Dubai, UAE: The world’s iconic architectural lighting projects will share centre stage with stunning regional designs this week in Dubai, as a revamped programme shines the spotlight on the best of global professional lighting design at the Light Middle East Awards 2016.
A shortlist of 56 entries from more than 200 submissions has been selected to contest 12 categories at the annual showcase, where more than 600 industry professionals will gather to recognise, celebrate, and reward lighting design technology, excellence and innovation.
Responding to the growing popularity of the competition and diversity of submissions, organiser Messe Frankfurt Middle East introduced several new ‘project of the year’ categories to the Light Middle East Awards 2016, most notably for projects in Entertainment & Leisure Lighting, Exterior Lighting, International Lighting, and Restaurants & Bars.
The International Lighting Project of the year in particular attracted outstanding entries from 11 countries, underlining the growing global status of the Middle East’s premier lighting design awards programme.
Projects from Australia, Brazil, Germany, China, and Sweden, made the final cut for the International Lighting Project of the year, with the winner, along with 11 others, to be crowned at a gala dinner ceremony at the conclusion of the Light Middle East trade show on 2 November 2016 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The Mall of Scandinavia in Stockholm by ÅF Lighting is among the five shortlisted international projects. Completed in late 2015, the mall is one of Europe’s largest and most modern shopping centres.
Working closely with Wingårdh Architects and Unibail-Rodamco throughout the five-year project, ÅF Lighting designed the lighting for all interior spaces, from the functional illumination of the underground parking, to the extravagant light features in the entrances piazzas and along walkways.
“The Mall of Scandinavia is tastefully filled with overwhelming visual experiences and the outstanding 3D pixel ceiling in the dining area is a jaw-dropping centrepiece by itself,” said Jim Collin, the Manager of ÅF Lighting.
“The ceiling consists of 3,200 suspended two-metre programmable luminous poles, covering an eighty by eight meter atrium. The impressive installation adds colour and movement, in order to stimulate the senses and entice shoppers to linger and return.”
Closer to home, luxury car manufacturer Bentley’s landmark showroom on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai was selected as a finalist among four projects for the Retail Lighting Project of the year.
UAE-based LEME Design was tasked with the design and supply for indoor and outdoor lighting in the world’s largest Bentley showroom. Sanuj Kohli, Group Executive Director of LEME, said the project, which consisted entirely of LEDs, took eight weeks to deliver.
“We managed to meet the deadline by running dedicated production lines for this particular project,” said Kohli. “We used 8-10 different types of LED luminaires to achieve optimum energy efficiency, enabling an 85 per cent saving on power consumption as compared with conventional lighting sources.”
Commenting on the Light Middle East Awards, Kohli added: “It’s always a proud moment when your company’s work is recognised, especially as a local company. This is the first standalone Bentley showroom in the world. The project has made several headlines globally and has completely changed the automotive retail space in terms of design.”
The 4th edition of the Light Middle East Awards is one of the most popular features of Light Middle East, the region’s dedicated trade show for lighting design and technology, which opens tomorrow (31 October) at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Ahmed Pauwels, CEO of Messe Frankfurt Middle East, said: “The Light Middle East Awards is a celebration, not only for the lighting design industry, but for all stakeholders, whether manufacturers, architects, interior designers, developers, clients, right through to the end-users.”
“It’s fitting that we’re bringing together the entire global lighting design community for this annual celebration in Dubai, which itself is a regional hub of enduring innovation and creativity. The popularity of the International Project of the year category in particular has justified our decision to expand the reach of the awards in 2016, as we spotlight developments that are igniting imaginations in other parts of the world.”
Now in its 11th edition, Light Middle East 2016 will feature more than 370 exhibitors from 30 countries, and will host a series of other features including the Light Middle East Conference, the Ready Steady Light design competition, and Light.ication, a student lighting design showcase. To see the entire Light Middle East Awards 2016 shortlist, go to: www.lightme.net.