The article analyzes the problems of preserving the historical architectural heritage of the urban environment of Kharkiv and provides ways to solve them with the help of innovative means of light design. The purpose of the article is to trace the impact of lighting design decisions on the perception of ancient buildings by observers, to identify the most effective means of light design that can be used to restore the ancient appearance and perception of the architectural environment of the city center of Kharkiv in the dark part of the day. During the research, examples of the use of innovative lighting design technologies to create a modern artistic image of the city while preserving its architectural and cultural heritage were reviewed and analyzed. Modern 3-D technologies today give artists and designers the opportunity to change the urban environment in accordance with the artistic idea, to create its unique night image, relying on its historical and cult architecture.