On Valentine's Day, NYC’s Times Square will radiate with romance. This year, Denmark-based Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) architects have provided a “City Pulse” heart sculpture made of 400 transparent acrylic tubes fitted with LEDs, which pulsates light in the midst of the urban bustle. Lighting solutions expert Zumtobel has sponsored the LED lighting system that illuminates this work of art.
The Times Square Alliance business improvement district in New York has implemented the Valentine's Day Heart for the fourth time in a row. In collaboration with renowned artists and architects, the subject of love is elaborately set center stage. BIG♥NYC by BIG is the title of this year's project. The theme of this installation is “more people = more love.” A single person can actually activate the “beating” heart by touching the panel set up next to the installation. The more people take each other by the hand to form a human chain, the faster the heart will pulsate. In this way, an impressive lighting scenario is created by focusing human energy—a luminescent symbol of love.
The 3-meter tall luminescent sculpture is made of 400 transparent acrylic tubes fitted with LEDs. They form a cube around the red Valentine's Day Heart, which reflects the city lights. The heart itself seems to hover in the air. “City Pulse” is tangible proof that lighting experiences are artful pieces of culture.
The 2012 Valentine's Day Heart was officially inaugurated on February 6th.