Helsinki, Finland – The city of Avila in Spain has been awarded the first prize for its city center lighting masterplan ‘New Nightscape’, announced at the 13th annual City.People.Light awards ceremony on 25 September 2015 in Helsinki, Finland. The lighting design was executed by lighting design company AUREOLIGHTING, who also received the award.

Mr. Rafael Gallego, lighting designer for Ávila’s masterplan, commented: “Ávila's new nightscape is a project to upgrade all the existing street lighting in the urban area to have both a functional and ornamental purpose. The new lighting plan reinforces the city's outstanding cultural values while being infused with the philosophy of conservation that has given the city such a proud heritage. The lighting masterplan for Avila is based in a new lighting philosophy that takes into consideration four areas: functional, architectural, commercial and festive lighting.

The town of Avila in central Spain is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is sometimes called the ‘’Town of Stones and Saints’, reputed for the large number of Romanesque and Gothic churches to be found within it. “Philips and LUCI, the international network of cities on urban lighting, 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,” said Astrid Simonsen Joos, Market Leader for Philips Lighting in the Nordic region. “The use of light is well thought through in the entire city, taking into account urban design principles such as sustainability and the architectural integration of the lighting systems.’’

Runners up from Valenciennes (France) and Baia Mare (Romania) 

Second prize - Artistic escapes at twilight, Valenciennes, France
This lighting masterplan covered the renovation of 41 existing architectural lighting systems and the creation of 9 new architectural lighting projects. It includes the lighting of two of the principal nocturnal routes through the city, 1100 meters and 700 meters long, that meet in the very center of the town. The interactivity of city lights with inhabitants inspires people to walk in the city at night, to once again discover the magnificence of their architectural heritage. The lighting design was executed by French lighting studio CONCEPTO.

Third prize – Rehabilitation of Fortress Square, Baia Mare, Romania
The project is part of the urban masterplan that started in 2005 and is a cultural component of the entire Baia Mare city center reconstruction in north-western Romania. The purpose of this project was to restore the memory of the most important city monument – St. Stephen’s Church - related to the birth of the city. The lighting provides an ambient lighting atmosphere that highlights buildings, trees, major city routes and emphasizes the main landmarks of the city: St.Stephen’s Tower, the ruins of St. Stephen's Church and of the two other churches that were discovered, the Church of Saint Catherine and the Saint Martin Church. The lighting design was created by Mitru Ildiko, chief architect for the project.

For more information about the runners up, special mentions and the People Choice award, see the media backgrounder.

For further information on the winners and all other nominations in this year’s City.People.Light awards, please click here.