Prize(s) Honorable Mentions
Lighting Design/Product Company Tongji Architectural Design Group Co.,Ltd
Lead Designers Yang Xiu, Qiu Feng, Bian Chen, Du Yiting, Wen Hailan, Cai Rong, Yang Wei, Fu Yangyang, Wang Hongbo
Architecture Company Tongji Architectural Design Group Co . , Ltd
Client Nanjing Yihe Historical Building Preservation and Utilization Co., Ltd.
Photo Credits ZYarch, Yang Xiu
Completion Date Jan 2024
Project Location Nanjing, China
Entry DescriptionThe Yihe Road Historical and Cultural District, in the Gulou-Qingliangshan Historic Urban Area, is one of China’s first national historical districts and the largest cluster of garden villas and embassies in Nanjing. Known as “One Yihe Road, Half the History of the Republic of China,” it features 285 unique buildings, including former embassies and legations, each holding significant historical value.
The lighting design, inspired by the concept of “Night at the Museum,” transforms Yihe Road into an outdoor museum. Each courtyard acts as a gallery, and each building serves as an exhibit. This lighting creates an immersive experience, enhancing visitor engagement and the area’s commercial vitality.
Integrated Building and Landscape Lighting: The design unifies buildings and courtyards, using warm 3000K lighting to foster a peaceful ambiance.
Interactive Lighting: Collaborative installations engage residents and tourists, complementing the architectural style.
Protective Lighting Installation: Surface-mounted fixtures minimize impact on the buildings. Ground lights and tree-mounted projectors ensure optimal illumination while preserving the architecture.
As night falls, the district illuminates, keeping the city’s memory alive. Yihe Road, Section 11, has become a landmark for architectural preservation in Nanjing.
Sustainability Approach(1) Interactive Wall Lighting System: The lighting design team created interactive installations with glass brick walls that echo demolished courtyard walls, enhancing commercial activity in Section 11. Themes like “Autumn in Yihe” and “Qinhuai Lantern Festival” are reflected through radar sensors that detect movements, translating them into RGBW LED color changes.
(2) Ground Navigation System: Illuminated bricks guide foot traffic to key areas with dynamic blinking patterns.
(3) Protective Lighting Installation: Installation methods ensure no damage to original structures, using discreet fixtures for a “see light, not fixtures” effect.
(4) Energy Saving: The design optimizes brightness based on material reflectance, using high-efficiency LED fixtures and a DMX512 system for customized lighting scenes.
