Claypaky Transforms Santiago's Skyline with Lighting Installation at Cenco Costanera

	At the heart of the project is the building's expansive glass skylight, transformed into a canvas for color, movement and atmosphere using 24 Claypaky Arolla MP Spot fixtures and 20 MIDI-B units.

Claypaky has taken center stage in a striking new architectural lighting installation at the Cenco Costanera in Santiago, Chile, transforming the tallest mall in Latin America into a dynamic nighttime landmark. Conceived by Icardi Producciones under the artistic and technical direction of lighting designer Alex Paredes, and supported by MMT Chile, the project redefined the mall's newly renovated fifth-floor gastronomic hub through an immersive integration of light, design, and technology. "They asked us to give the area life, to make it stand out," explains Paredes. "We did a demo with Claypaky that was so well received that the project expanded to four times the originally planned size." The installation was designed not simply to illuminate the space, but to create a daily visual spectacle where architecture itself becomes part of the storytelling.

At the heart of the project is the building's expansive glass skylight, transformed into a canvas for color, movement and atmosphere using 24 Claypaky Arolla MP Spot fixtures and 20 MIDI-B units. Installed above technical grates and carefully concealed among vegetation and decorative elements, the fixtures project upward onto the glass structure, creating an elegant architectural effect while remaining almost invisible to visitors. "The idea was that the light would be felt, but the fixture wouldn't interrupt the atmosphere," says Paredes. "Claypaky gave us exactly what we needed: control, intensity, optical quality, and a size that allows the equipment to be camouflaged without sacrificing performance." The designer, who began his career in 1994 and has worked with major Chilean artists including Los Tres, Américo, Luis Jara and Noche de Brujas, has increasingly focused on architectural lighting. "I really like it; I feel that Chile lacks color, it lacks light," he says. "For me, light communicates, transforms, and creates identity."

The installation also presented major technical challenges, from complex cable routing across multiple floors to integrating more than 100 meters of connectivity into the mall's central datacenter network. Thanks to MA Lighting control systems, the project now runs as a fully automated installation, activating nightly as part of the building's identity. "Today the system turns on every day at 7:30pm, turns off at midnight, and follows a fixed program. It's already working perfectly, and that's a huge source of pride," Paredes explains. The project received enthusiastic feedback from both the public and the building's management, who have already requested support for future lighting initiatives within the tower.

MMT Chile, Claypaky's official representative in the country, played a key role throughout the process, providing technical consultancy, photometric studies, documentation, virtual walkthroughs and post-sales support. "Alex designed the project with his own specifications, based on products he had already tested previously, and that allowed for a very rich technical dialogue from the beginning," says Simon Manriquez, market development manager for Claypaky at MMT. "We were very careful in choosing the correct equipment and in supporting the client throughout the process." For Paredes, the collaboration was essential: "Everything we asked for, they delivered. They came to see the installation, made sure everything was fine, and offered help with any future needs. That is fundamental for a technician." Manriquez concludes: "Our mission is focused on guaranteeing satisfaction. We want each project to be an opportunity for mutual growth."