LEDs Help Leipzig Win 1st Prize in the 2014 city.people.light Awards

Copenhagen LED's

The German city of Leipzig has been awarded first prize for its urban regeneration of Richard-Wagner-Platz in the 12th annual city.people.light awards ceremony in Dubrovnik, Croatia.

Organized by Royal Philips, the global leader in lighting, and the Lighting Urban Community International Association (LUCI), this annual international award recognizes urban lighting projects which best demonstrate creative efforts to plan sustainable lighting infrastructure into city redevelopment initiatives for the benefit and well-being of those who live, work, visit or do business in the city. This year the competition had entries coming from all 5 continents making the award contest a global competition. 

The site of a 10th century market settlement from which the city of Leipzig was born, Richard-Wagner-Platz is steeped in political and architectural history from the Middle Ages through to the fall of Communism. The unique lighting atmosphere matches the city’s architecture with warm white light to illuminate buildings, sculptural fountains and a skate park. Many different interests were incorporated in the final result to create the right atmosphere with modern contemporary LED lighting, preserve and highlight historic fixtures, and make significant energy savings for the city.

Philips and LUCI created the city.people.light awards more than a decade ago to celebrate the most sustainable urban regeneration projects that creatively use light to improve the lives and experience of citizens and visitors, alike. “The projects submitted this year were of an outstanding quality and set a new standard for the cities of the future,” says Vojislav Radovic, Philips Outdoor Lighting Manager South District C&EE. “The Leipzig project was not only innovative for crowd-sourcing ideas from citizens, and delivering city beautification and safety, but also for negotiating the delicate balance of commemorating complex heritage with cutting edge lighting technology.”

Runners up

Second prize: Bicycle snake bridge, Copenhagen, Denmark. The Bicycle Snake is a long, red sculptural bridge exclusively for cyclists. It is a unique and exciting ride high above sea level, separating cyclists from pedestrians and sheltering the quayside below. At night, the bridge is softly illuminated with built-in lighting in the handrail to enrich the area with a bright, visual element. The jury this year was impressed by the limited lighting used, meaning no additional energy consumption for lighting effects and no glare. 

Lighting Strasborough

Third prize: Place du Château, Strasbourg, France. Place du Château is an iconic square adjoining Notre Dame Cathedral. This project set out to transform it into an outstanding feature of the Grande-Île, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The jury was impressed by the incorporation of light on both vertical and horizontal surfaces, a challenge which was executed in a unique, sophisticated and outstanding way. The rigorous year-long preparation process involving citizens included conferences, guided tours, workshops and questionnaires, and added to the credibility of the final result.

Lighting Copenhagen

 

Related Articles


Changing Scene

  • July 28, 2025 - Eureka Wins Multiple SIT Furniture Design Awards

    Eureka Wins Multiple SIT Furniture Design Awards

    Eureka is pleased to announce that it has received 2025 SIT Furniture Design Awards for its Junction, Lattice, and Velia luminaires. SIT Furniture Design Award was created to celebrate and share the remarkable work of furniture designers and those who use furniture in their projects. The creativity, innovative vision, and accessibility of the furniture design… Read More…

  • Contact Delage & Solvic Announce New Representation Partnership

    New Collaboration – A New Solar Lighting Manufacturer Joins Contact Delage’s Offerings

    Contact Delage is excited to announce the addition of a new trusted partner to their lineup: Solvic, an innovative manufacturer specializing in solar lighting. This new partnership reflects Contact Delage’s ongoing commitment to offering sustainable, high-performance solutions tailored to real-world applications. With Solvic, they are expanding their range of autonomous solar products—perfect for lighting streets, parks,… Read More…


Design


New Products

  • SATCO|NUVO: LED Strip Retrofit Kits

    SATCO|NUVO: LED Strip Retrofit Kits

    SATCO|NUVO’s new LED Strip Retrofit Kits offer an energy-efficient solution for upgrading existing fluorescent strip fixtures. Designed with adjustable mounting strips to retrofit housings from 2.75″ to 5.25″ wide, these kits accommodate a wide range of installation needs. Available in 2ft, 4ft, and 8ft lengths, all models feature field-selectable technology (CCT and wattage). A white… Read More…

  • Legrand: Tazo Series Luminaire

    Legrand: Tazo Series Luminaire

    Tazo is an elegant, free-standing luminaire designed to bring the light where it’s needed and power to connected users. It delivers architectural quality lighting and the ultimate combination of performance and flexibility in workplaces and amenity, hospitality, or educational settings. A cord and plug design allows for easy reconfiguration of spaces where people work –… Read More…