The Rockefeller Christmas Tree Debuts its Newest, Most Sparkly Star
“What the world needs now is a spectacular, exploding star,’” architect Daniel Libeskind declared to T&C when discussing his creative concept for the newest Swarovski star for the Rockefeller Christmas Tree. And the star-measuring just over nine feet across, weighing a staggering 900 pounds and topped with three million Swarovski crystals-is unequivocally spectacular.
The tradition of the Rockefeller Christmas Tree began in 1933, as a way to cheer New Yorkers in the midst of the Depression. Libeskind first saw it as a teenager in 1961, shortly after he emigrated from Poland to New York City. “I love the Rockefeller Tree and have visited it over many years. New Yorkers come to the Rockefeller Center looking for a moment of reflection. But how do you create that in the 21st century? The star had to be on a large scale, a human scale, to create that sense of wonder.”
Inspired by crystalline forms and Leonardo da Vinci’s geometric studies, Libeskind created the most technologically sophisticated Rockefeller star to date, replete with 140 LED lights that will emit 106,400 lumens (roughly 70 times stronger than your average light bulb). It more closely resembles a literal star than a cartoonish five-point shape.
“My central aim was to give the star a universal appearance, to communicate that we are all united despite our differences and to honor peace and humanity. This year, the star will sit atop a 72-foot-tall Norway spruce from Wallkill, New York. The Rockefeller Center Lighting Ceremony will be on November 28th and the tree will be up through January 7th.
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