The Precious Stone Hill, also known as Baoshi Mountain, is a broader cultural landscape of West Lake in Hangzhou, China. It is famous for its colorful stones, particularly rhyolite and tuff, bestowing upon it its distinctive name. Dominating the hill’s skyline is a majestic seven-tiered Baochu Pagoda, originally built in 963 and reconstructed in 1933, which adds a layer of cultural heritage to the landscape. The hill offers a breathtaking view of West Lake and the surrounding area, with the most striking sight being the purple-and-brown-hued rocks that sparkle like diamonds in the warm glow of morning or sunset.

Lighting for such a natural place presents unique challenges. Artificial light, particularly light with high blue light content, can attract wildlife — including birds and insects — disrupting nocturnal activities like mating and foraging, and even leading to death for some species. Ensuring responsible lighting is our top priority as we work on this project in 2023. After careful research and rounds of team discussions, we have developed a lighting solution that ensures safety and minimizes harm to the natural order, while still creating identity and addressing functional illumination.

All lights have been upgraded to energy-efficient LED luminaires, with power consumption and the number of fixtures carefully controlled to protect the dark sky and preserve natural rhythms. 6,999 tree-mounted metal halide lamps have been replaced with approximately 5,100 pole-mounted ROLEDS LED luminaires, cutting power consumption from 1,083kW to 520kW. To minimize impact, the lighting is integrated into a demand-based control system with strict time regulation. During regular times, only basic wayfinding lighting is used, with special lighting reserved for events and holidays, and both are limited to short periods.

Light and shadow, two key elements in this project, are carefully crafted to create an oriental aesthetic. By blending different color temperatures, brightness levels, and directions, the lighting creates a layered effect that transforms the hill into a living painting, highlighting the harmony between nature and modern design.