Signify, formerly Philips Lighting, has been announced as the connected lighting partner to illuminate up to 15 of London’s iconic bridges by 2022.
The contract was awarded by the Illuminated River Foundation to reinvigorate the city’s famous River Thames bridges and further differentiate London as one of the world’s most attractive, leading capital cities. Signify won the contract to supply its Interact Landmark system and Philips Colour Kinetics LED luminaires to light up the bridges with dynamic, artistic lighting effects via its centrally managed software. In addition, Signify will provide lifecycle services to remotely monitor and manage the connected bridge lighting for the next 10 years.
This is the first time there has been a holistic strategy to light up all of central London’s bridges. The aim is to create a multi-level visual experience for the bridges viewed by pedestrians on the bridges, from London’s riverbanks, from the air, from tall buildings and by boat.
The project is led by the Illuminated River Foundation, which ran an international design competition for the lighting design which was won by international artist, Leo Villareal and London architects, Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands. Following a rigorous evaluation, Signify was awarded the project because of its global breadth and expertise in lighting and ability to deliver such an important, large-scale, connected lighting project. Also, a key factor was Signify’s experience of working with lighting designers and architects on the management of dynamic, architectural lighting scenes.
“London’s bridges are world-famous but had become overlooked in terms of their potential to transform our capital city at night,” commented Sarah Gaventa, director, Illuminated River Foundation. “What we are doing now, in partnership with Signify, to transform the bridges and riverfront, is groundbreaking. We are using dynamic, energy-efficient LED lighting for the first time on up to 15 London Bridges with Signify’s Interact Landmark system to create public art on the largest scale ever seen.”
Maria-Letizia Mariani, president of Europe, EVP, Signify, adds, “Light is one of the most powerful means of breathing new life into leading cities and metropolitan areas, heralding a new era of urban design and beautification. We’ve lit bridges around the world and seen first-hand the positive impact that dynamic architectural lighting has on transforming local communities and economies. It’s wonderful to give the people of London stunningly-lit bridges with some lit up for the first time.”
Phase one commencing now will see four bridges illuminated by mid-2019 with connected Philips Color Kinetics LED luminaires, featured on London Bridge, Cannon Street Railway Bridge, Southwark Bridge and Millennium Bridge. Signify’s Interact Landmark system will remotely monitor and manage the lighting on all four bridges.
