A tree called Abies Electronicus
This enormous, abstract Christmas tree towers over Brussels. It was designed by the French collective 1024 Architects. The imposing installation, which is estimated to be 25 metres tall, lights up the whole central square of the Belgian capital thanks to colourful LEDs whose light filters through the fabric cladding of the “branches”, while its purpose-built scaffolding invites every visitor to climb up and enjoy the unique view.
Pantone Christmas baubles
The fetish ornament for design lovers everywhere. Leave the classic red and the expected greens and golds behind for a moment and experiment with the must-have Pantone palette. Note that for 2013 the company named Emerald its colour of the year. The glass baubles designed by the studio badini createam for Seletti come in 10 different shades.
A shoe from your own neighbourhood
The English studio XAG created original Christmas trees, step by step, to adorn the windows of the Christian Louboutin boutiques in Paris and Geneva. Using the “pigalle” pump as their template, they designed their own version in the ultimate Christmas colour combination of white and red.
A “ceramic” Christmas tree
Belgium seems to be in the spotlight this Christmas. The studio Mooz erected a 9-metre “tree” in the central square of the city of Hasselt, using 5,000 ceramic plates and cups donated by local residents. It was a creative initiative that strengthened the bonds between the people of Hasselt.
Wandering through light in Madrid
It may be considered a somewhat risky choice, as it can easily distract drivers, but it is nonetheless an impressive spectacle. The Italian architect Teresa Sapey‘s lighting scheme for the shopping street Calle Serrano is, naturally, based on LED technology, and continues the tradition whereby the mayor commissions a different creator each year to design the city’s Christmas “lights”.
Strength in unity
The famous Parisian department store Printemps Haussmann and the celebrated French fashion house Dior have added an extra sparkle to the Christmas atmosphere. The stars of the show are 74 handmade dolls that stroll through Parisian scenes, showing off classic Dior pieces in the 11 windows of Printemps.
Edited by: Ioanna Pavlopoulou
