It’s time to shift the focus
a new agenda: extending the day In the past years we’ve seen lighting begin to take centre stage in conversations related to our cities. Many cities, municipalities and boroughs have commissioned night-time strategies and lighting masterplans as the shift to LED technology is rolled out offering an opportunity for a new perspective. Many of these conversations, however, have focused on improving and encouraging a night-time economy. City centres, financial districts, cultural hubs and the idea of 24-hour cities are familiar terms we’ve heard and bought into, yet, the spaces just outside our front doors have largely been forgotten. The pandemic has seen a profound shift in the way many people work and has also increased the need for useable outdoor space at a local level. The previously overlooked neighbourhood parks, playgrounds and open spaces near our homes are now in the spotlight. These spaces require improved lighting and a considered design approach to allow their use after dark and throughout the afternoon during the fast approaching winter months. Children need spaces to play, adults need somewhere to escape that does not require travel, the elderly need to feel secure in their neighbourhoods. We’ll soon see the days get colder and shorter and it’s important to acknowledge that change is needed, even if temporary, to support the wellbeing of our city’s residents.
From
Night-time Economy
To
Night-time Wellbeing
We are excited to create, support and encourage projects and research opportunities looking at improving the design and lighting of outdoor spaces and community resources, to help EXTEND THE DAY.
© 2020 Light Follows Behaviour
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Inequality and public spa Open and public democratic space has become a vital element throughout the pandemic allowing us respite from our homes and places of work. The inequality of useable and accessible public space available for use has become an inarguable fact. Big cities, such as London, saw the fotunate escape to the countryside while those with less means left to stick it out in the urban context. During this time, we’ve had the unique opportunity to observe how, from borough to borough, the offer of public spaces is drastically unequal. Jose Chong, Global Public Space Programme, UPDB, UN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlements Programme), stated correctly during the pandemic that the virus was spreading in cities, with 95% of total cases taking place in urban areas and acknowdged that: “Public space is currently a threat to urban health, but it has also proven to be a critical infrastructure for operation and well-being.” In order to improve and provide a greater offering of public space, the following short-term interventions could be considered: • • • • •
Recognize public space as an important asset during a crisis especially for low income populations. Make an inventory of public spaces and facilities. Repurpose space allocated to streets in order to allow physical distancing and non-motorized mobility and activities. Maintain multi-functional and flexible public open spaces that can adapt to urgent demands. Public facilities can provide essential services needed by marginalized communities
© 2020 Light Follows Behaviour
ace
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Open spaces come in many Open space is therefore essential for everyday life. The words and images that accompany many webinar presentations, however, tend to be predictably similar. An image of space laid to lawn with trees and benches is the poster child for open space. It is vital, however, to acknowledge that open space has many forms. And the type of open space we have access to locally is very closely linked to our economic standing. It is no secret that for many social housing estates, courtyard spaces are not planted but a tarmac surface usually to allow parking and reduce maintenance costs. Spaces under flyovers intended to be primary pedestrian routes remain oddly proportioned and eerily vacant. Yet despite their form or appearance each of these spaces has the potential to become an asset to the communities they serve by providing functional open space throughout the winter months when covered spaces and lighting play a crucial role. Needs which we have not required during the summer months with the favourable weather and long days.
Š 2020 Light Follows Behaviour
forms
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EXTENDING THE DAY Although we are lighting designers, we are focused on tackling inequalities in public space. We acknowledge that the most effective method of tackling inequality in our communities is to break down the divide in terms of project funding and engagement. The pandemic has seen many small clubs and groups with nowhere to meet due to Covid restrictions and has left many small businesses unable to repurpose their current spaces to meet government guidelines. Winter is coming, and darkness and cold with it. What has thus far been an unequal distribution of space and funds could grow into a significant social issue if we don’t act fast. The idea is simple: extend the day by providing considered lighting, temporary or permanent covered spaces and re-use neglected spaces in lower income communities. This is an approach many boroughs and groups have looked at adressing in time but it is now more essential than ever to push these initiatives to the forefront. We are advocating the need to provide lighting, in a permanent or temporary basis, in underused open spaces to serve the needs of the local communities. By allowing the local communities to self organise and use each space as they see fit, we hope to encourage discussions within the community and also providing a common thread across a number of neighbourhoods. Our aim is to use this as first element to re-activate underused spaces and help residents reimagine what amenities would be of use for them. As each spaces gains tractions and the uses expand and develop, permanent design features can be applied as the budgets become available allowing the local community to claim the space as their own.
Š 2020 Light Follows Behaviour
Permanent installation by LFB in Providence, USA
Terry Spinks Place transformed with playful lighting by LFB
Temporary lighting installations and events energise and engage public of all ages
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CASE STUDY : LONDON The Moorings Thamesmead London, UK
Status: Completion: 2020 Project Curator: Sam Skinner Mural Artwork: The Grantchester Pottery Client: Peabody Designed in collaboration with young people at Woolwich Polytechnic & Hawksmoor Youth Club We have quite a bit of experience in co-designing projects and working in collaboration with local communities, in order to bring previously ordinary spaces to life by day and night. We spoke with residents and underpass users by day and night to understand the views on, and experience of, the site and surrounding areas to understand the main concerns and undertook a program of codesign with young people from Hawksmoor Youth Club. The improved underpass is lit by a simple, elegant and robust lighting detail which illuminates the beautiful tile mural created by The Grantchester Pottery. The existing lighting was removed and a central light fixture was installed which compliments with the underpass architecture by day and night. Lighting to the artwork also provides functional light to the underpass accentuating a gateway into the site. Despite a limited budget and challenging installation and maintenance conditions, the lighting design accentuates the space and artwork while also being very discrete.
Š 2020 Light Follows Behaviour
www.lightfollowsbehaviour.com
CASE STUDY : USA Southside Cultural Center Providence, Rhode Island
Status: Completed 2016 Architect: ULTRAMODERNE Client: City of Providence Following a successful temporary light installation event that drew interest and generated the needed funding, a permanent external event space was created in what was a parking lot. LFB worked with the architects to create a successful design and flexible lighting scheme for the event space and new landscape area. Due to a very restricted budget the lighting design makes use of solar powered landscape lighting to minimise cabling and containment. Lighting to the event space serves a dual purpose to create a lantern for the community after dark as well as provide flexible functional lighting for events. Following its completion, the space has been regularly used by the community for all types of events by day and night.
Š 2020 Light Follows Behaviour
www.lightfollowsbehaviour.com
LIGHT FOLLOWS BEHAVIOUR Lighting Public Spaces
Unit 7 411-413 Liverpool Road LONDON N7 8PT t: +44 (0)7703342302 e: info@lightfollowsbehaviour.com www.lightfollowsbehaviour.com