Unicorn Island

Illuminating a Visionary Design

By Randy Reid

Unicorn Island, with its remarkable design and multifaceted nature, captivates all who encounter it. Describing its brilliance in a single article would fall short of doing justice to this exceptional structure. Thus, we embark on a three-part series that delves into the intricacies of Unicorn Island's lighting design, exploring its various facets and celebrating its ingenuity. This first article focuses on the exterior.

Rendering of Unicorn Island.

Rendering by OVI/ZHA.

Nestled within the Tianfu New Area in Chengdu, China, this man-made island emerges as a remarkable development, encapsulating the vibrant essence of the cultural hub. Spanning approximately 670,000 square meters in site area and boasting a gross floor area exceeding 910,000 square meters, this ambitious project consists of more than 20 diverse buildings. Unicorn Island covers an area roughly one-fifth the size of Central Park, spanning across ten street blocks and three avenues. The tallest building on the island reaches a height of 250 meters. From office spaces to residential towers, hotels, and mixed-use commercial retail, Unicorn Island offers a multifaceted experience. Yet, what truly sets this development apart is the harmonious integration of public grounds and green landscapes that interconnect the buildings, fostering a sense of unity and natural serenity.

Unicorn Island derives its name from the concept of "unicorns," fast-growing billion-dollar companies. This association reflects the ambition to establish the Silicon Valley of China, attracting and nurturing billion-dollar companies, aligning with forwardthinking ideals. The island is also known as Garden City, emphasizing the seamless integration of nature into the lifestyle and design.

In 2020, Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) chose Office for Visual Interaction (OVI) to conduct all lighting design on the island. Through discussions with OVI founders Jean Sundin and Enrique Peiniger, as well as designers Wendy Jiang and Theressa Asis, we gained insights into the project.

Jean explained, “We could see right away it was a huge opportunity. Normally, as lighting designers, we often design one building or a campus. To design an entire island of buildings, that's such a different and exciting visual task for us.” Wendy elaborated, describing how it encompasses various aspects, including biophilic elements to enhance human well-being and foster a deeper connection with nature. Due to the project’s size and complexity, there were many facets to handling the logistics in response to its fast-paced nature, addressing international considerations and more.

Enrique highlighted the core concept of Unicorn Island as a self-contained garden city where residents can easily access the shopping, living, and working spaces of the island. The design approach aims to minimize the need for transportation on the island, aligning with the principles of a garden city. The term "garden city" signifies a harmonious integration of nature and urban living.

The commitment to incorporating green spaces and nature is inherent in the concept of the island. Unicorn Island aims to foster a human-centric environment where nature and urban elements coexist seamlessly, prioritizing the well-being of residents. The lighting design plays a pivotal role in achieving this, reflecting nature in the facades and their interaction with daylight.

The lighting schemes accommodate various activities and building sizes, ensuring a responsive and adaptable environment. By blending innovation with a deep connection to nature and prioritizing community formation, Unicorn Island offers a visionary and inspiring environment for residents and businesses alike.

Enrique explained the team’s design philosophy, “We look at one element close up, but we also think about the same element in a different scale. With a name like Garden City, we have to combine the daylighting as part of the natural evolution of the design. It cannot be an afterthought.”

The island is divided into distinct areas: north, south, and west, each designated for residential, hotel, and commercial spaces. Theressa described how these areas possess different energies, with the urban core being lively, the waterfront offering a unique ambiance, and the other sides of the island providing opportunities for nature-related activities. The residential neighborhoods lean towards a more passive and tranquil atmosphere, featuring softer walking paths, while the commercial areas are vibrant and energetic. The lighting design also considered the need to create a calm environment in quiet areas and a dynamic atmosphere in active spaces.

The design process involved creating sketches to understand the shape and form of the buildings, effectively illuminating them. These sketches identified the unique identity of each building and the overall composition of the plazas. The goal was to capture the essence of each building, whether linear, shingled, textured, or pixelated.

Sketches helped capture the essence of each building.

Courtesy of OVI.

Courtesy of OVI.

Courtesy of OVI.

Courtesy of OVI.

Additionally, the lighting design takes into account the everchanging nature of the city, considering different activities and events occurring at different times. Jean said, “We always think about the longevity of a project and how it will age over time. With Unicorn, we thought about how this city will be used 10 years from now. We tell a story now, but what would be the story in 10 years? We have to anticipate this, in a meaningful way so it remains relevant.”

The lighting designers collaborated closely with the architects to determine the appropriate facade materials to complement the design. The extensive facade canvas allowed for experimentation and exploration of a wide range of lighting possibilities. Jean stated, "We consider how light interacts with these textures, whether it creates linear patterns, grid-like structures, lantern effects, pixelation, or delicate arches. Each building has its own unique identity, serving as an anchor for the neighborhoods.”

The 20 buildings on Unicorn Island were examined both individually and collectively to create a dynamic yet cohesive design.

Rendering by OVI/ZHA.

Wendy continued by describing that the design allows the use of cool color temperatures for light-colored palettes or stainless steel, and warmer color temperatures or amber qualities for lantern honeycomb textures.

The design incorporates different color hues in the foreground, middle ground, and background, with variations of blue, green, and red tones. Each neighborhood within the project has its own designated color temperature range, such as the residential neighborhood, which operates in a range of 1800K to 3000K. Meanwhile, the commercial areas have a broader range of 3800K to 6000K.

Enrique said, “There is a lot of lighting in China, and they love lighting – so we could not use a soft delicate hand in our design. We had to amplify, but with a tasteful color range. I think we came up with a lighting logic which is culturally in tune.”

This organized approach allows for a cohesive and intentional color palette, eliminating random combinations. The diverse lighting fixtures on the project are carefully selected to ensure the desired color temperatures are achieved within each designated area, providing a harmonious and visually appealing experience.

Enrique used an analogy to describe the color temperature range, “Think about giving someone a truck with 15 gears backwards and five gears forward. At some point, they will use the wrong gear at the wrong time. So we had to build in a certain smartness to the design, to ensure the user doesn’t use the wrong gear.” Jean added, “We try not to give the whole pallet of tools as it's just too hard to handle; it's too many gears for most clients to maneuver. It should be user-friendly and easy to use.”

The lighting design also considered the central plaza, which acts as a gravitational force, attracting the surrounding buildings. To enhance this effect, a deliberate variation in lighting was implemented. The facades facing the central plaza received a brighter illumination, reflecting their proximity and the vibrant activity in that area. Farther away from the center, the light gradually softens, creating a nuanced play of light and shadow. This intentional lighting strategy added depth and dimension to the facades, avoiding a flat and uniform appearance. Tunable white lighting was employed in the residential neighborhoods, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.

Unicorn Island boasts expansive skylight openings that serve as key design elements, allowing natural light to penetrate the lower levels of the structure. Initially, they were mere apertures, but in the SD phase, OVI convinced ZHA to enhance their functionality by adding dimension. Meticulously designed, these openings feature aperture reflectors known as "baskets" that act as light collectors and redirectors, shaping and guiding the trajectory of light throughout the space.

These reflectors not only facilitate the entry of light but also create visually captivating moments, adding depth and dimension to the structure. By carefully diffusing and spreading the daylight, they achieved an even illumination and a gentle transition from light to shadow, avoiding stark contrasts that could cause discomfort. Adhering to industry standards, the team ensured that the lighting levels and contrast ratios met IES recommended practices. As individuals move through the space, whether driving or walking, they are treated to a dynamic interplay between light and shadow, framed by the strategic placement of the aperture openings.

One significant challenge faced by the team revolved around the administrative aspect of the project. Meeting deadlines and delivering on time required timely approvals and feedback from clients, which is not unusual. However, the international aspect of things added an additional layer of complexity.

Jean highlighted the importance of striking a balance between the speed of work and the necessary approvals to prevent any delays in the overall process. Coordinating with clients and ensuring smooth communication channels proved crucial in overcoming this challenge. Municipalities and city organizations add an additional layer of complexity, requiring synchronization to establish a well-structured cityscape. Individual plot owners and developers further diversify the landscape, necessitating careful coordination of design strategies and project requirements.

Theressa emphasized the importance of visualizing the spaces holistically and analyzing how each building and courtyard interacted with one another. By examining multiple viewpoints and utilizing 3D renderings, the team aimed to create a harmonious blend that maintained consistency while allowing for unique characteristics in different areas.

Rendering of Unicorn island illuminated at night.

Rendering by OVI/ZHA.

OVI identified two key challenges. First, they emphasized the need to constantly zoom out and evaluate the big picture to ensure a cohesive design language. This involved understanding how different parts of the project communicated with one another and contributed to the overall aesthetic. Secondly, Wendy discussed the coordination aspect, as the project was divided into different neighborhoods, each with its own local team. Ensuring effective communication and conveying the design logic to all teams played a vital role in guaranteeing a seamless execution during the construction phase.

The team described the collaborative process with the architect, emphasizing the back-and-forth exchange of ideas, often referred to as "ping pong." They discussed different finishes and explored opportunities to create harmonious interactions between light and space throughout the day. They considered the qualities of the space, including the morning, afternoon, evening, and the transitions between seasons and events. This iterative dialogue allowed them to refine and align the look, mood, and ambiance of the environment, ensuring that people have a meaningful and dynamic experience in the space.

In the discussion about the business aspects of the lighting project, the team delved deeper into the traditional stages, including SD (schematic design), DD (design development), and CD (construction documents). Each stage had incremental milestones, typically at 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% completion, which served as checkpoints for deliverables, approvals and payments. With numerous stakeholders, milestones, and logistical considerations, the project required a unified vision and a deep understanding of the complexities involved. Enrique stated, “You must have a certain backbone in your office to manage these kinds of projects financially, logistically and emotionally.”

Unicorn Island stands as a testament to the meticulous and collaborative effort put forth by the OVI design team. From the holistic approach to the phased implementation and careful coordination, every aspect was carefully considered. By prioritizing human-centric design, community formation, and the seamless blending of light and space, Unicorn Island emerges as a visionary masterpiece that sets a new standard for urban development.

Rendering of Unicorn Island from above.

Rendering by OVI/ZHA.

Look for our next article on Unicorn Island which will focus on facade lighting.

As of this writing, iGuzzini luminaires are the main fixtures specified. The next article will have the complete list. ■