OREANDA-NEWS. November 07, 2008. In the award ceremony of an annual competition International.city.people.light award 2008, organized by the Lighting Urban Community International Association (LUCI), night illumination of Riga Railway Bridge was announced the second best city lights project in the world this year, reported the press-centre of Latvijas dzelzcels.

The first prize this year went to the city of Seoul, South Korea. This year Riga participated in this competition for the first time and competed with such cities as Lyon (France), Moscow (Russia), Stockholm (Sweden), Karlsruhe (Germany), Glasgow (United Kingdom) and other, in all 27 world cities.

“We are very delighted that our company can strengthen our state’s economy by ensuring considerable profit and taxes, as well as make our city and state more beautiful, and also promote its recognition in the world, when there is approaching Latvia’s 90th anniversary, ” said Mr. Ugis Magonis, Chairman of the Board of SJSC Latvijas dzelzcels, and assumed he is delighted with the award presented to Riga.

The submitted light projects were assessed by an independent jury made up of nine persons. They recognized that Riga’s project – Railway bridge illumination across the river Daugava – is a great example of an integrated approach, because illuminations serve successfully for object identification, and a unique city component creates image for the city.

Project expenses were 280 000 lats and they were covered by SJSC Latvijas dzelzcels; in the project realization there participated two companies – Jumiks and Kolorits.

LUCI unites 53 world cities, which represent five continents, and its aim is to make lighting a major tool in sustainable urban life.