VietNamNet Bridge – International lighting experts praised the lighting design of the Dragon Bridge in Da Nang city, as "an inspirational solution for a unique project."

500m iron dragon bridge to make Guinness record

The art lighting design for the Dragon Bridge has won two prestigious international awards - FX Design Awards 2013 and Lighting Design Awards 2014.

At the awards ceremony FX Design Awards 2013 in London, judges commented "The lighting design of the Dragon Bridge is an inspirational solution for a unique work."

The finalists for the "Lighting Design" award with the Dragon Bridge are the 6 other international projects such as the Edinburgh International Conference Centre and the London University of Arts.

The Lighting Design of the Dragon Bridge and eight other works in the world also entered the final round of the Lighting Design Awards 2014. The awards ceremony will take place in the UK in March 2014.

Lighting Design Awards are one of the prestigious awards worldwide specialized in architectural lighting design. Other finalists are the KIPCO Tower in Kuwait, the Monument to the victims of violence in Mexico, or the Gammel Hellerup sports complex in Denmark.

The Dragon Bridge, which spans the Han River, serves as a connector between the Da Nang International Airport and the area's most popular beaches and downtown area. This spectacular example of engineering, which is shaped like a dragon and literally breathes fire, was inaugurated on March 29, 2013.

Construction of the bridge began in 2009 and cost a reported US$85 million. The sloping steel arch that makes up the dragon's body is the longest structure of its kind in Vietnam, measuring a total of 568 m and weighing more than 2,000 tons. The main stretch of the 37.5 m wide bridge is bookended by two 128 m side sections.

To create the illusion of an enormous dragon soaring through the sky, a dragon's head is perched on one end of the structure, a tail on the other.

Designers turned to LED lighting because of its superior ability to create stunning effects and light shows — like the ones needed to bring the highly-anticipated bridge to life. But even with the lighting expertise provided by Philips Color Kinetics, illuminating the bridge was no easy feat.

To understand the bridge's cultural significance and unique lighting requirements, a Philips Color Kinetics team visited the New York-based architect who designed the entire project. Philips Vietnam then contracted specialized teams to oversee the various aspects of the project — lighting design, mechanical installation, electrical installation, and so on.

The outcome of the dynamic collaboration is dazzling. The bridge is illuminated with more than 2,500 LED lighting fixtures.

Fourteen ColorReach Compact Powercore floodlights illuminate each downward curve of the dragon's body and the length of its tail. Over 850 spotlights and 1,500 nodes span the top of the bridge, lighting up the dragon's body.

The dragon's dynamic head is highlighted by two ColorReach Powercore fixtures. For special occasions, the dragon is equipped to spit water or breathe fire, leaving residents and tourists of the city in awe. Restaurants arrange special seating areas that overlook the majestic bridge, and photographers often use it as a backdrop.

As a symbol of the Ly Dynasty, the dragon is a meaningful creature in Vietnamese folklore. In the lore, the dragon is known for flying to the sea and bringing back good luck. Residents hope that with a dragon soaring high through their sky, luck will continue to shine on the bustling city. And with the onslaught of media and spectator acclaim that the bridge has brought in, it seems as if they won't be disappointed.

T. Van