Christmas trees

Each year designers and artists give their interpretation of this traditional Christmas’ symbol. A review from London to Shanghai, passing trough Milan, Amsterdam and Budapest.

Budapest based design studio Hello Wood built a huge Christmas tree made of 365 sledges in front of the Palace of Arts at the riverbank of the Danube.

After the holidays, all the sledges of this exceptional piece of art and architecture will be given to the kids living in the homes of SOS Children’s Village.

It is the simple but powerful gesture of a kiss that turns on the lights on the huge Christmas tree, as well as those of 40 trees beyond it – all designed by Paul Cocksedge – creating an enchanting festive scene in the city of Shanghai. For each kissing couple or family that takes part, a partnership of socially responsible enterprises is donating 105 RMB (£10.50) in aid of the charity Smile Angel Foundation that provides medical assistance to Chinese children with birth defects.

For the entrance of Rijksmuseum, Droog designed The Tree of Light, a massive holographic 7-meters-high Christmas tree that constantly changes shape and decoration.

The Christmas tree designed by Castagna&Ravelli in Piazza Gae Aulenti, Milan, is a light sculpture that, through the use of LEDS and colorful shapes, transforms the installation into a shimmering cone of lights and colors, which are reflected on the surrounding architecture.

2013 Christmas tree for the Grand Entrance of Victorian and Albert Museum, the Red Velvet Tree of Love designed by artists Helen and Colin David – of textile label English Eccentrics – is traditional in shape but is coated in visceral red flocking to give a deep velvet-like appearance.