Rethinking Urban Lighting Design
Public lighting shapes how we experience cities, yet its design often highlights social inequality—poorer areas endure harsh lighting while affluent neighbourhoods enjoy thoughtful illumination. Nulty Lighting Designer Krystyna Menke explains why it’s time to prioritise quality, value, and inclusivity in public spaces.
In today’s urban landscape, public lighting plays a complex role – it influences our environment, shapes our perception of spaces, and provides a sense of security. However, lighting implementation across different communities is surprisingly unequal, particularly for those living in marginalised populations.
While affluent areas benefit from high-quality public illumination, those living in low-income and public housing areas often experience lighting that is primarily employed as a defence mechanism to control nighttime behaviour. Such lighting can be visually distressing, with uncontrolled glare, poor colour quality, and a lack of intentional lighting design.
Inadequate lighting, especially in public spaces, can negatively impact communities already facing marginalisation, further perpetuating a cycle of exclusion. Overbearing lighting may be perceived as a safety measure in less affluent areas, but its use often results in spaces being viewed as having lower value. This discourages outdoor activity, reinforcing perceptions of danger.
Conversely, affluent neighbourhoods and designer housing developments utilise lighting as a design feature, enhancing the visual appeal of exterior spaces and increasing their perceived value.
Public lighting is a vital aspect of any cityscape and should be treated as such, rather than merely a tool for behaviour control. Poorer neighbourhoods deserve the same design considerations as wealthier areas. Currently, they are both aesthetically and socially alienated from the rest of society.
What can we as lighting designers do?
Shift the focus from “cost” to “value”
Instead of fixating on the question what does this cost?, we should shift our mindset to ask, what value does this add? While cost is an important aspect of any design, prioritising the lowest-cost fittings without regard for light output and control should not be the default solution.
By focusing on value, we examine a design from multiple perspectives, not solely from a budgetary standpoint. This approach encourages us to ask key questions such as, “Who will benefit from this?”, “Is this the appropriate amount of light?”, and “Are we creating a harmful environment?”
Promote good design principles in social housing
The design principles applied in affluent neighbourhoods should also be employed in lower-cost and social housing areas. Rather than using lighting as a form of defensive architecture with excessive illumination, we must consider important factors like glare ratings, contrast ratios, light quality, and output—the same as we would in high-end projects. Low-budget projects deserve the same level of care and consideration.
A well-lit space should not come at the cost of residents’ mental health or their sense of physical safety.
There is a difference between providing enough light for safety and over-lighting a space to the point where it becomes alienating. Excessive lighting in public spaces can negatively affect residents by creating an environment that feels overly monitored, discouraging them from using those spaces.
Light trespass is another common issue associated with over-lighting, where unwanted light enters nearby homes and disrupts sleep. Public spaces can still feel safe and well-lit without being over-illuminated. Proper time, research, and calculations should be invested in these projects, just as they are in more affluent areas.
Involve residents in public realm design
Community engagement is a crucial component of public realm design. Listening to the specific needs of residents, particularly those in marginalised communities, should be an integral part of the design process. Involving residents in decision-making fosters tailored lighting solutions and instils a sense of ownership and empowerment.
Raising awareness about the social implications of unequal lighting distribution is also vital. Advocacy and education can empower communities to demand change and hold urban developers and policymakers accountable.
By championing inclusive, well-designed lighting for all, we can work towards a more equitable urban environment. This will pave the way for a future where everyone, regardless of socio-economic background, can benefit from safe, well-lit public spaces.
References:
- Creatura, I. (2017b, February 26). Public lighting and the urban wealth Gap – Brown Political Review. Brown Political Review. https://brownpoliticalreview.org/2017/02/public-lighting-urban-wealth-gap/
- Skwarek, S. (2022, January 11). With good lighting and justice for all – Illuminating Engineering Society. Illuminating Engineering Society. https://www.ies.org/lda-magazine/featured-content/with-good-lighting-and-justice-for-all/
- Sloane, M., Slater, D., & Entwistle, J. (2016). Tackling Social Inequalities in Public Lighting. Configuring Light. https://www.configuringlight.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/CL-Round-Tables-Report-reduced-size.pdf