ARCHITECTURAL
project lighting design
Grand Canal, Hangzhou Concepto
67
EXTERIOR
CHINA
THE GRAND PLAN
HANGZHOU’S GRAND CANAL HAS BENEFITED FROM ROGER
CARBONI’S CHINESE LANTERN TREATMENT
The history of the city of Hang- government to study the lighting Grand Canal then to the canal The bank’s landscape is unified
zhou is closely linked to its master plan for the 10 kilometre network. It will help to highlight and enhanced by a blue green
geography and hydrology. The long site of the Grand Canal and its unique layout and indicate the light coming from LED projec-
first settlement was established to realise the final effect. With promenades at the rear of the av- tors (18x3W blue and 18x3W
beside the Qian Tang River but its wide range of international enues, which are almost invisible. green) that can vary from ice blue
the town grew when the construc- resources, Zhongtai invited Roger in wintertime to a warm green
tion of the Grand Canal started Narboni, from Concepto lighting LIGHTING FOR THE BANKS colour in summertime, and 400W
in 610 A.D. to connect Hangzhou design studio, famous worldwide The expectation of the client was a metal halide floodlight projectors
to Suzhou. This completed the for its ability to work with monu- colourful, dynamic lighting effect equipped with coloured filters.
incredible man-made construction mental water landscapes and with strong rhythms. After explor- The blue green lighting creates a
undertaken between 481 B.C. to recognised for its extensive experi- ing the historical and cultural con- mysterious and tranquil environ-
link Beijing in the North of China ence in lighting master plans. text of Hangzhou and examining ment that matches the personality
with Hangzhou 1,794 kilometres The merging of Chinese and the site numerous times, Roger of the Grand Canal.
away. European lighting cultures started Narboni and Zhongtai team This lighting creates a wonderful
After major initial development in at the beginning of January 2008 proposed a completely different misty impression on both sides,
the 10th century, the city became and ended with the success- concept to him. emphasising the beautiful curved
in the 12th century the Song ful presentation of the Ying Yue
dynasty’s diplomatic and cultural nightscape to the Governor and
capital of Southern China. the people of Hangzhou in Sep-
The Grand Canal then became tember 2008.
part of a large waterway network The aim of the joint lighting pro-
that created the current layout of posal was to reveal the existing
the city of Hangzhou and helped beauty of the site, its monumen-
the city to gradually increase its tality, its identity, its layout and the
prosperity. And the natural beauty richness of its architecture and
of the famous West Lake gave landscape. The lighting design-
strong added interest to the water ers did not want to decorate the
city. site with lights; on the contrary
The city of Hangzhou is currently they wanted light to express the
undergoing major development inner qualities and great potential
around the Qian Tang River, the of the Grand Canal nightscape.
West Lake, the Grand Canal and The lighting was also required to
the Xixi wetland to enhance its reveal, respect and express the
potential and its attraction for South Chinese culture.
tourists. And of course, the use of the last
The government of Hangzhou technologies of LEDs, mainly
decided in 2007 to transform the produced and made in China,
image of the Grand Canal and was obvious.
develop tourism by renewing the
canal bank promenades and THE LIGHTING MASTER PLAN
launching the construction of a The Lighting Master Plan for the
fleet of fifty boats for daytime and Grand Canal could become the
nighttime trips. It was decided as start of a wider lighting strategy
well to create beautiful lighting for Hangzhou, revealing the
that would enhance the Grand special atmosphere of its unique
Canal along a length of 10 kilo- and large water network at night.
meters in the inner centre of the The little canals play an impor-
city, attracting both Chinese visi- tant role for the population. They
tors and foreign tourists at night. are a place for a walk and they
At the end of 2007, Zhong- create a nice, peaceful impres-
tai Lighting Group, a lighting sion set against the background
total solution provider based in of large avenues. The lighting will
Hangzhou, was asked by the local gradually add beauty, firstly to the
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