West 8 wins 1st prize Lighting Master Plan Helsinki

On 10th October 2012, West 8 – in association with Speirs + Major | Designers working with light – has been announced the winner of the Lighting Master Plan for the future urban development Kruunuvuorenranta in Helsinki. Our Luonnon Lyhdyt “Natural Lanterns” entry will share 1st prize with “Into the Light” of Team Bartenbach.

On the site of a former oil harbor, a new residential area with 10,000 dwellings will be constructed. The Lighting Master Plan is meant to give guidance to the development of Kruunuuorenranta by creating a functional lighting plan and by introducing an attractive nightscape seen from a distance. Both the proposed landscape and illumination plan anticipate on the natural sources in terms of quality of darkness, use of local materials and site heritage. By emphasizing the natural scenery a strong sensation of being in Kruunuvuorenranta has been created.

The water surface provides a highly reflective foreground which, when fluid, will create a broken, animated reflection of the lit image of the waterfront – in effect almost doubling the perceived quantity of light present when viewed from across the water. Light will therefore be minimized and be used sensitively to reveal gateways, selected heritage features and Neighborhood Lantern Pegs.