Prada Chengdu IFS Mall
Chengdu, China, 2016
Application: Luxtury Retail
Product: STRIP
Model: FLEX STRIP
The facade lighting scheme for the Prada flagship boutique at IFS Chengdu establishes a refined architectural presence within a dense luxury retail environment. Defined by a sculptural, pleated envelope, the façade draws from the language of textile craftsmanship, translating soft fabric-like folds into a rigid architectural skin. The lighting strategy operates through concealed internal backlighting, using a controlled pure white source to activate the depth of the façade from within. As light interacts with the translucent cladding system, the surface resolves into a warm, luminous volume, reinforcing Prada’s signature balance between precision and material softness.
To articulate the complexity of the pleated envelope, 456 meters of LUCITAG Strip Flex linear luminaires are integrated within the curtain wall cavity, following the full vertical and corner transitions of the façade geometry. Operating in a pure white spectrum, the flexible linear system is precisely aligned behind the folded panel composition, delivering an even, indirect wash across each internal facet.
This controlled backlighting transforms the rigid architectural skin into a continuous field of light and shadow, revealing the depth of each pleat while preserving a seamless external appearance. The result is a softly animated façade where geometry is defined not by surface illumination, but by internal luminosity and volumetric depth.
All lighting elements remain fully concealed within the architectural cavity, allowing the façade to retain absolute visual purity by day and a subdued, atmospheric glow by night. The system reinforces the boutique’s identity as a quiet yet highly refined urban object—where material precision and light converge into a single architectural expression.
To articulate the complexity of the pleated envelope, 456 meters of LUCITAG Strip Flex linear luminaires are integrated within the curtain wall cavity, following the full vertical and corner transitions of the façade geometry. Operating in a pure white spectrum, the flexible linear system is precisely aligned behind the folded panel composition, delivering an even, indirect wash across each internal facet.
This controlled backlighting transforms the rigid architectural skin into a continuous field of light and shadow, revealing the depth of each pleat while preserving a seamless external appearance. The result is a softly animated façade where geometry is defined not by surface illumination, but by internal luminosity and volumetric depth.
All lighting elements remain fully concealed within the architectural cavity, allowing the façade to retain absolute visual purity by day and a subdued, atmospheric glow by night. The system reinforces the boutique’s identity as a quiet yet highly refined urban object—where material precision and light converge into a single architectural expression.
