The inaugural Middle East Lighting Design Awards (MELDA) represents a unique opportunity for the region to recognise and celebrate the professional achievements and excellence of the world's leading lighting designers in enhancing the region's built environment through the power of light. MELDA, is being held in association with Mondo arc, an international publication for architectural, retail, and corporate lighting design.
Announcing the awards, group exhibitions director, IIR Exhibitions Entertainment and Installation Technology Group, Darren Brechin says: "We are initiating these awards to further encourage and stimulate creativity in the field of architectural lighting, by recognising the innovation and technical excellence of lighting design. The objective is to get the very best out of the many talented designers working across the region, and to recognise their creative and technical excellence in exterior and interior lighting across a range of categories, including the Middle East Lighting Designer of the Year."
The establishment of these awards is being supported by multi-award winning and world renowned lighting architect Jonathan Speirs of UK-based Speirs and Major Associates. The company is responsible for numerous prestigious projects throughout the region, including the award winning lighting of the Burj Al Arab.
Speirs is keen to stress the importance of raising creative standards, as the Middle East real estate sector continues to expand at a rate that far exceeds any other global market: "With so many ambitious construction projects currently being planned and built - their after dark lit image is of major importance to both international brand identity and the iconic status of these developments."
"We are working closely with industry experts from around the world in developing the process and criteria for judging the awards," adds Brechin, "It is an essential part of our preparation to ensure that they meet the exacting standards of a truly prestigious international awards programme."
(Chris Henry)
