FX – August 2019

075

WINSTON CHURCHILL apparently once
sent his pudding back on the grounds that
it lacked a theme. It’s rather like that when
reviewing award-winners. It is helpful to
draw conclusions, identify a trend or spot
some kind of synergy. But awards aren’t
always that straightforward or obliging. In
fact, as any awards judge knows, one of
the most challenging aspects of the process
is comparing unlike with unlike: the low
and big budget, the simple and the
complex, the modest and the grandiose.
But one thing that unites the four IALD
Award of Excellence schemes featured
here, which include the crème de la crème
Radiance award, is that they all demonstrate
the significant impact a good lighting
scheme can have on the nightscape.
While the concern for overlighting, light
pollution and energy usage should inform
any exterior scheme, it is clearly also
important that beautiful landmark
buildings shouldn’t disappear at dusk.

A continuous, uniform band of light wraps

around the curved structure of the Meixi

Urban Helix on Lake Meixi, a natural

extension of the architectural concept

that merges the natural element of water

with the man-made structure. The infinity

theme is emphasised by keeping all

other structural elements – the radiant

vertical helix columns and the undulating

wave structure of the bridge – dark

in contrast.

The effect is achieved with

concealed linear LED cove uplighting to

the ramp canopy. The visual depth stems

from the RGBW-capable luminaires that

are adjusted to distinguish the outer

ramp surface from the inner surface. All

other lighting uses similar motifs and

curves to emphasise helices, the flow

of water and the spiralling nature of the

structure itself. On the perimeter of the

inner ramp, miniature marker lights

guide visitors up and down the helix,

while also providing sparkle. Their

low-level output means they avoid

disrupting the panoramic night-time

views for visitors.

Radiant in-grade lines also replicate

the paving pattern that begins at the

centre of the helix. Concealed step lights

and under-bench lighting accent the

stage and steps. Miniature in-grade LED

uplights highlight the edge of the vertical

structural elements, generating the image

of a spiralling ribbon, another fluid

design element.

MEIXI URBAN HELIX, CHANGSHA, CHINA

LIGHTING DESIGN Office for Visual Interaction (OVI)

AWARD Award of Excellence

PROJECT INFO

Architect KSP Jürgen Engel

Architekten

JUDGES’ VERDICTS

‘An excellent integration

of lighting with the overall

structure.’

‘The team from Office for

Visual Interaction succeeded

in ensuring every lighting

effect truly mirrors the intent

of the architects in combining

water and urbanity.’