Each year on May 16th, the world raises a glass, not only to innovation but to the very force that makes seeing beauty possible: light. The International Day of Light is more than a nod to science and sustainability; it is a celebration of the element that shapes our perceptions, our architecture, and yes, even our wine.
In that radiant spirit, we toast a space where lighting becomes choreography: Lambadistis Winery, winner of the 2024 LIT Lighting Design Awards in Hospitality Lighting. Perched on the terraced hillsides of Kalopanayiotis, Cyprus, this architectural gem isn’t just a place for sipping vintages; it’s where light and landscape entwine in a sensual duet.
Crafted by Archtube Ltd. with lead designer Dakis Sevastides and in close collaboration with Eraclis Papachristou Architects, the lighting scheme elevates the winery beyond bricks and barrels. Think chiaroscuro elegance, where architectural lines are caressed rather than flooded, and each beam is calibrated with the poetic precision of a perfumer layering a scent.
Here, the lighting is less about illumination and more about mood. Guided by the rhythm of the day, what designers call the circadian flow, the lighting shifts from sun-drenched restraint to theatrical warmth. By day, panoramic views of the Cypriot landscape pour through the structure like vintage rosé. At dusk, interior lighting takes center stage, drawing guests into a multisensory experience where shadows are savored as much as the wine.
Subtle uplighting spotlights three towering pillars, an ode to the trinity of wine-making stages, while the stark geometry of a balustrade above introduces tension and grace. Lambadistis Winery proves that light can define emotion, movement, and space. Thanks to Archtube’s deft touch, balancing technical finesse with artistic sensibility, it becomes a case study in contemporary hospitality design.
As we reflect on the International Day of Light, we’re reminded that the most compelling spaces are those that know how to hold light close, and let it go, at just the right moment.
Photo Credits: George Rahmatoulin
