What makes the city skylines so beautiful is not solely the tall buildings or fantastically shaped structures -- much can be accredited to the sky-scraping light shows that adorn facades around the world.
It is all the rage to have huge light displays decorating the face of a building -- churches, hotels or even gardens are prime candidates. Just about anything can be covered with kaleidoscope-patterned LED lights. Admiring architecture and landmarks in the future may not simply entail marvelling at gothic-style renderings or deep set-backs, rather, the intensity and intricacies of luminous exteriors will be taken into account.
Doubling as both public art pieces and marketing techniques for some, the question of whether the holistic look of a city is compromised will be one of the issues to consider.
34 Sky-Scraping Light Shows
From Top Floor Raver Lounges to Shimmering Sacred Sanctuaries:
Vivian Lau — Jul 21, 2012 — Art & Design
34
Psychedelic Furnishings
The Disco Chair is Groovy Like a Light Show
33
Fierce Luminous Facades
The Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall Light Show is Stellar
32
Psychedelic Temporary Pavilions
One Fine Day's The Treehugger Sheds Light on Computational Designs
31
Dorm Room Light Shows
Wroclaw University of Technology Puts on Animated Display of Illumination
30
Amazing Anniversary Light Shows
Obscura Digital Illuminated the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
29
Light Show Forecasts
Dexia Towers' Lite Brite Display Tells Tomorrow's Weather
28
Otherworldly Light Shows
The Sensory Box Installation Art is Futuristic Fun
27
College Dorm Light Shows
Polish Student Window Movies
26
Public Interactive Art
Liquid Space 2.1
25
Luminescent LED Light Shows
Spark of Light is a Spectacular Interactive Sculpture
24
LED Garden Installations
Cooper Lighting Brightens the Night
23
Lip-Syncing Illuminations
The Party Rock Anthem Halloween Light Show 2011 is a Dynamic Display
22
Shimmering Sacred Sanctuaries
The Iceland Hallgrímskirkja Church Flickers as a Beacon
21
Interactive Light Exhibitions
'Yota Space' Showcases Technological Art
20
Electric Pedestrian Overpasses
The DSSH Bridge is Sustainable, Dynamic and Visually Impressive
19
Top Floor Raver Lounges
The HWKN MINI Rooftop Hosts Sky-High Light Shows
18
Cave Art Light Shows
'Grotte Stellaire' by Julien Salaud Turns Primitive Murals into LEDs
17
Alien Light Shows
The Crystal Monster LED Light Installation is Creepy Crawly
16
Projected Snowflake Shows
The Saks Fifth Avenue Light Show Gets Shoppers in a Festive Mood
15
Stunning Rainbow Illuminators
Sleep Under Lovely Shades with the Sunshine Projection Night Light
14
Illuminating Colorpartments
The Luxury Loft Light Show is an Artistic Marketing Ploy
13
Sky Changing Light Shows
James Turrell 'Twilight Epiphany' Complements the Sun's Patterns
12
Extreme Moonlit Activities
Volcano Hikes, Night Safaris, After-Dark Markets
11
Holy Light Installations
The Bruce Munro 'Light Shower' is a Twinkling Blanket of Constellations
10
3D HD Projection
Obscura Creates Fantastic Urban Light Shows
9
Athletic Projection Promotions
The 'Adidas is All in' Campaign Brings a Light Show to Marseille
8
Building Facade Games
The 3D Fanta Projection Captures Attention in Dubai
7
Miniature Disney Light Shows
Alex George Recreates the Main Street Electrical Parade
6
Massive Interactive Solar Shows
‘Luminous’ by Klik Systems is the Largest Light Instal
5
Shelterless Light Shows
Fanny Allie Crafts a Lit-Up Silhouette of a Homeless Person Resting
4
Nightastic Water Shows
'World of Color' New After-Dark Entertainment at Disneyland
3
Weather-Reporting Buildings
The Dexia Tower in Brussels Tells the Weather Through Light Shows
2
Crowdsourced Light Shows
Vectorial Elevation Vancouver Lights Up the Winter Olympics
1
Kaleidoscope Hotels
Target's Fashion Event Transforms Hotel Into Colorful Light Show
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Elevated Garden Lofts
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Futuristic Immersive Lighting Experiences
Occhio Merges Illumination with Artistic Expression
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The FOKSAL Home Features Mirrored Skylights in Warsaw
Architecturally Stunning Cultural Landmarks
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Visionary Architectural Pier Strategies
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Washi Paper-Inspired Lighting
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Late-Night Manhattan Lounges
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Striking Residential Tower Designs
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Figurative LED Array Lights
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Lakefront District Towers
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Gallery Experiences Projects
Lumens Unveils an Experience Designer Residency in San Francisco
Sky-Garden Leisure Towers
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Cosmopolitan Rooftop Experiences
LOUIX LOUIS' Sky Garden Offers Summer-Forward Fresco Dining
Celestial-Inspired Club Celebrations
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Nostalgic Sleek Sky Bars
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Glass Pavilion Architecture
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Physics-Based Artful Light Capsules
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Color-Shifting Art Museums
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Math-Driven Lighting Sculptures
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Curved Stadium Structures
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Poignant Multimedia Art Installations
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Sculptural Mall Dreamscape
Studio Proba Introduces Unbounded Sanctuary in Grand Joy City Mall
Immersive Light Installations
Drifting Lights by Preciosa Transforms Glass and Color into Motion
Glowing Sphere Art Pavilions
RAU Architects and Tellart Preset the Netherlands Pavilion
Architectural Sports Landmarks
The Xi’an International Football Centre Spotlights Civic Design
Sculptural Public Art
Clock House No. 2 Installation Glows and Chimes Every 15 Minutes in Shenzhen
Multicultural Bright Historic Museums
MAD Architects Designst he Fenix Project in Rotterdam
Sustainable Green-Integrated Towers
Sudameris Plaza Rises as a Office Landmark in Asunción
Green Roof Residences
Tapestry by Shibanee & Kamal Architects Brings Nature to Rooftops
Summer Sunset Pop-Ups
London Essence's Sundown Spots Invite Passersby to Savor Lighter Evenings
Retail Design Landmarks
D14.2 Concept Store in Oslo Rethinks the Shopping Experience
Community-Centered Rooftop Events
Heineken's Rooftop Revival Turned Building Tops into Social Hubs
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The Omarama Attic Apartment by NOA Celebrates Travel and Views
Glowing Mosaic Offices
YSG Transforms Alémais Office in Sydney with Luminous Globes Detailing
Sensorial Projection Mapping Experiences
Biltmore's Luminere is an Outdoor Sensory Experience
Futuristic Cultural Spaces
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Arts Blends Form with Civic Imagination
Eclipse-Themed Rooftop Artworks
James Tapscott's Arc ZERO: Eclipse is Visually Stunning
Detroit Tower Redevelopments
SHOP Architects’ Hudson’s Detroit Highlights Civicr Regeneration
Exploratory Architectural Projects
The Polish Pavilion at the Venice Biennale is Thought-Provoking
Record-Breaking Skate Megaramps
Red Bull's 'Building Drop' Turns Brazilian High-Rise into Ramp
Urban Soundscape Installations
Moment Installation Alters London Bridge Rush-Hour into Light
Segmented Lightflow Art Pavilions
Marine Tabassum Creates a Capsule in Time Pavilion
Responsive Light Museums
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Interactive Architectural Pavilions
The Folding Landscape Pavilion Turns Design into a Living Lens
Lighthouse-Inspired Urban Tall Structures
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Renovated Kyiv Boutiques
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Flowing Light Clocks
The Crydal Scroll Clock Reimagines Time as a Moving Light Sculpture
Lush Garden Housing Designs
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Sculptural Bar Interiors
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Illuminated Curved Home Extensions
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Curved Glass Veiled Stores
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Unique Wedding Services
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Sea Sponge Skyscrapers
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Gallery-Like Retail Floors
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Sophisticated Government Office Designs
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Climate-Responsive Housing
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Evening Sky-Inspired Lighting Fixtures
YAMAGIWA Corporation Debuts the TWILIGHT Capsule
Luminous Garden Rest Stops
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Historic Roof Conversions
Brick to Light Renovates a Former Barracks House in Münster
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Dubai Museum of Art by Tadao Ando Evokes Water, Light and Heritage
Sculptural Artisanal Christmas Trees
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Light Filtered Glulam Pavilions
The Paviljong Rosendal Explores Light & Shadow Through Wooden Form
Living Mycelium Installations
The Flight into Shadow Installation is Aesthetically Pleasing
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Circular Light Installations
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Children-Designed Pavilions
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Flowers and Butterflies are Dancing Changes Appearance Every Hour
Stunningly Intricate Light Installations
Bocci Presented 'Shapes of Light' in Vancouver, Canada
Sculptural Glass Chandeliers
Tamar Grande Chandelier by Sophia Han Reinterprets Classic Lighting
Sky-Based Visual Palettes
Stratosplash Turns Real Sky Moments Into Gradients And Wallpapers
Industrial Landmark Stadiums
The Powerhouse Stadium Blends Heritage with Contemporary Engineering
Elevated Geometric Designs
PH8 Penthouse Reinterprets the Mid-Century Modern in Medellín’s Skyline
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Thrill Ride-Topped Ultra-High Skyscrapers
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Urban Data Landmarks
Spark 761 Ai Data Centre Presents a Transparent Civic Computing Facility
Balanced Retail Atmosphere
The Capitamall Skyview Reimagines the Mall as an Immersive Urban Street
Graphic Lighting Systems
The PYL Lighting Capsule by Marie & Alexandre Evokes Structure & Purity
Desert-Inspired Art Museums
Las Vegas Museum of Art is a Cultural Project by Kéré Architecture
Lake-Inspired Retail Interiors
Studio Gypsandconcrete Designed a Gift Shop Around Reflected Water
Sun-Inspired Disc-Topped Museums
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Interactive Public Pavilions
The Radius Transformation Pavilion Lets Visitors Shape Space
Terraced Light Houses
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Vibrant City Installations
Craig & Karl Take Over Brisbane Festival with City Pop Art Spectacles
Building-Nestled Compact Cafes
A Triangular Prism Chapel Cafe Creates Calm in Bucharest
Textured Glass Landmarks
Helsinki Design and Architecture Museum Designed as Clear Public Pavilion
Steel Lighting Grid Interiors
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Luminous Park Domes
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Local Geological History-Inspired Buildings
Salon Alper Derinbogaz Designs the Quartz Plaza
Concrete Grid-Forward Commrcial Towers
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Nudes Clads the Rendezvous Apartment in Pink Tonal Concrete
Architecturally Illuminated Structures
Puri Lighting Design Presents the Zhangbei Mirage Project
Redesigned Curved Apartments
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Aperture Apartment Designs
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Suspended Lighting Installations
En Temps Et Lieu Studio Designs a Stunning Installation
Spherical Urban Landmarks
The Grand Ballroom Introduces a Mixed-Use Sphere for Central Tirana
Wave-Inspired Civic Halls
The Sail Congress Centre in Big Normandy Curves into Public Architecture
Container Observation Towers
The Lookout Above Litomyšl now Functions as a Lookout Space
Office Event Initiatives
Little Village Lantern Detroit is a Sound Office Project Designed by OMA
Terraced Urban Landmarks
The Go Park Sai Sha Bringsvarious Elements Together in a Sculptural Hub
Public Pavilion Architecture
Estudio Leonardo Zanatta’s Tess Pavilion Uses Tessellated Geometry