The lighting design of Dragon Bridge over Danang City’s iconic Han River, has received “Special Citation” from the US-based organization.

According to the award organizer, the design, by local architect Tran Van Thanh and ASA Lighting Design Studios in Ho Chi Minh City, is awarded for a whimsical, well-crafted multimedia experience which communicates the national and religious identity.

This is the first time a Vietnamese design has earned such recognition of the IALD, considered the Academy Awards in the lighting designing sector.

More than 200 designs from around the world, mostly from the US and Europe, took part in this year’s competition. Asia had only entries from Vietnam, Japan, and China.
 

Thanh added that his Dragon Bridge’s lighting design is highly regarded also for its immense significance and contribution to promoting the images of Danang City and Vietnam in general.

Thanh’s design is also the country’s first illumination project to make it to the final round of the UK’s major FX Design Awards in 2013 and Lighting Design Awards in 2014.

The bridge, which is made of sculpted steel and measures 666m long and 6m wide, is lit with over 2,500 LED lights every night, which automatically change color for different events and festivals.

Apart from being lit up with sparkling lights, water and fire are emitted from the dragon’s mouth every weekend night.

The bridge, which cost over VND1,700 billion (US$81.7 million), won the diamond prize at the ACEC New York for its innovation and beauty.