By Vivian Kelly
When you think of Paris’ gorgeous River Seine or NYC’s Brooklyn Bridge, it’s hardly comparable to London’s River Thames, but that will soon change for the dark river. Glimmers of lights will shine along the UK capital giving the Thames its rightful sparkle back.
In one of the biggest public art projects of our generation, 17 bridges across London will transform the ‘bleak snake of darkness’ into a ‘magnificent ribbon of light’. Artists, architects, designers planners and engineers have joined forces to create an unprecedented project the capital has never seen. Six schemes have been submitted and shortlisted in bid to win £20 million in funding to help the city shine.
Courtesy of Leo Villareal and Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands and Future/Pace
The project, Illuminated River, spans six miles from the Albert Bridge in the west to Tower Bridge in the east. In mission to reclaim the River Thames, the project has so far raised £5m from Rothschild Foundation and £5m donated by Lisbet Rausing and Peter Baldwin, through their charitable Arcadia Fund, costing taxpayers little money.
The film-maker and novelist, Hannah Rothschild, who is the chair of the Illuminated River Foundation said: 'Even by London’s standards, this project is unprecedented in boldness and imagination: the opportunity to influence and transform the look, identity and experience of the world’s greatest city’.
Courtesy of Diller Scofidio + Renfro with Oliver Beer, Arup, Cooper Consultancy, L’Observatoire International, Penoyre & Prasad, Jennifer Tipton and Transsolar
The shortlist includes Adjaye Associates, AL_A, Diller Scofidio + Renfro, Les Éclairagistes Associés, Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands, Sam Jacob Studio and Simon Hejidens.
The art installations will be displayed at the Royal Festival Hall for three weeks until a winner is announced on the 8 December. Michael Craig-Martin and James Turrell will be among the experts on the judging panel.
The Illuminated River exhibition is at the Royal Festival Hall, London, 9-29 November.
