Architectural Lighting

[Closet Classicist]

Architectural lighting.

It can transform your perception of a building and a city. Though Glasgow now has a strategy: 'City of Light'; and is taking its cue from Lyon in wanting to have a festival of architectural lighting; Glasgow doesn't have enough of it. There are too many buildings that could do with being lit up in the first place or at least lit up better.

The new City Chambers lighting is an improvement and the bridges over the Clyde look great. Exchange Square drapped in a net of lights could have looked awful but was actually dead romantic (why did they take it down?) However there are some bum notes. The two tower blocks in Cardonald with the dodgy blue lighting strips that look like fake snow for example. Sometimes its better to keep it as simple and elegant as possible and let it a building speak for itself.

Dunno if anyone saw this in yesterday's Herald:

http://www.theherald.co.uk/features/23898.html

Its an article about the King's Theatre centenary and how it is being lit up.

I was passing the Kings late last Thursday evening and they were in the process of testing the new lights as they stripped of the scaffolding from its refurbishment. Amazing. What a transformation. All Matcham's quirky little architectural details have been lovingly highlighted in a crisp white light. Sadly, given the article, it wasn't lit up last night so maybe its only for premiers?

What is great though is that they have stripped off the awkward 1950's canopy and reinstating the beautiful original Edwardian canopy is on their wish list. There is a photo of the original in the Evening Times' Times Past if anyone is interested. A swirl of melting liquorice. Matches Belgian and Catalan Art Nouveau for gaudiness. Glasgow is the poorer for its loss. I imagine it was removed for the second world war effort.

So any suggestions?

Cheers

CC