The bridges across central London from Albert Bridge to Tower Bridge are currently in the process of being illuminated. The first phase started in 2019 and consisted of the illumination of the first four bridges (London Bridge, Cannon Street, Southwark Bridge, and Millennium Bridge). Due to the pandemic, the second phase was delayed and was completed in the spring of 2021; it was meant to be launched in the autumn of 2020 originally. The second phase included the illumination of the next five bridges from Blackfriars through to Lambeth bridges. Each illumination has its own artistic style, which is influenced by the location and sensitivity to the environment. The project is designed by New York-based artist Leo Villareal, who is also working with British architecture firm Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands and specialist teams on the installations.
Blackfriar's Bridge, designed by 26-year old Scottish architect Robert Mylne, opened in 1769. The bridge is much-photographed and painted due to its position on the river and the framing of the nearby St. Paul's Cathedral. It was originally known as the "William Pitt Bridge" (for the prime minister), but its modern name refers to the 13th-century monastery that was located near the spot. This is the widest bridge on the river. The lights under the bridge highlight the architecture, and it cycles from deep red to deep blue to orange. The red colour symbolises the colour of the bridge pillars (which can be seen in daylight) and the surviving columns of the original railway bridge that stick up from the river between the new rail bridge and the road bridge.
Waterloo Bridge was opened in 1817 to commemorate the second anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo. The bridge helped to ease congestion of a bustling London. The bridge fell into disrepair and was shut at one time. During the second World War, the bridge was repaired by women, and it is known as "Ladies Bridge". It suffered multiple damage by bombs during the war. It was the first bridge to incorporate electric lights. The bridge was visited by artist Monet and others, and the illuminated lights were inspired by the paintings produced of the bridge. A single line of light follows the length of the bridge with additional lights underneath to illuminate the arches.
The Golden Jubilee Footbridges were formerly known as the Hungerford Bridge. The previous footbridge was a very old and narrow one along only one side of the rail bridge, but it was replaced by the new Golden Jubilee Footbridges in 2003. (I crossed the original narrow footbridge several times before its replacement.) The artistic lighting for the bridge mimics the other footbridge - Millennium Bridge - in is use of pulsating white light. The white light appears to move across the bridge, and the suspension towers have also been illuminated with white light.
Westminster Bridge is famous for its view of Big Ben and has appeared in paintings, photographs, movies, and other media as an icon of Britain. The original bridge was designed in 1750, and it was meant to be funded by a lottery but fell far short of the amount raised, so it is called the "Bridge of Fools". The bridge has the most arches of any bridge on the river, and it is painted green to match the seats in the House of Commons. The bridge is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the green lighting is a subtle enhancement to complement the green paintwork that can be seen during daylight. The green lighting illuminates the architecture under the archways nicely. Green is my favourite colour, so I liked this lighting, although it did also remind me of the green bridge in Dublin.
The final bridge to be illuminated in the second phase is Lambeth Bridge. It was opened in 1932 and has sculptures of dolphins on it. The colour of the bridge in daylight reflects the leather benches in the House of Lords, the closest building in the House of Commons to the bridge. The bridge is illuminated in red light, but I noticed the blue and red colours on my visit. The red light mimicks the colour in the daylight, which matches the leather seating in the House of Lords.
The bridges will be illuminated for at least ten years, and they really do add a lot of colour to London. Before the illuminations, the bridges were unlit or lit with dull lights, so this project has helped highlight London's architecture and also to make London appeal as a centre of tourism and nightlife. I can't wait to see the remaining phase of the Illuminaited Bridges in London.
Read about the first phase:
London Illuminated Bridges (Phase One) 2019
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