The architecture of the complex refers to the traditions of Vladimir-Suzdal architecture, forming an ensemble with a memorable silhouette along the Moscow River.
The concept of the lighting design solution is based on the idea of creating a special image of the building in the dark: to form an emotional perception of the sacred through the external appearance, emphasizing with the help of light the purity and lightness of the architectural solution. Architectural lighting helped to create an image of a building seemingly hovering above the ground, with its snow-white facade, bathed in golden rays, directed high above the dark ground.
The stylobate part itself decorated with gray slabs was decided not to highlight with lighting. At dusk, this part appears even darker in contrast to the upper, illuminated tiers of white, and it seems as if the building is raised above the ground. This technique makes the building “sublime” above everything mundane, but at the same time maintains the connection between earth and sky through the lighting of the entrance area.
The tier of the walkway is surrounded by a mosaic panel. This unique “gallery” dedicated to the thousand-year history of Christianity in Russia. The mosaic panels are recessed into the arcature belt and each of them is illuminated by linear luminaries built into the floor. Thanks to the optics of luminaries the light highlights the plane of the mosaic panel and the edges of the archature frieze. At the same time, reflected light creates a sufficient level of illumination on the floor for comfortable and safe movement.
The main volumes of the building are formed by curtain walls with zakomars and kokoshniks. To illuminate these vertical planes, floodlights of different power were chosen, in accordance with the size of each tier. Thanks to the combination of illuminated planes and shadows, the building retains visual volume in the dark and does not seem flat. The drum with slit-like windows and the place where it connects with the dome are highlighted with light using miniature spotlights.
For the snow-white facade of the temple, were chosen luminaries with a neutral white colour temperature 4000 K. They emphasize the white shade of the decoration best of all, as well as the reflective elements of the mosaic, the decorative design of the portals and the gold of the dome. The facade of the building is decorated with floral patterns carved in stone and is somewhat reminiscent of traditional Russian lace.
There is a round square with a walking area around the Church of Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duke Vladimir. In the evening, minimalist led lighting poles provide a required level of illumination for comfortable movement around the temple. The main transit routes are illuminated by luminaries on poles with warm white light, while in the center of this park area, where the benches are located, there are no lighting fixtures, leaving vacationers in a more intimate atmosphere.
