In an effort to make people in Angkor Wat, Cambodia more comfortable while walking the streets at night, avant garde Nothing Design Group created the tree-like solar lamps in partnership with Asiana Airlines and Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).
Angkor Wat is a UNESCO World Heritage site, but many tourists felt unsafe exploring the town once the sun had set. These cheerful lighting installations encourage visitors to become more integrated with the local community, and allow locals to generate more income by keeping businesses open later.
The solar trees also help demonstrate the immediate impact renewable energy can have on developing countries, especially when traditional infrastructure is limited.
So far, 16 solar streetlights have been installed, and the team plans to install 5 to 10 more a year until 2015.
Article by Beth Buczynski, appearing courtesy Crisp Green.