ARCHITECTURAL
project Architect Lighting design
National Library of Belarus, Viktor Kramarenko / Walter Industries / GVA
56 MEDIA FACADE
Minsk Michael Vinogradov
BELARUS
STAR SHINES BRIGHT
The lighting system, which is
The 23-storey library is designed
integrated with the façade, consists in the form of a rhombicubocta-
of 4,646 STAR RGB colour-changing
hedron (diamond) and symbolises
LED fi xtures from GVA Lighting
the enormous value of knowledge
that mankind has stored in books.
The building is covered with glass
panels and during the day all 24
sides sparkle like a real diamond.
Architects Victor Kramarenko and
Michael Vinogradov wanted to
preserve and convey this vision at
night.
Professor Viktor Kramarenko
describes the challenge: “In the
evening, the sparkling effect van-
ishes. External flood type illumina-
tion of the building is not effective
(glass panels reflect light into
space). We suggested hiding the
light sources behind the glass to
create an illusion of a giant colour
display. 4,646 colour changing
LED fixtures were installed around
the building, effectively creating a
monitor with 25x25 metre sides
and 62 metres in diameter. As
a result, the spectators are able
to observe a fantastic show with
incredible dynamic plots from
hundreds of metres away. It is an
extraordinary creative venue for
lighting designers.”
The colour changing system was
designed and produced by Walter
Industries (Minsk, Belarus), a sub-
sidiary of GVA Lighting, Inc. The
system consists of 4,646 custom
made RGB light fixtures (STAR),
9S0!