Home LightingLighting In Cities: How Illumination Is Key To Create Urban Areas Of Today – And Tomorrow

Lighting 1 April 2023

Lighting in cities: How illumination is key to create urban areas of today – and tomorrow

By 2050, nearly 75 per cent of us will live in bustling cities – so, as urban developments increase, town planners and lighting designers have a lot to consider when it comes to illuminating our cities and urban areas.

In this Article:

Lighting is key to how we use urban areas

Increased safety and security are just two benefits

Beware overlighting!

Feature lighting can also highlight points of interest

We don’t need to tell you how important lighting is, but when we look at the bigger picture – how lighting impacts the way people enjoy and use the urban areas in their communities, lighting really does matter.
It determines how people feel when they interact with various facilities, features, and amenities, and it provides a sense of safety and security.
And it’s going to become increasingly important when constructing our cities of the future.
According to Damian Dawson, Director at Planning Chambers, a specialist town planning consultancy, and Accredited Planner, the planning system needs to strike the right balance if it’s to effectively create the best possible outdoor environments.

“The assessment of planning applications against the relevant requirements of the Planning and Design Code seeks a balance between a sufficient level of lighting to provide adequate wayfinding and safety, while also ensuring that it does not become a nuisance or hazard for others.”

This includes using proper illumination to provide people with a clear view of their surroundings and the path ahead, while also creating an atmosphere of comfort and reassurance.

City of light – city at night

Whether you’re a shift worker making the trek home on public transport or you’re heading downtown to an event, this combination encourages the community to access and enjoy the city at night.

Of course, consideration also needs to be given to suitable lighting levels, and these differ for various amenities and infrastructure, depending on both their usage and the crime rates in a given area. For this, The Australian Standards, including AS/NZS 4282 – Control of the obtrusive effects of outdoor lighting, are used as a guide to consider appropriate levels of lighting.

Beware over-lighting in urban areas

Particular thought must also be given to over-lighting and avoiding visual disturbances like light glare, which can be disabling or uncomfortable for pedestrians and drivers, especially for those who are sensitive to light.

External lighting, like you’d find in car parks or sporting courts, security lighting and lights used for digital advertising, is all carefully planned to avoid light spill, which can be annoying, uncomfortable, and distracting.

It can also hinder visibility and contribute to light pollution.

“Through the assessment process, consideration is given to the positioning and design of outdoor lighting to ensure it does not cause unreasonable light spill impact,” says Damian.

“Naturally, we must also consider whether our external lighting plan would be hazardous to motorists and cyclists, or to the operation of airports and airfields.”

“Lighting and digital signage that flashes or moves close to traffic lights or pedestrian signals have to meet strict criteria to ensure that motorists are not impacted.”

Striking the balance in city lighting

Striking this balance can be difficult because lighting is also key to expanding the usability of a city.
Over time, as urban centres have grown and expanded, they’ve given rise to 24-hour cities with 24/7 economies.
Today, our cities are alive with after-dark events, cultural activities, and night-time wandering, all taking place under a web of streetlights and other illuminators which work together to make the city visible, useable and safer at night.
“Feature lighting around entrances into commercial and residential buildings continues to be used as a point of difference or distinction for a development as well as a method of identification,” says Damian.
“Lighting within landscaped areas and public space is also increasing, with lighting used to highlight key plantings or sculptural elements as well as provide directional lighting throughout a space.”
As our cities grow, evolve and develop, there’s going to be an increasing expectation from the community as to what good lighting looks like – providing an opportunity for contractors who know their stuff to really shine.

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