Glancy lights up Seven Dials

The Christmas lights at Seven Dials in London’s Covent Garden were unveiled last night, designed by James Glancy, whose best known work is the giant plug and socket on Ganton Street in London’s Soho.

Styled on baroque chandeliers, the lights are intended to appeal to ‘trendy’ 25- to 35-year-olds, a slightly older audience than the Oxford and Regent Street displays.

Glancy has also created London’s Carnaby Street’s eco-friendly Christmas display, which resembles a giant paper chain.

A holographic surface allows the paper chain to reflect sunlight during the day and streetlamps at night, so that no extra electricity needs to be used.

‘It is more effective if all of the architectural landmarks on the estate link up visually,’ says Glancy. ‘This design ties in well with the plug and socket in Ganton Street, in that we have taken an everyday object and scaled it up. Claes Oldenburg sculptures provided our starting point for the piece.’

Further Christmas light installations by Glancy are at St Christopher’s Place, Marylebone High Street, Piccadilly Arcade, Bloomsbury’s Brunswick Centre and The O2, all in London.