[Seoul's Future] UK Thames River Project Leader: "If Citizens Visit, Tourists Will Come Too"

Video Call Interview with Sarah Gaventa, Head of the Illuminated River Project

"The Thames River is a natural superhighway. While protecting nature, we created walking programs so citizens can love the river, and arranged for art installations to be experienced while taking boat rides. Now, it has become a city that runs 24 hours, a walkable city, and a vibrant city."

Sarah Gaventa, Director of the Illuminated River project foundation responsible for the lighting improvement of bridges over the Thames River in the UK, stated this during a video interview on the 17th of last month. Expressing her pleasure to discuss the project, Director Gaventa explained, "The reason we wanted to enhance the view of the Thames was for none other than the citizens of London." She emphasized, "Public spaces must be loved by local residents first for tourists to love them as well." Although the lighting of the ninth bridge was completed in 2021, Director Gaventa's project to further improve accessibility between the river and citizens is still ongoing.

Below is a Q&A with Director Gaventa.

In front of the Thames River, Sarah Gaventa, head of the Illuminated River Project Foundation, is explaining the project to citizens. Photo by Illuminated River

※Illuminated River Project: A project to improve the lighting of bridges over the Thames River in central London. It began with the aim of commemorating the bridges as architectural, social, and historical landmarks and making them symbolic links crossing London, the political, financial, and cultural center. Covering nine bridges from London Bridge to Lambeth Bridge, spanning 3.2 miles (5.15 km), the project was completed in April 2021, making the Thames home to the world's longest public artwork. The project will continue for at least 10 years, and the Illuminated River Foundation is a charity based at the Rothschild Foundation that supports maintenance, replacement, and electricity costs.

- Please explain the Illuminated River project.

▲The Illuminated River project is a project to look at and commemorate the important Thames River and its bridges in London. In fact, this project originated from the Rothschild family's desire during the 2012 London Olympics to create a cultural project crossing central London. The Thames is the river that defines the city of London, and many bridges lie at its center, but like all cities, since industrialization, we have lived with our backs to the river. The river, once a space for travel, industry, and fishing, became a space citizens no longer saw and even emitted foul odors.

The Illuminated River project can be described as a pan-London cultural project. Considering the environment, we wanted to illuminate the bridges using light and art rather than the river itself. This is because fish living in the river want to maintain darkness amid light pollution. By illuminating the bridges while leaving the river dark, we emphasized the beauty of the river. This change provided an opportunity for people not just to cross the bridges for commuting or transit but to stay by the river, look at it, and enjoy the beautiful scenery. Of course, some bridges already had lighting, but these were not created with artistic sensibility but by road builders. The lights from those actually polluted the river.

Another very important aspect we considered during the project was "how to talk about the Thames and involve the local community." We worked with all social members who love the project. Since this project took place in the public domain, negotiations with various citizens within the city were necessary. For example, in London, some people have conservative and others progressive political tendencies, so we had to create something everyone could participate in.

Night view of the Thames River from Waterloo Bridge to Lambeth Bridge transformed by the Illuminated River Project / Photo by Illuminated River

- While conducting the project, how did you define the meaning of the Thames River in the city of London?

▲I thought of it as a wildlife superhighway. Although hundreds of species live in the river, it is very opaque, so it is difficult to see what lives there. Meanwhile, cargo and people move over the river, and commuter boats operate on it. The etymology of the Thames also means 'dark river.' As the etymology suggests, we wanted to maintain the wildness of this natural superhighway through 'darkness.' Therefore, all lights are turned off at 2 a.m. We are also playing a role in protecting nature.

- What attempts did you make to ensure the project benefits the local community?

▲We created walking programs so citizens could gather by the river and love it. Since the Thames is the largest public space, this was to help people understand and enjoy the river. Another was free boat tours, providing citizens with their first experience of the river. We also plan to take 'young carers'?teenagers who care for sick or elderly parents?to the Thames this September.

While you can see illuminated bridges from the riverbank, when you take a boat under the bridges, you can see artworks above your head. We collaborated with a commuter boat company to create affordable tickets allowing people to see the Illuminated River twice a week. Considering these, the Illuminated River project might better be called the Illuminated Bridge project because we illuminate the bridges, not the river. But the name was decided before I joined. (laughs)

- One of the most important meanings of the project seems to be returning the Thames to the citizens. How did you view the relationship between the river and citizens before the project?

▲Citizens who have lived by the river for generations actually lived with their backs to it. So, we are working with local schools to talk about the river and connect the community to it through marches to the bridges. We explained the river to citizens living between Cannon Street and London Bridge by offering boat tour experiences and free walking tour tickets. We also faced resistance from citizens living there. Through communication, we understood their concerns about light entering their homes and promised that no such issues would arise due to the project. The project must benefit citizens and not be a detriment.

Also, we believed we could help solve citizens' problems with our capabilities. The Southwark Cathedral right next to the Thames is an example. The cathedral's lighting was inconspicuous and overshadowed by the surrounding bright and new lights. Empty offices shone more than the cathedral. We paid the design team and lighting engineers to improve the cathedral's lighting. By sharing our knowledge of lighting and involving citizens in the project, we showed that the project's technical team could help solve community problems. Even citizens who strongly opposed the project now love it. What I emphasized to our team was that our project should not stress life or work activities around the river. We are grateful for the discussions we had with citizens.

In September 2021, Sarah Gaventa is giving an explanation during a boat tour program along the Thames River / Photo by Illuminated River

- It has been two years since the Illuminated River project was completed. How has this project changed London?

▲This project was carried out for Londoners, not tourists, but it is clear that more people are enjoying the river. Our project has become a chosen area for tourism. Most participants in the boat tours are tourists. Nighttime activities are quite limited, so the fact that people want to do something at night makes this project very interesting. Showing London as a 24-hour city, a walkable city, and a vibrant city could be very useful for some industries.

There is data analyzing people's dwell time. If it takes 20 seconds to appreciate the Mona Lisa, people spent 20 minutes appreciating the Illuminated River. Spending more time outside also means buying food outside. We transformed parking lots with views of beautiful bridges into food-selling spaces.

We realized the project had an unexpected impact due to COVID-19. The project positively affected citizens' mental health. Many people came to see the bridges because places to go out were limited at the time. Allowing people to spend more time by the river is the legacy of this project. We created more seating, improved lighting, and worked with local authorities to make citizens feel safe by the Thames.

Night view of Cannon Street Bridge over the Thames River / Photo by Illuminated River

- What do you think is the future direction for the project?

▲This project still has expansion potential. What I want to achieve is to reduce the lights of buildings around the river to decrease light pollution. I think we can create a lighting strategy for London and decorate London's night using light. By turning off lights in empty offices, we emphasize the buildings and heritage we want to see.

- Please share your thoughts on the future of the Thames River.

▲I hope it becomes a space that people can access more easily. I love looking at the public outdoor swimming pool on the Thames. Anyone can use this pool. Similarly, I want to make the Thames accessible and enjoyable for everyone, regardless of income. I want to create a space where more citizens can participate and have good accessibility. I believe that will happen someday.

- The Han River in Seoul is also undergoing changes. What advice would you give about the Han River?

▲If Seoul citizens do not like the changing Han River, others will not either. Citizens must be involved in the Han River project. You need to find benefits not only for tourists but also for Seoul citizens. The first thing to do is to talk with citizens and listen to them. Without citizen participation, project progress becomes difficult. Instead of rushing in, start with small things. If you build with a vision, everyone will support the project.

Who is Sarah Gaventa? Director of the Illuminated River Foundation. A researcher at the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and the Landscape Institute, she is an expert and curator of public spaces and public art. Previously, she served as the director of the UK Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) and was chair of the Elephant and Castle regeneration forum (a district in South London) for five years.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.