As the seasons change and the nights grow longer, our thoughts turn to the festive season, raising our spirits as the city streets are transformed into a winter wonderland, the stores adorned with glittering lights in anticipation of the busiest time of the year. Thanks to the increasing popularity of the system of LED light bulbs, the new generation energy efficient lighting solution, this decorative trend need no longer lead to inflated energy bills.
In December 2012, the Swedish brand IKEA introduced their new line of low powered, highly efficient light bulbs Ledaire, through a collaboration with the Portuguese practice of LIKEarchitects, a small group of professionals who are sensitive to the current socio-economic climate and as such, have focused their unique pioneering vision on creating a series of innovative, thought provoking installations.
LEDscape, an interactive maze like walkway, was located in the courtyard of the Centro Cultural de Belem in Lisbon, Portugal. Visitors and passersby were invited to participate, to enter and stroll around the group of 1200 flickering pulsating LED lights, experience and absorb the impact and beauty, while not dismissing the sustainable relevance of the viability of this alternative system of lighting, expressed in an equally alternative manner.
This was not the first collaboration between IKEA and LIKEarchitects and perhaps will not be the last. It is exciting to witness the introduction of a product through the medium of art, a system of marketing which addresses the value of public art installations through the enthusiasm of its participants; let’s hope that this is a trend which will become more popular in the future to culturally illuminate our public spaces!
