In the cultural heart of Guangzhou’s Tianhe District, where history and modernity intersect, the Guangdong Provincial Museum emerges as a blend of tradition and innovation. Spanning 67,000 square meters across five levels (plus a basement archive), this 2022 civic landmark is more than a repository of artifacts—it is a living narrative of Guangdong’s cultural heritage, from ancient ivory carvings to contemporary works.
Lighting Design
The lighting design combines layered interior illumination with responsive exterior lighting, using high‑CRI LEDs and DMX512 controls to achieve both visual impact and energy efficiency. The system integrates with museum AV infrastructure for immersive exhibitions, while rugged hardware ensures long‑term durability.
Innovation – Giant QR Code
To meet the client’s goal of enhancing visibility and visitor interaction, the project required a giant QR code formed by point‑light sources at the centre of the museum’s rooftop—one that visitors could successfully scan with their phones from the 433‑meter‑high Guangzhou Tower observation deck. The QR code itself measures 23 metres by 23 metres, composed entirely of individually controlled point light sources embedded into the building’s exterior.
To verify the design before full installation, the Hongyu Lighting team produced a 23m × 23m QR code banner and conducted on‑site simulations, calibrating luminaire density, aiming angles, and optical output against real‑world conditions. The same 23‑metre format was then replicated on the rooftop using point light sources, achieving clear QR code readability from the Guangzhou Tower observation deck 1,100 metres away. The installation also set a Guinness World Record for the largest QR code formed by point light sources on a building.
Imagine standing atop the tower, scanning the giant QR code across the bay with your phone, and instantly accessing exhibition guides and event updates—transforming architectural lighting from a passive visual experience into an interactive gateway between two city landmarks.
Installation – Giant QR Code
Conventional facade lighting installations typically rely on cable‑stay or bracket systems. However, the museum’s rooftop presented unique challenges that made traditional approaches problematic in terms of load capacity, light transmittance, typhoon resistance, and long‑term maintenance. The Hongyu Lighting team pioneered a glass‑direct‑mount technology, using custom‑engineered fixtures to achieve a secure, non‑intrusive attachment to the glass façade—balancing structural integrity with visual clarity and aesthetic continuity, while overcoming the structural challenges mentioned above. The glass‑mount design also simplifies ongoing maintenance, enabling quick fixture access without specialised tools, significantly reducing operational costs.
The project demonstrates how targeted innovation can turn functional requirements into artistic outcomes, ultimately earning high recognition from the client and establishing a new reference for safe, practical facade lighting.
Project: Guangdong Provincial Museum Illumination
Location: Tianhe District, Guangzhou
Gross Floor Area: 67,000㎡
Completion: 2022
Lighting Design & Construction: Guangdong Hongyu Lighting Engineering Construction Co., Ltd.