International city.people.light award 2008 - Background information

First prize: Seoul, South Korea

Seoul Jung-gu Cheonggye Plaza to Seongdong-gu Sindapcheolgyo Railroad Bridge (5.84 km)

Lighting Design:  Ko, Kyung-Ju, Ha, Mee-jung, Kwoon Hyung Joon, Lee Yeon So

Project type:
Several places have been illuminated.
Cheonggye Plaza: Plaza, Miniature Cheonggye, wall fountain and sculptures.
Promenade: tree illumination on walkways along both banks / step illumination of stream bank protection, willow marsh
A total of 22 bridges: Mojeonggyo, Gwantonggyo. Gwanggyo. Jangtonggyo. Sewolgyo, Imsisupyogyo. Gwansugyo. Baeogaedari, etc.
Lighting for a total of 12 watercourses

• Water fountain: Samgak-dong wall fountain 
• Waterside deck: Gwansugyo stream bank steps, Samgak-dong lower deck
• Stepping stones: Gwanggyo and six other areas
• Shallow areas: whirpool, the lower part of Gwacheongyo

Precise illumination of walkways, illumination of restored structures

Project philosophy:

• Nature-friendly lighting serves to illuminate the cultural beauty as well as a variety of  distinct characteristics specific to each district.
• Recognition of the historical significance by means of light zoning, targeting areas with historical and cultural facets and using light zoning to illuminate the cultural assets in an effort to attract tourism to the city.
• Increasing the amount of night-time activity by creating a pleasant atmosphere in the heart of the city. Creating a place of rest and relaxation by installing welcoming and interesting nighttime lighting.
• Focus on tourists and residents. A cultural space for the young and old that will also appeal to foreign tourists. A place to shop, a place to experience the remnants of history as well as traces of steps towards the future. Overall, this is a friendly and welcoming environment for tourists and residents alike.

Second prize: Riga, Latvia

Project type:
Riga Railway Bridge across the river Daugava was built as part of the Riga – Bolderaja railway line for two-track train traffic. It stretches across the main section of the river Daugava in 5 spans made up of a system of continuous solid metal seams with supports between each of the structures. The bridge connects the right and the left banks of the river Daugava.

Project philosophy:
The project is based on a concept to link the banks of the Daugava at Riga. Five railway bridge stages that are interconnected and rest upon base pylons together form the overall structure that is a reminder of Riga’s past. This historic monument has been livened up during the hours of darkness by a play of color on the classic bridge structure using modern technology, thus retaining the bridge’s historical features whilst at the same time highlighting the bridge in a more modern way.

Third prize: St Gallen, Switzerland

Lighting design: Vogt & Partner

Project type:
This area of the town consists of several residential, administration and bank buildings as well as a “Church of the Jews”. The entire area is scattered with shops, bars and restaurants and is also used by cyclists and motorists.

As if in a children’s game, the spatial design had to lift up everything in the area (houses, trees, traffic signs, etc.) and set them back down again on a red carpet. At the same time, soft objects were left under the carpet to invite people to sit down, lie around and play. The aim was to turn this external space into a living room to be shared by everyone.

The lounge, realized in the form of a public living-room space, was structured to form individual areas with different room themes such as “café”, “relaxation lounge”, “business lounge”, etc.  The concept was implemented consistently, right up to the floating lights with different lighting effects. The persons in charge of this project are convinced that this unique “city lounge” has the potential to give “Raiffeisen Schweiz” and the city of St Gallen an image that will upgrade this area and give it a sensual and emotional quality.

Project philosophy:
The outdoor living room aims to project a “homely, lounge-type” light atmosphere at dusk and at night. It was to be created using floating, organic-style bubbles on the “ceiling” which fluoresce in different subtle colors. When the area is used purely as a thoroughfare, the lighting can be switched over and reduced on the periphery and during the winter to a deep, broad radiating light. The lighting meets all the standard requirements one would expect from energy-efficient, low-maintenance city lighting. Self-cleaning nano surfaces, integrated heat intelligence and the simplest servicing design will ensure consistent lighting for the next 25 years.

This year 27 cities competed for the award:

Aalborg, Denmark
Biella, Italy
Durango, Mexico
Eindhoven, Netherlands
Exeter, UK
Follonica, Italy
Fornebu, Norway
Gimhae, South Korea
Glasgow, UK
Jyvaskyla, Finland
Kalundborg, Denmark
Karlsruhe, Germany
Kocaeli, Turkey
Lyon, France
Moscow, Russia
Navalcarnero, Spain
Opole, Poland
Prato, Italy
Riga, Latvia
Saint Etienne, France
São Paulo, Brazil
Schwaebisch Hall, Germany
Seoul, South Korea
St Gallen, Switzerland
Stockholm, Sweden
Surgeres, France
Ypres, Belgium