The new lighting design for the world-famous Acropolis of Athens and its monuments has come away with three awards from the prestigious online [d]arc Awards for 2020. The lighting design and installation was the work of Athens-based Eleftheria Deko and Associates, made possible by funding and support from the Onassis Foundation.

During the ceremony, which took place on April 29, 2021, this new lighting design for the Acropolis won 1st Prize in the Best Exterior Scheme category, 1st Prize in the Best Creative Lighting Event category (for the Acropolis Lights Launch Event, which took place last September), and the Ultimate [d]arc Award, as “The Best of the Best” lighting design of 2020.

In accepting the award, Eleftheria Deco, founder and principal lighting designer of the award-winning studio said: “It’s not our artificial light that illuminates the Acropolis, it is the internal light of the Monument itself that brightens those who want or are ready to see their own truth. And that light cannot be other than white!”

Two more works from Eleftheria Deko and Associates were shortlisted for the [d]arc Awards: the lighting of the South Wing of the Athens International Airport and the lighting design for the meeting rooms at the headquarters of Raycap S.A. in Athens.

In its five-year history, the [d]arc Awards have come to be considered the Oscars of lighting design. Would-be participants can apply to compete in categories that include Structures, Places, Spaces, Art, Events and Kit – this last category includes lighting products and technological devices that support lighting systems.

The ceremony took place in London, with online participation from around the world.