Lighting solutions have become an integral part of architecture. It\u2019s hard to find landmark buildings in big cities that remain hidden in the twilight after dark. Artificial lighting not only creates a recognizable, distinctive evening image, but also reveals the unique features of architecture, shapes the perception of an object, defines its interaction with the surroundings, and organizes hierarchy and even navigation within the urban space.<\/p>\n
Urban architecture is diverse and multifaceted. It reflects history and modernity, the peculiarities of city life and residents\u2019 lifestyles, future development plans and aspirations. For iconic urban architectural landmarks, custom lighting designs are developed to convey the ideas embedded in the architecture by the project\u2019s authors after dark. Let\u2019s look at some examples.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
MATREX (MATREX \/ Matryoshka)<\/strong> is the main public building located within the Skolkovo Innovation Center, designed by the BERNASKONI architectural firm in consortium with leading international experts. The architectural structure is a unique hybrid, combining modern elements in architecture, science, and art. Even the name itself derives from the words “Matryoshka” and “Matrix.” The building combines various modern functions: it houses offices, a museum space, a restaurant\/observation deck, an official residence, and a transformable hall.<\/p>\n During the day, the building appears as a truncated glass pyramid, but its true form, a matryoshka doll, emerges at dusk. The recognizable shape of the traditional Russian doll becomes visible within the glass pyramid thanks to the interior atrium lighting. The “body” of the matryoshka doll is illuminated by luminaires with special optics that eliminate glare and create a “lights off” effect when the lighting fixtures are on. The evenly illuminated walls on each floor of the atrium’s interior form a large-scale matryoshka doll, visible from the street through the glazed facade.<\/p>\n Another iconic Moscow landmark, beloved by tourists and a favorite among locals, is Zaryadye Park near the Kremlin. This modern park is ideal for relaxation, entertainment, and learning. Although its official opening took place only recently, on City Day in 2017, it feels as if this recognizable urban space has been there for ages. It combines history, modern technology, and, of course, nature.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Modern public spaces must meet a broader set of requirements: in addition to functionality, safety, ergonomics, and aesthetics, they must be inclusive, technologically advanced, and create a vibrant experience. Zaryadye Park is a multifunctional complex. One of its key features is the Media Center<\/strong>, designed by Timur Bashkaev Design Bureau. <\/p>\n New approaches to urban infrastructure development are becoming increasingly relevant and meaningful to city residents. These encompass not only comfortable walks in courtyards and parks, access to essential infrastructure (shops, cafes\/restaurants, schools, and kindergartens), but also more subtle aspects\u2014spirituality. For example, on the site of the former Tushino airfield, city authorities decided to build an urban cluster for 30,000 people. Remarkably, construction began not with residential buildings, but with an Orthodox church dedicated to St. Vladimir, the Baptizer of Rus’. This approach to planning a new district is an exceptional precedent in modern church construction. The white-stone Church of St. Vladimir the Great<\/strong>, designed by the SPEEH architectural bureau, features a facade with textured floral ornamentation, giving the classical architecture a new, contemporary look. A lighting design solution was developed for the church, helping to foster a unique perception of the sacred through the architecture’s evening appearance. Architectural lighting helps convey its purity and lightness. The building appears to be floating above the ground, soaring upwards with its snow\u2011white facade. This sensation is created by the deliberate decision not to highlight the stylobate section \u2014 which houses the Sunday school and is clad in grey slabs \u2014 with light. Thanks to the contrast between the dark lower tier and the white upper tiers, a visual effect of the building\u2019s elevation is formed at dusk. This technique emphasizes the elevated nature of the church, while the lighting of the entrance area creates a compositional connection between earth and sky.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Another landmark building, a grand cultural facility in Kazan, deserves special mention: the new Kamal Theatre<\/strong>, which was officially opened in January 2025. It is both a multifunctional cultural center and a public space. The new theatre was designed by Wowhaus in collaboration with Kengo Kuma and Associates, co-authors of the winning concept in the 2022 international competition. Tatinvestgrazhdanproekt was the general designer. The architects faced an ambitious task: to embody a new national symbol for Kazan and Tatarstan. They succeeded in combining centuries-old Tatar cultural traditions with cutting-edge theatrical and acoustic solutions, creating a permeable cultural space. The theatre’s concept is based on the harmonization of nature, culture, and the urban environment. The triangular elements of the facade simultaneously reference two sources: the natural phenomenon of “ice flowers” on Lake Kaban and the architectural features of the historic Kamal Theatre building. The concept is based on three figurative layers\u2014three levels of spatial interpretation: the first is the interior space, the second is the theater’s shell, and the third is the glass facade with triangular elements. The lighting design solution helped to tie together all three spatial layers and convey the project’s intent.<\/p>\n “Light spreading from within” is the key concept behind the lighting design solution developed for the facade of the new G. Kamal Theater. The architectural feature of the Kamal Theater’s facade is its triangular panels, reminiscent of the petals of an “ice flower.” In the evening, these are dramatically highlighted by the light. Each petal is unique, so individual lighting design solutions were developed for each section of the multi-scale structure. The facade features tunable white lighting technology, allowing for the adjustment of the color temperature of white light. This allows for the creation of different visual impressions depending on the time of day, season, or events. Thanks to the lighting control systems, the theater building becomes a dynamic, emotional object: according to preset scenarios, it brightens during events, creating a celebratory atmosphere, and afterward, it switches to night mode, saving energy. <\/p>\n Squares and parks often serve as iconic urban spaces, regardless of their size. Historic sites, typically located in the city center, are often small, but they boast centuries of history. Even when they undergo visual transformation (reconstruction), they retain their historical value and acquire new, relevant meanings. For example, the reconstruction project for Triumphalnaya Square by the architectural firm BUROMOSCOW, with landscape design by ARTEZA, was completed in 2015. Triumphalnaya Square<\/strong> has become a symbol of youth, freedom, and romance\u2014it is the first major public space in central Moscow to be reconstructed after the change of city administration. During the renovation, the square’s structure was optimized for pedestrian convenience, while landscaping and hardscape helped to delineate the area. The motto of the legendary band SMID\/\u0421\u041c\u041e\u0413, whose performances were heard here in the 1960s, served as inspiration: “Courage, Thought, Image, Depth”\u2014these words became the project’s manifesto. The courage lies in leaving the city “breathing space,” the thought lies in understanding its value, the image of the square lies in freedom and the spirit of youth, and the depth lies in the delicate work of architects, landscapers, and lighting designers who poured their heart and soul into every detail. The reconstruction project is not a simple landscaping overhaul, but a return of significance to the square.<\/p>\n The new square is delicately integrated into the urban landscape, seemingly continuing its natural lines. On the Garden Ring side, it is elevated by 1.5 meters, creating a quiet island away from the traffic. Wide steps lead down to a cozy public garden, inviting visitors to stroll\u2014a similar approach has been used along the facades of the Ministry of Economic Development and the Moscow Committee for Architecture and Urban Planning. Granite paving, laid in three shades, echoes the rhythm of the Tchaikovsky Hall facade and extends to Tverskaya Street. Metal swings and outdoor furniture add a contemporary touch to the space without disrupting the overall harmony. Triumphal Square is illuminated by projectors installed on tall poles around the perimeter. These luminaries ensure the required level of illumination without visually overloading the space. Landscape lighting design is also included, creating soft accents and adding dynamism and volume. As an additional decorative feature, vertical illumination is included: it highlights the architectural lines of the square’s colonnade and adds expressiveness to the swings, beloved by city residents, at night.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":5503,"template":"","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false},"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/qpro.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/smi\/5500"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/qpro.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/smi"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/qpro.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/smi"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qpro.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5503"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/qpro.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5500"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nThe Media Center stands out for its futuristic, snow-white facade. The interior space showcases its technological potential. The main visual focal point of the interior is the impressive ceiling, which has become a recognizable symbol of the building’s interior. The architects created an installation of polycarbonate tubes of varying lengths, creating a volume on the ceiling. Lighting fixtures with asymmetrical optics are used to create a comfortable lighting environment and visual effects. Soft lighting on the walls conveys the volume of the room and accents the art object made of “threads,” while hidden light sources create a streaming light effect. Specially designed lighting scenarios allow for a play of color and light, simulating the sky and sunset: iridescent colors from green to violet create a “northern lights” effect on the custom ceiling installation. Light refraction in the material additionally creates unusual chiaroscuro patterns on the floor, reminiscent of star rays.<\/p>\n
\nThe ancient legend of the treasures of Lake Kaban inspired the decor of the theater’s public spaces. The architects embodied the theme in detail: an “icy” roof, the flowing lines of the undulating ceiling, and massive walls whose shapes resemble ancient vessels\u2014the very same ones in which, according to legend, treasures were hidden. The theater’s walls are decorated with patterns inspired by traditional Tatar women’s jewelry. The shades of metal and the multi-layered decor create a sense of lightness and lace. During the day, the petals interact with natural light, changing their appearance depending on the time of day, and at night they come alive thanks to artificial lighting. Backlighting highlights details and adds volume. A suspended spotlight system, echoing the curves of the petals and creating dramatic highlights on the golden patterns, completes the look.
\nThe lighting solution for the adjacent area of the Kamala Theater was developed as a logical continuation of the overall lighting concept. The theatre building remains the center of the composition and its most striking feature, while landscape lighting provides a soft frame, highlighting the building’s architectural merits and creating a cohesive image in the evening.<\/p>\n