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Urbanscape Lighting Feature Lighting

Azuma Bridge IlluminationsTaito Ward, Sumida Ward, Tokyo

Illuminating the bridges of the Sumida River, adorning the waterfront scenery with an enchanting palette

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  • LED
  •  
  • Switching on and off to a timed schedule to produce a varied display. The seasonal arrangement shown in the image can be seen on weekdays through the summer, with the railings illuminated in white and the support girders in red.

  • Seasonal arrangement: weekends during the summer.

  • Seasonal arrangement: Holidays during the summer.

  • Seasonal arrangement: Holidays during spring and fall.

  • Daytime view of the Azuma Bridge.

about

Lighting design
Motoko Ishii Lighting Design Inc.

Installation date

March, 2020(start of illumination : August, 2020)

Envisioning a cityscape to inspire many, the City of Tokyo is working on projects to add polish to the nightscape and further accentuate the charms of the city. With a view to stimulating activity, enhancing the atmosphere around its riverside areas, and also heightening its appeal as a tourist attraction, the lighting installations of the bridges spanning the Sumida River which are managed and maintained by the City of Tokyo, have benefited from new installations in some locations and major renovations in others. Featuring new installations on 6 bridges, renovation and upgrade works on 4 bridges, and 2 bridges with previously completed installations, the overall scheme embellishes the nightscape of the Sumida River through illuminations across a total of 12 bridges. With the river-facing sides of the arches on each bridge being equipped with bespoke, color-changing railing luminaires, now the 10 bridges where the most recent works have taken place not only offer improved standard illuminations, but also the capacity to present a coordinated and synchronized lighting display.

Replaced during the reconstruction process which followed the Great Kanto Earthquake*, Azuma Bridge is a bridge comprising 3 consecutive arches; with its unique vermilion color with which it was painted at the start of the Heisei Era, the distinctive bridge is seen as one of the landmarks of the Asakusa area. Designed to accentuate the harmonic contrast between the bridge pier and the elegant form of the arches, the outward facing sides of the railings are illuminated in a gentle, milky white indirect light to create an air of calm, while the reflection of the bridge's distinctive vermilion hue on the water brings a colorful flourish to the nightscape of the Asakusa area.

*Great Kanto Earthquake: September 1923

Specification

  • Bespoke luminaires for illumination of arches - 152

  • Bespoke floodlights for illumination of support girders - 96

  • Bespoke luminaires for indirect lighting of railings - 168

  • Bespoke floodlights for illumination of bridge pier - 16

  • Bespoke lights for bridge plaques - 4

  • Bespoke LED lamps for street and area lighting - 57

  • Project summary

    Illuminating the Bridges of Sumida River