ATMOSPHERE AND THE MUNDANE IN STREET LIGHTING: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL DESIGN STUDY OF AN URBAN UNDERPASS
Translated title
Atmosphere and the Mundane in Street Lighting: A Phenomenological Design Study of an Urban Underpass
Author
Karagiannaki, Chrysanthi
Term
4. Term
Education
Publication year
2026
Submitted on
2026-02-04
Pages
53
Abstract
Denne afhandling undersøger, hvordan gadebelysning former atmosfæren i hverdagens byrum, med udgangspunkt i LED-overgangen i Thessaloniki i 2023, som prioriterede funktion og effektivitet over æstetisk kvalitet. Afhandlingen udvikler en fænomenologisk ramme for hverdagens æstetik og atmosfære og argumenterer for, at lys er et medium for stedsskabelse og sanselig styring. Den adresserer også miljø- og sundhedsforhold som lysforurening og døgnrytmer samt social ulighed i belysning. Som casestudie undersøges Agion Panton-underføringen i Xirokrini-kvarteret via små, kontekstfølsomme lysgreb til at genvinde atmosfære, anvendt gennem on‑site‑eksperimenter og uformelle interventioner, fotometrisk analyse, Dialux Evo‑modeller, tegninger og uformelle spørgeskemaer. Forskningsspørgsmålet handler om, hvordan LED-belysning kan designes til at balancere synlighed, bæredygtighed og etik med rigere sanselig oplevelse og social deltagelse. Resultater er ikke beskrevet i dette uddrag.
This thesis explores how street lighting shapes the atmosphere of everyday urban spaces, motivated by the 2023 LED transition in Thessaloniki that prioritized function and efficiency over aesthetic quality. It develops a phenomenological framework for everyday aesthetics and atmosphere, arguing that light is a medium for placemaking and sensory governance. The work also addresses environmental and health concerns such as light pollution and circadian rhythms, alongside social equity through lighting inequality. Through a case study of the Agion Panton underpass in the Xirokrini neighborhood, the study investigates small, context-sensitive lighting tactics to reclaim atmosphere, using on-site experiments and informal interventions, photometric analysis, Dialux Evo modeling, drawings, and informal survey questionnaires. The research asks how LED lighting can be designed to balance visibility, sustainability, and ethics with richer sensory experience and social engagement. Findings are not provided in this excerpt.
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