Tree of Light Lighting Installation in Pakistan

Raza Zahid Atelier has created a new lighting installation and communal gathering point named Tree of Light, located at SOS Children's Village in Lahore, Pakistan. The structure features a branching network of metal elements supporting luminous globes above a marble base that doubles as informal seating. On ordinary evenings, the installation emits a warm and soft glow, while programmed color sequences provide a distinct atmosphere during festive occasions and community celebrations.

Conceived as both an illumination source and a social object, the installation sits adjacent to the library. It offers a dedicated space where children can gather, read, talk, and play, while also acting as a focal point for birthdays, religious holidays, national celebrations, and personal milestones. Light functions simultaneously on functional and symbolic levels to support daily activities and mark shared occasions.

The design translates the organic form of a tree into a constructed and inhabitable object. A central trunk divides into tapering metal branches carrying the luminous globes. Although the branching pattern appears organic, its composition is rooted in precise pentagonal geometry. This radial and non-orientable structure extends equally in all directions, maintaining a consistent identity when viewed from multiple vantage points.

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event

At ground level, a pentagonal platform crafted from Ziarat white marble functions as both foundation and seating. Positioned beside the library, it bridges indoor learning with the surrounding landscape, allowing reading and social activities to extend outdoors. Fabricated from bent galvanized metal pipes that taper upward, the structure supports thirty weather-resistant recycled opal polycarbonate globes across three sizes. An internal RGB LED setup controlled by a programmable DMX system allows seamless transitions between standard warm light and dynamic color patterns.