"Starry Sky" over Suvorov Street and Cornflowers on Frunze Avenue: Vitebsk Transformed for the Slavianski Bazaar

"The city leadership set the task of enlivening the city at night-time in time for Vitebsk City Day and the 35th International Arts Festival 'Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk'. An original lighting system – the 'Starry Sky' illumination – has been installed over the pedestrian zone on Suvorov Street. It stretches for approximately 5 kilometres, with a total of 170 strands installed, which amounts to nearly one million LED pixels. In the evening, residents and guests of the regional centre will be able to enjoy a magical atmosphere of a starfall right above their heads," said Vasily Belousov.

The city's streets, including its main thoroughfares, have also acquired a new look. "This year, about 50 LED brackets in the shape of white-and-blue cornflowers – the symbols of the Slavianski Bazaar – have been mounted on the lighting poles along Frunze Avenue. Moskovsky Avenue, near the Bilevo residential area, has been enhanced with 22 original LED structures of an unusual design – colourful zigzag flags. LED garlands and zigzags have appeared on Freedom Square. On Lenin Street, 52 light curtains in a zigzag pattern have been installed. On Frunze Avenue, Chernyakhovsky Avenue, Moskovsky Avenue, and Kalinin and Pravdy Streets, over 200 brackets have been fitted onto lighting poles. On overhead cables above the roadways, one can see LED panels featuring images of the city's landmarks – the Summer Amphitheatre, the 'Dukhovskoy Kruglik' exhibition hall, the regional executive committee building, the Town Hall, and others," the Director of "Gorsvet" added.

The architectural lighting of buildings on Kirov Street has been brought into a unified concept. "Repairs have been carried out, and over 800 luminaires have been replaced. The lower sections of buildings now feature a warm yellow hue, while the upper sections are lit in cool white. The yellow light accentuates the texture of the facades, creating a sense of cosiness and historical continuity, while the white adds a touch of austerity and highlights key architectural accents," explained Vasily Belousov.

He specified that the realisation of these ideas was assisted by Polina Rogovskaya, an electrical engineer at the enterprise, who was responsible for developing the design of the future LED structures. "Together with the city leadership and the director of our company, we considered how best to adorn the city. The concept is based on the main highlights of Vitebsk – its old architectural buildings and its historical heritage. For instance, this year, light brackets featuring the image of the Eternal Flame have been installed in Victory Park, near the memorial complex honouring the Soviet liberator soldiers, partisans and underground resistance fighters of the Vitebsk region," said Polina Rogovskaya.

For the installation of the LED structures, an aerial hydraulic lift capable of operating at a height of 36 metres is being used. "The city leadership provided an advance payment for the purchase of the vehicle, and we will cover the remaining cost ourselves. This is currently the only such aerial lift in the housing and utilities sector of the Vitebsk region. It will be used to service all architectural lighting systems in the city, as well as for assembling the New Year tree. These vehicles are manufactured by the enterprise 'Vitstroitekhmash'," said Vasily Belousov.