Illuminating Movement: Redefining The Underground Platform Through Light
Translated title
Belysning af bevægelse: En gentænkning af den underjordiske perron gennem lys
Author
Parvizi, Elmira
Term
4. Term
Education
Publication year
2026
Submitted on
2026-05-26
Abstract
This thesis explores how passenger-centred lighting design can improve the everyday experience on the underground S-train platform at Nørreport Station in Copenhagen. Although Nørreport is Denmark’s busiest transport hub, the platform lacks the clear spatial structure, visual comfort, and architectural identity found in the station areas above ground. The project therefore examines how lighting can both address the technical constraints of an underground railway setting and support passengers’ needs to find their way and feel at ease. The research combines literature on lighting in underground and transport environments with an analysis of the site and existing lighting, observations of passenger behaviour, twenty on-site interviews, and expert interviews with professionals in station architecture and transit lighting. Based on this, three key design criteria are defined: spatial legibility (how easily the space can be read and understood), visual comfort (how pleasant the lighting is for the eyes), and perceived safety. These criteria are translated into a layered lighting strategy inspired by lighting designer Richard Kelly’s three categories of light: general ambient lighting (ambient luminescence), accent lighting (focal glow), and more vivid, sparkling lighting (play of brilliants. The proposal focuses on a central 40-metre section of the platform and introduces indirect cove lighting, rhythmic downlights that create focal points, and a translucent Ecoglass wall system with integrated upward-facing LED lighting. DIALux lighting simulations show improved lighting performance and compliance with relevant standards. The thesis concludes that intentional, layered lighting can make the platform easier to navigate, more comfortable to stay in, perceptually safer, and more closely connected to Nørreport’s wider architectural identity.
Dette speciale undersøger, hvordan et belysningsdesign med fokus på passagerer kan forbedre hverdagsoplevelsen på Nørreport Stations underjordiske S-togsperron i København. Selvom Nørreport er Danmarks travleste trafikknudepunkt, mangler perronen den tydelige rumlige opbygning, visuelle komfort og arkitektoniske identitet, som findes i stationsområdet over jorden. Projektet ser derfor på, hvordan lyset både kan tage højde for de tekniske begrænsninger i en underjordisk jernbanesituation og samtidig understøtte passagerernes behov for at kunne orientere sig og føle sig godt tilpas. Arbejdet bygger på faglitteratur om belysning i undergrunds- og transportmiljøer, kombineret med en analyse af stedet og den eksisterende belysning, observationer af passagerers adfærd, tyve interview på perronen samt ekspertinterview med fagfolk inden for stationsarkitektur og belysning til kollektiv trafik. På den baggrund formuleres tre centrale designkriterier: rumlig læsbarhed (at man let kan forstå og aflæse rummet), visuel komfort (at lyset er behageligt for øjnene) og oplevet tryghed. Disse kriterier omsættes til en lagdelt belysningsstrategi inspireret af belysningsdesigneren Richard Kellys tre lyskategorier: generelt stemningslys (ambient luminescence), fremhævet lys (focal glow) og mere livligt, kontrastfuldt lys (play of brilliants). Forslaget koncentrerer sig om en 40 meter lang, central del af perronen og introducerer indirekte lys i skjulte lysrender, rytmiske spotlignende nedadrettede armaturer og en semitransparent Ecoglass-væg med indbygget LED-lys, der lyser opad. DIALux-lysberegninger viser, at den foreslåede løsning giver bedre belysningsforhold og lever op til relevante standarder. Specialet konkluderer, at et bevidst, lagdelt belysningsdesign kan gøre perronen nemmere at overskue, mere behagelig at opholde sig på, mere tryg at færdes i og bedre forbundet til Nørreports øvrige arkitektoniske identitet.
[This abstract has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]
Keywords