Lighting for Transitions
Author
Term
4. Term
Education
Publication year
2025
Submitted on
2025-08-15
Pages
94
Abstract
How do we design urban lighting which feels unique and site specific but also gives the impression of a whole and cohesive nightscape? This thesis proposes working with the transitional space – the space where two different spaces meet – to overcome the abovementioned problematic. Creating a lighting design specifically for the transitional space will smooth the transition from area to area, connecting unique lighting in an overall cohesive way. In this thesis, such a design approach is arrived at by first examining transitions through a state of the art within the areas of architecture, and lighting design. The state of the art identifies Aldo van Eyck’s theory of the in-between and Till Boettger’s methodology of the threshold space as relevant architectural theoretical and methodological framework for working with transitional spaces. In order to use these architectural approaches for lighting design, the thesis unites them with lighting design principles compiled from different professionals, practitioners, and scientists, creating a complete framework for examining lighting transitions and cohesiveness in an urban space. The thesis examines the efficacy of the framework by applying it to three cases of transitional spaces, analyzing their lighting through the framework and the method of collage. Finally, the paper utilizes the framework to create a redesign of one of the analyzed cases, showcasing the strengths and weaknesses of the framework for designing light in transitional spaces.
Keywords
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