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Every year people flock to the Oxford Street lights like little Christmassy moths to a yuletide flame. 2017’s glowing baubles went up 84 days before December 25 like it was no biggie and Londoners went wild for the annual switch-on event. We just love them!
But in recent years, other locations in the capital have really upped their game. Carnaby Street’s tropical offering last year boasted blazing palms, party poppers and shimmering parrots flying the stretch of the street while Kew Gardens went big with singing trees flanked by flora-inspired lights and kaleidoscopic projections. Basically lit AF.
Although undeniably pretty with shining orbs peppered with lights shaped like stars, mittens and robins, Oxford Street’s lights were a little vanilla in comparison.
Now however, for the first time in history, Oxford Street and the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) are pinging on their searchlights in a quest to find a brand new design for the 2018 illuminations. Lighting designers and architectural specialists are invited to enter the global call and innovate the display spanning the length of the world-famous shopping street, plus its surrounding areas. Four of the proposals submitted by March 28 will be shortlisted before being developed further and presented to a panel of experts who’ll go on to picking the winner. What are you waiting for? Ready, steady, glow!
Find more information about the project led by the New West End Company, in conjunction with Westminster City Council and enter your proposal here.
Brighten up your week with Chinese New Year events in London or discover Kaleidoscope, a new one-day festival coming to Ally Pally this summer.