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Authors: Ruairi O'Brien
Keywords: lighting, darkness, architecture, public space, urban design, light pollution, smart cities, participation, digital revolution
Abstract: The digital revolution in lighting presents us with wonderful opportunities to re-think the lighting of our architecture and public spaces. The correct artificial lighting of the built environment begins with a holistic understanding of what one is lighting and why one is lighting what. Too many heritage sites, buildings, public spaces, market squares, streets, rural areas and Cities are being “beautified” with artificial light at night for an uncritical tourist market or for an uneducated consumer market. This is not sustainable or desirable. The advancement of new technology and societal change require innovative rethinking in this area. The unfortunate "BOTOX Lighting", (Static, frozen and unreal lighting of objects and spaces) does not do justice to the materiality and character of buildings and public spaces nor does it enhance the nature of night. In this sense we produce a “Fake News” lighting that depicts a narrative that communicates architectural and spatial misunderstandings and manipulates the memories of the space or object thereafter. The unique identity of all historical areas and buildings (also contemporary buildings) requires a dynamic lighting concept that accepts the need for tourism and the contemporary expectations of visitors and citizens today, without creating either a false/fake kitsch narrative of the past or a polluting sauce of cheap and glaring illumination for the future. The true narrative of the past was darkness, this has a power and a beauty that should be re-discovered and built upon, and light at night should be added carefully and responsibly. This is the future of architectural thinking, close to nature and achieving more with less. Insensitive artificial lighting destroys the special dusk transition between day and night and does not consider the importance of the silhouette of buildings against a changing sky or the dialog with the darkness and sparkle of stars and moon at night. Night scenography is the new territory of the lighting designer. In this sense both existing and future cities require not just a lighting design masterplan but also a darkness concept, where darkness is the client. Animated facades and storytelling or advertising facades require a night choreography, a Laissez-faire approach will result in further unacceptable lighting pollution and glare. As climate change develops further shading and cooling concepts for extreme sunlight and heat scenarios fall into the darkness concept of future cities. Our cities deserve a better light, LICHTKULTUR is BAUKULTUR. To interpret the words of Alberti in relation to good lighting design, let’s not light our market squares like we light our garages. To create inspirational working spaces, peaceful refugia or exciting and poetic lighting moods you need to understand how time, space, materials, darkness and light can be brought together and how to play them off each other. With a unique concept, high-quality technology and a selective choice you can achieve more in lighting design. Lighting designers should have a proven understanding of architecture, heritage buildings, city planning and public space and should not ignore the ethics of using resources wisely. I see light compositions as "soundless music”. In this respect we should agree to give cities and its buildings the sound, the klang, the voice they deserve. Truly smart cities of the future will need designed darkness to not only be sustainable but to be also loved. All that is loved is sustainable.