Dubai, UAE: Abu Dhabi’s Khalifa University and Dubai’s Office of the Future will share centre stage with stunning global architectural lighting projects this month in Dubai, as the Light Middle East Awards returns to celebrate the best in professional lighting design and technology.
A shortlist of 40 projects from 135 entries has been selected to contest nine project categories at the region’s preeminent awards programme for lighting design, while a revamped six product category line-up will be contested by 29 lighting products out of 117 entries.
Now in its 5th edition, the Light Middle East Awards in 2017 returns with the hugely competitive International Lighting Project of the Year category, where six shortlisted entries from France, USA (two entries), UK, Germany, and Italy made the cut.
The winner, along with 14 others will be crowned at a gala dinner ceremony at the conclusion of the Light Middle East trade show on 19 October at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Khalifa University was the only shortlisted project to be nominated for more than one category this year, with the UAE’s top ranked university looking to win the ultimate accolade for the Innovative Lighting, Exterior Lighting, and Sustainable Lighting project of the year categories.
Dubai-based Umaya Lighting Design was tasked with the interior and exterior lighting of the recent Khalifa University extension, which comprised 169,630sqm and four buildings. The approach considered the ambient lighting as the sum of individual lighting strategies, reducing the installed load and providing a balanced atmosphere.
“Trying to find a balance between creating an exciting story with the lighting design and complying with the Estidama standards for exterior spaces was a challenge,” said Alex Shaw, Design Director at Umaya Lighting Design.
“The lighting was studied extensively to ensure that the light pollution levels were limited to the acceptable range as per Estidama, the lighting level requirements were reached and the lighting power density was of an acceptable range.
“Finally, integrating the façade lighting fixtures into the landscape required thorough study to ensure that the fixtures merged well with the overall landscape design and didn’t stand out, but rather appeared to be part of the landscape.”
Meanwhile, Dubai’s Office of the Future – reputed to be the most advanced 3D printed office in the world – was also nominated as a finalist for the Innovative Lighting Project of the Year.
Greg Scott, Partner at Reynard Lighting, the consultancy behind the office’s lighting design, said it needed to provide an environment that was attractive, comfortable and that increased productivity.
“Working with a team that wouldn’t settle for anything less than the most energy efficient and sustainable solution was a challenge,” said Scott. “However whilst considering the comfort of the working environment, we provided subtly coordinated lighting that not only related to the lighting brief but also highlighted elements in the architectural design.
“The elements of the lighting design that feature eco-friendly and low energy solutions complement the futuristic and sustainable architectural design. The project demonstrates the use of natural light and LED sources to create attractive, comfortable yet sustainable and productive environment,” he added.
Other notables shortlisted for the Light Middle East Awards 2017 are Palazzo Versace by Light Touch in the Hotel Lighting Project of the Year; Molecule by Light.Func in the Restaurant or Bar Lighting Project of the Year; and IMG Worlds of Adventure by CD+M Lighting Design in the Entertainment and Leisure Lighting Project of the year.
The Light Middle East Awards 2017 gala evening will be attended by more than 600 industry professionals, and is one of the most popular features of Light Middle East, the region’s dedicated trade show for lighting design and technology, which takes place from 17-19 October 2017 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.
“The growing popularity of the Light Middle East Awards is an indication of how the lighting design profession has transformed into a highly competitive and increasingly cutting edge field,” said Ahmed Pauwels, CEO of Messe Frankfurt Middle East, the organiser of Light Middle East.
“The awards were instituted to honour the most talented and accomplished among our designers and celebrate their talent and achievements and we’re glad to have seen the initiative succeed in gaining widespread support from the community,” he added.
Now in its 12th edition, Light Middle East 2017 will feature more than 340 exhibitors from 30 countries, and will host a series of other features including the Think Light Conference, the Ready Steady Light Middle East lighting design competition, and Light.ication, a student lighting design competition.
To see the entire Light Middle East Awards 2017 shortlist, go to: http://www.lightme.net/lightme-awards/