On the evening of May 22, the IALD (International Association of Lighting Designers) Education Trust hosted its annual benefit dinner in the Crystal Tea Room in Philadelphia, PA, USA, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the IALD and announce the winners of the 36th IALD International Lighting Design Awards. The IALD Lighting Awards include twelve Awards of Merit and eleven Awards of Excellence. Zhang Xin, associate professor at the Tsinghua University School of Architecture, won two of the prestigious awards: the Shimen Corridor Bridge in Songyang, Zhejiang province, built by Beijing DnA_Design and Architecture (main architect Xu Tiantian), won Award of Excellence; the Beigai Rice Barns in Wuzhen, Zhejiang province, built by Beijing Lu Studio (main architect Lu Xiang), won Award of Excellence.
Tsinghua University School of Architecture Professor Zhang Xin Receives the awards on behalf of X Studio of Lighting Design
The award-winning works are the most innovative and inspiring lighting design projects from around the world over the last twelve months, demonstrating the value of the winners’ lighting design in a global context.
Introduction of Shimen Corridor Bridge
Shimen Bridge, built in 1974, is a masonry (not concrete) arch bridge that links two neighboring villages next to Wuyang Yan, an ancient dam system. The old bridge was transformed into a gallery bridge open to pedestrians only, and the new covered bridge space now provides a panoramic view over Songyin River and a new public space for the villagers, thanks to the trees in middle of the bridge. The new timber-framed bridge has become a major traffic route for crossing the river and a venue for social activities (sightseeing, recreation), as the modern lighting design allows transportation (bridge deck horizontal illumination) and communication (face vertical illumination) at any time even during the night.
Nightscape lighting of the new bridge corridor
Nightscape lighting of the bridge body
The normal operating mode uses concealed lighting of 3000K color temperature installed at the upper parts of the longitudinal beams. The wooden roof panels reflect and diffuse the indirect light gently into the gallery space. This kind of light is suitable for contemplation and gazing over the water while crossing the bridge. Looking from afar, the bridge appears as a warm, dashed line spanning Songyin River.
The weekend operating mode creates a bright atmosphere and a gorgeous setting for market activities: the 3000K lighting bands installed along the inner edges of the arched frames illuminate the interior space and allow the passing villagers to recognize familiar faces and the goods offered for sale.
The old masonry bridge is a visual memory of the past still responsible for load bearing; and it enhances the beauty of structural form through light. This light is rather cold, echoing the natural light of the sky or moonlight reflected on water at night. It demonstrates the harmonious merging of the bridge with the landscape, and is used for the weekend market mode only.
The nightscape lighting of Shimen Corridor Bridge strengthens not only the connection between the villagers on each side of the river, but also attracts tourists. By doing so, it promotes the development of the local economy and the enhancement of the unique natural and cultural landscape of the region.
Introduction of Beigai Rice Barns
The exhibition halls and workshops of the Beigai Rice Barns in Wuzhen comprise a renovated exhibition hall, a newly built daylight exhibition hall, and a bridge crossing over the exhibition space. The new structures and installations activate the historical space that retains a spatial memory of the past, while transforming the old rice barn buildings into a magnificent modern museum.
Nightscape lighting of the Beigai Rice Barns in Wuzhen
The architectural design highlights the historical atmosphere of the Beigai Rice Barns, emphasizing the dialogue between old and new. The exterior of the old barns uses a dark color scheme, and vi