Hasta La Ideas

Fallen stars, glowing red dominoes and a vine-covered tree are some of the lights installed by artists, designers and architects in Lisbon this Christmas (photographs by Fernando Guerra).

Comissioned by the Lisbon City Hall and the Museum of Design and Fashion, seven installations were created in locations around the city centre.

Designer Pedro Sottomayor’s shining stars provide benches for tourists around Figueira Square.

Architect José Adrião wrapped a tree in London Square with red fairy lights so that it would glow as brightly as a decorated Christmas tree.

Over on Augusta Street, architects ADOC placed illuminated blocks shaped like Christmas tree branches that passers by can weave between.

You can see more stories about installations here.

Here’s some more information from the photographer:

Most years, Lisbon celebrates Christmas with much fanfare. Its artificial Christmas tree, once set up annually, towered over 200 feet and was one of the tallest not only in Portugal but in all of Europe.

This year, however, austerity measures have forced the city to take a modest approach, so it invited artists to get creative and spread holiday cheer on a budget.

The Lisbon City Hall decided to spend less in the city Christmas lights this year but make the same this a unique moment.

Together with MUDE – Museum of Design and Fashion -invited 25 artists, architects and designers to create light sculptures to mark Christmas in Lisbon, and from those 7 installations were selected.

These installations from the December 3 add color and excitement to some Lisbon noble places: Rossio Square, Augusta Street, Marquês de Pombal Square, Luís de Camões Square, Figueira Square, London Square and Chile Square.