This project introduces a new lighting identity for two transitional areas connecting the existing River West mall to its outdoor expansion, River West Open. These passageways act as spatial gateways — compressed thresholds that guide visitors toward a renewed commercial experience. The lighting design was conceived as a powerful visual statement, transforming circulation zones into engaging, memorable destinations.

On the ground floor, the objective was to create an illuminated gesture visible from afar — a clear invitation toward the outdoor extension. A large luminous ceiling spans the corridor, composed of seven independently controlled segments equipped with tunable-white LED technology. The system operates through Bluetooth control with real-time programming, enabling dynamic lighting scenes that subtly adapt to ambient conditions or shift into vibrant festive modes. The result is a gradual visual transition: light becomes the mediator between interior and exterior, helping visitors adapt while drawing them forward with curiosity.

The first-floor passage presents a different spatial challenge: narrower proportions and a more filtered relationship to daylight. Here, lighting becomes a bold immersive experience. Oblique illuminated frames interact with mirrored surfaces to create a kaleidoscopic depth — a playful manipulation of boundaries that multiplies reflections and expands perceived space. Movement is echoed through light, turning a constrained corridor into a dynamic, elevated moment within the visitor journey.

Across both levels, the lighting design introduces a new emotional register within the mall — not merely guiding circulation, but crafting identity. Light defines these nodes as memorable landmarks, marking the transition to River West’s evolving character with innovation, energy, and visual delight.