By day, the building reveals its original form, while at night, its lighting design tells the story of the “myriad contexts” connected to the structure.
Lighting in architecture serves multiple purposes: it can fulfill practical needs, spark creativity to enhance aesthetic appeal, or create emotional connections that resonate with viewers. While lighting design typically aligns with the building’s function and characteristics, exploring multidimensional meanings through lighting remains a fascinating and challenging endeavor.
In the realm of modern commercial architecture, where trend and style dominate, the architectural team focused on the podium as the commercial centerpiece. This podium highlights the commercial atmosphere and creates an iconic urban perspective through its architectural form. During the initial lighting design stages, GD Lighting Design carefully considered the project’s positioning.
Attracting visitors and generating popularity are key attributes for modern businesses. However, in today’s saturated market, capturing attention and sparking discussion have become equally important. Consequently, the design approach was developed from a media studies perspective to foster engagement.
The concept of the “Crystal Crown” serves as the guiding inspiration for the lighting design. “Crystal” symbolizes clarity and purity, aligning with Wanda Plaza’s premium brand image. The word “Guan” (冠) is a homophone in Chinese with multiple meanings: it can mean a crown or hat, but also implies “above all” or “first place,” conveying a positive message about current investment and business prospects.
Using the building’s facade structure and commercial layout, various lighting colors establish distinct atmospheres. The gradient navy blue evokes a dynamic wave, while the vivid purple and warm orange flames become focal points under the night sky. This blend of gentleness and passion, introversion and exuberance, uses light as a medium to engage the brand, the city’s energy, and local residents—ultimately creating a diverse and vibrant city symbol.
GD Lighting International also employed indirect lighting techniques to create four layers of light and shadow effects, moving from the interior outward: background, lighting, frame, and skin layers. This approach enriches the media facade’s visual impact, enhances spatial hierarchy, and adds intricate lighting details. A dedicated lighting system was implemented on the skin layer to complete the effect.
The architectural structure of Wanda Plaza’s podium is a cantilevered multi-story curtain wall, housing commercial spaces inside. This unique structure posed significant challenges in terms of design and installation.
Following extensive collaboration with owners and architects, GD Lighting International made adjustments to the building structure and curtain wall design to better accommodate embedded and concealed lighting equipment. The design team carefully coordinated with architects and curtain wall consultants on details such as the treatment of background wall materials, channel widths within cavities, frame load-bearing capacity, wiring provisions, and installation allowances for surface-mounted fixtures.
In line with sustainable principles, GD Lighting International incorporated “carbon emissions” considerations into the urban night lighting design. For the Wanxiang City project, they implemented traditional energy-saving measures such as green energy sources, intelligent control systems, and timed lighting activation. Additionally, the lighting fixtures operate at partial power when fully on, controlled by the system to adjust scenes throughout the night. This strategy minimizes electricity consumption and prolongs fixture lifespan, supporting sustainable development goals.
From precise detail control to broad tonal displays, GD Lighting International applies expert techniques to interpret and analyze, creating a fresh visual identity for the Wanda Plaza series. This unique lighting language transforms the buildings at night, revealing a new charm and vitality through the concept of “a myriad of lights.”
Project Information
Project Name: Wuhan Wanda Plaza
Location: 668 Jianshe Avenue, Jiang’an District, Wuhan City, Hubei Province
Area: 190,000 square meters
Completion Date: May 2022
Lighting Design: GD Lighting Design Consulting Co., Ltd
Lead Lighting Designer: Wang Yanzhi
Lighting Design Team: Zheng Qinglai, Ren Hui, Li Shuang
Architectural Design: Lead8
Curtain Wall Consultant: Yinghaite Engineering Consulting (Beijing) Co., Ltd
Photography: Zhang Chao Architectural Photography Studio
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