May 16, 2018 - An exceptional project in Pula won a prestigious award for notable architectural and lighting design
The Istrian city of Pula houses many a captivating sight: the ancient Roman arena, majestic temples and fortresses, and for an industrial touch, several illuminated cranes in Uljanik shipyard. One more object joined the ranks of eye-catching attractions last year, the new roundabout in Šijana neighbourhood.
Danijel Bartolić / IALD Press
What looks like an average part of urban infrastructure in daytime hours turns into a visual spectacle at night. Created by lighting designer Dean Skira and architects Dino Krizmanić and Leonid Zuban, the gigantic rotunda lights up after sundown, illuminating the night with alternating colours, shapes and visual effects. The circular construction is comprised of 340 white poles which release water vapor at different angles - pair it with wind and light, and you get an ever-changing work of art in the open.
Danijel Bartolić / IALD Press
Pula's roundabout is now gaining international exposure. The project won the IALD Special Citation in Chicago just last week, an award granted by the International Association of Lighting Designers for notable projects in the field of architectural lighting design. The award ceremony was held at Revel Fulton Market on May 9, marking the 35th founding anniversary of IALD.
Damir Bosnjak / IALD Press
The roundabout won Special Citation for Collaborating on an Iconic Civil Landmark. "The biggest roundabout in Croatia covers 15,000 square meters and actually serves as an efficient rainwater drainage system to resolve the community’s flooding problem. During the daytime, the white circular structure adds harmony to the chaos of the traffic pattern; at night, the vibrant and unique lighting image welcomes tourists to town. A control system allows a variation in lighting scenes, and is connected with the meteorological station. This allows the lighting and fog effects to be adjusted with real-time wind strength and the time of the day", cites IALD. According to one of the judges, the installation "radically transforms a utilitarian space into a dynamic landmark" - watch the video below to get an impression:
