This master thesis in Lighting Design investigates
designing with shadows in urban spaces, with
the aim of attracting people and thereby
increasing the use of the spaces. Epistemes, as a
methodological framework have been used in
two analyses and two design principles, to
examine the perception of shadows within urban
spaces. In order to design with shadows, an
experiment and a test have been conducted, to
investigate the perception and attraction of light
and shadow settings, from different directions
and angles on a staircase at Israels Plads,
Copenhagen. Findings from the experiment and
test are addressed in two design principles which
introduce how to illuminate a staircase to entail
an understandable structure of the staircase and
steps as well as increasing the usability.
Furthermore, the design principles present light
and shadow settings that create an attractive
space by the presence of shadows that cause
people to stay at the space for a longer period of
time. The two design principles are examples of
designing with shadows and intended to be
applied to other objects within urban spaces.