At night, Downtown Dubai had no shortage of spectacle, but the Boulevard itself was quiet. People passed through quickly. The scale was impressive, yet the experience was flat.

We wanted to change that. The Boulevard needed rhythm, surprise, and identity. It needed light that could guide, but also invite. Although not every element was implemented, this is the scheme we developed at a design level.

“We wanted to make light memorable. Every surface and detail became an opportunity to create an event in itself.” – Alex Shaw, Design Director

We began with the trees. Outdated uplights created glare and monotony. Our decision was to replace them with RGB fixtures grazing trunks and washing canopies. The palms became a Colour Cord, linking the district with a living spine of light. The rhythm could shift with the city: subtle gradients on everyday nights, national colors for celebrations, directional flows toward the Opera House before performances.

Then came the happenings; artistic lighting interventions placed along the Boulevard to break repetition and build a storyline.

The Discover Series reused the illuminated tree sticks that were already on site, but reorganized them into five three-dimensional installations: the Maze, the Forest, the Dunes, the Fountain, and the Star. Each design created a unique passage where pedestrians could walk through light rather than simply walk past it. The decision to repurpose existing elements was both sustainable and symbolic, turning familiar decorations into sculptural experiences.

The Play Series introduced installations that engaged people directly. “Waiting for Gulliver” played with scale through oversized table lamps that bathed pedestrians in warm light, then shifted to saturated colors for a playful surprise. “Spotted!” used colorful backlit doughnut-shaped benches, inviting people to sit, gather, and admire the surroundings. These interventions brought interaction and humor into the Boulevard, making the act of resting or walking part of the lighting story.

The Feel Series projected patterns of nature; forest, fire, water, stars between the trees. The intention was to give people the unexpected pleasure of walking through light as atmosphere. Shadows and textures moved across the pavement and facades, shifting perception with every step.

The Boulevard was no longer a passage. It became an encounter: playful, atmospheric, monumental,  woven into the rhythm of Downtown Dubai.

“For us, the success was measured when people started slowing down, looking up, and interacting with the light itself. That is when design becomes part of the city’s rhythm.” – Alex Shaw