Signify joins Illuminated River Project, work to begin on site in 2019
(UK) – The Illuminated River Project has brought in Signify as its Connected Lighting partner, with work scheduled to begin on site in early 2019.
The initial stage of the Illuminated River public art commission, which will light up London Bridge, Cannon Street, Southwark and Millennium Bridges, will commence in 2019, the Illuminated River Foundation has announced.
Following the granting of planning permissions, work will shortly commence on site, two years since the winning team was announced by the Mayor Sadiq Khan, with the first four bridges scheduled for completion in summer 2019.
Designed by light artist Leo Villareal and architects Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands, the light installation will span up to fifteen central London bridges, from Albert Bridge in West London to Tower Bridge in the City. The activation across the bridges will be phased, with a further section completing in 2020, and Illuminated River due to be fully delivered by 2022, subject to funding being secured.
The scheme has been developed in consultation and collaboration with more than 50 organisations on and around the river, including the Port of London Authority, Historic England, Cross River Partnership, seven local authorities, from whom 29 planning permissions and eighteen listed building consents have been granted.
Chair of the Board of Trustees, Neil Mendoza, said: “A tremendous amount of work has been done since the winning team of Leo Villareal and Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands was announced almost two years ago.
“Much of that work has been undertaken in collaboration with organisations up and down the river, including one of the largest and most detailed planning processes London has seen. We are grateful for the contribution of all our partners and look forward to continuing our work together.”
As developments on the project continue, it has also been announced that Signify, formerly Philips Lighting, will be the connected lighting partner. The lighting manufacturer will supply its Interact Landmark system and Philips Color Kinetics LED luminaires to light up the bridges with dynamic, artistic lighting effects via its centrally managed software.
“London’s bridges are world famous, but had become overlooked in terms of their potential to transform our capital city at night,” said Sarah Gaventa, Director at the Illuminated River Foundation. “What we are doing now, in partnership with Signify, to transform the bridges and riverfront, is groundbreaking.”
“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,” added Maria-Letizia Mariani, President of Europe, SVP at Signify. “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.”
