NEW REPORT EXAMINES HOW LIGHTING CAN MAKE LONDON A BETTER CITY
Compiled by the Centre for London, ‘Seeing clearly: How lighting can make London a better city’ features insight from Publica’s Associate Director of Night-time & Lighting, Satu Streatfield.
There is a growing emphasis and interest in the ways our cities are lit. But currently, only two of London’s 33 local authorities have adopted a lighting strategy – when other European cities have had them for years.
With this in mind, researchers Joe Wills, Nicolas Bosetti from the Centre for London aimed to create a report that would stimulate public debate about the ways in which London is currently lit and how it could make better use of lighting.
“A well-lit city comes with many benefits,” the report states. “It can enable people to spend more time enjoying culture, restaurants, shops and nightlife and make active journeys easier, safer and more enjoyable.”
“Well-designed lighting could even contribute to London’s green recovery by achieving large cuts in energy use and reducing light pollution. It can also function as public art – making the capital more beautiful and interesting.”
To do so, an extensive literature review including over 60 academic articles, policy documents and development plans was conducted. Findings were also tested in interviews with policymakers and practitioners in London and other cities – including senior staff in local authorities, BIDs, environmental bodies, community group representatives and lighting designers.
From this, three chapters were devised: Understanding Light; Designing and Managing Lighting; and Recommendations: What Needs to Change?
In addition, the authors provide a “Good Lighting” toolkit of basic principles for communities and decision makers who are working with lighting.
“Perhaps because lighting is such an integral part of our day-to-day activity, we take it for granted,” say the report’s authors. “For the most part, we treat lighting in a utilitarian way – as a service to be provided to a certain standard, much like water and sewage – rather than as an asset that affects the city’s economy, environment, transport and wellbeing.”
“Relatively modest changes in policy and practice would hugely improve the quality of London’s lighting, as well as support economic, civic and cultural activity that will help the city recover from the COVID-19 crisis.”
News ⋅ March 2021
See more
NEW REPORT EXAMINES HOW LIGHTING CAN MAKE LONDON A BETTER CITY
Compiled by the Centre for London, ‘Seeing clearly: How lighting can make London a better city’ features insight from Publica’s Associate Director of Night-time & Lighting, Satu Streatfield.
There is a growing emphasis and interest in the ways our cities are lit. But currently, only two of London’s 33 local authorities have adopted a lighting strategy – when other European cities have had them for years.
With this in mind, researchers Joe Wills, Nicolas Bosetti from the Centre for London aimed to create a report that would stimulate public debate about the ways in which London is currently lit and how it could make better use of lighting.
“A well-lit city comes with many benefits,” the report states. “It can enable people to spend more time enjoying culture, restaurants, shops and nightlife and make active journeys easier, safer and more enjoyable.”
“Well-designed lighting could even contribute to London’s green recovery by achieving large cuts in energy use and reducing light pollution. It can also function as public art – making the capital more beautiful and interesting.”
To do so, an extensive literature review including over 60 academic articles, policy documents and development plans was conducted. Findings were also tested in interviews with policymakers and practitioners in London and other cities – including senior staff in local authorities, BIDs, environmental bodies, community group representatives and lighting designers.
From this, three chapters were devised: Understanding Light; Designing and Managing Lighting; and Recommendations: What Needs to Change?
In addition, the authors provide a “Good Lighting” toolkit of basic principles for communities and decision makers who are working with lighting.
“Perhaps because lighting is such an integral part of our day-to-day activity, we take it for granted,” say the report’s authors. “For the most part, we treat lighting in a utilitarian way – as a service to be provided to a certain standard, much like water and sewage – rather than as an asset that affects the city’s economy, environment, transport and wellbeing.”
“Relatively modest changes in policy and practice would hugely improve the quality of London’s lighting, as well as support economic, civic and cultural activity that will help the city recover from the COVID-19 crisis.”
News ⋅ March 2021
See more