops, events and special experiences in the future.“
Frank Busch, General Manager ERCO Leuchten GmbH

Cooperation as a guiding principle

The showroom is the result of collaborations: With ERCO and JUNG, two leading brands have combined their expertise to make architectural lighting and building technology tangible in a shared space. Each brand retains its own identity, while their interaction creates added value. The venue also thrives on dialogue in design terms. Alongside architect Felicia Lehmann, responsible not only for the fit-out of the showroom but also for heritage-compliant refurbishment across Ledigenheim, the in-house teams at ERCO and JUNG devised the exhibition areas. The showroom is also a joint project with additional partners: JAB ANSTOETZ Acoustics provides high-quality acoustic solutions, FSB supplies precisely engineered fittings and Sonos adds a sonic dimension that makes spaces a holistic experience.

These diverse collaborations underline the importance of an integrated approach to planning and construction. Architecture, lighting, technology, acoustics and material design only interlock harmoniously when manufacturers and planners avoid working in silos and embrace collaboration—driven by a shared commitment to finding the best solution.

“Ledigenheim is an exceptional setting for combining architectural history with contemporary building technology. Here we show how intelligent control solutions work in everyday life and how our guiding principle,'Progress as tradition', enters into dialogue with the existing fabric. Even more important for us, however, is that the showroom becomes a meeting place: for joint projects, inspiring formats and open exchange with architects and planners.”
Deniz Turgut, Head of Marketing JUNG

Showroom with signalling effect – for collaboration and building culture

The showroom is not only a presentation space, but also a meeting place. It opens up room for dialogue and exchange. It offers architects, planners and clients the opportunity to explore both brands in their full breadth and to experience the interplay of light, control and architecture. By choosing this location, ERCO and JUNG align their innovative strength with a significant building in the city’s history – sending a clear signal for collaboration, design quality and the responsible stewardship of architectural heritage.

Ledigenheim at Bergmannstraße 35 was built between 1926 and 1927 by Theodor Fischer in the New Objectivity style. Initiated by Ledigenheim München e. V. association, it provided a hostel for single men who could rent rooms with washing facilities at affordable rates. With originally 510 furnished units, communal kitchens and lounges, the four-storey, H -shaped complex, with a taller central wing and a portico open to the courtyard, set standards in uniting social commitment with modern architecture. To this day, it is the only surviving residence of its kind in Europe. Since the 1950s, the building has been progressively modernised: Rooms were combined, heating installed and fittings updated. To safeguard the building fabric and meet heritage requirements, several comprehensive refurbishment phases have been carried out in recent decades. Particularly formative was the heritage restoration begun in 2014, implemented in several construction phases to this day. Between 2016 and 2019 the building was technically modernised and structurally upgraded. The Munich office of Lehmann, Tabillion & Castorph Architektur Stadtplanung Gesellschaft mbH is currently responsible for renewing key areas – including refurbishment of residents’ corridors, fire-safety measures, a new lighting concept and the redesign of communal spaces such as the shared kitchen and dining room. In 2025, the office took on planning and construction management for the redesign of the showroom areas for ERCO and JUNG.

Today, Ledigenheim continues to fulfil its original purpose: It offers people on low incomes an affordable home in a central location. Some 380 furnished rooms are available to residents, supplemented by communal kitchens, sanitary facilities and lounges. Financing is provided primarily through rental income, supplemented by ground-floor commercial units and subsidies from the City of Munich. As such, Ledigenheim is not only an architectural monument of significance beyond the region, but also a place where social responsibility and building culture remain inextricably linked.

To Ledigenheim