Urban Glowscapes: An Alternative Vision for Illumination of Trees
Translated title
Urban Glowscapes
Author
Tahlani, Divya
Term
4. Term
Education
Publication year
2021
Submitted on
2021-06-08
Pages
73
Abstract
Flere studier viser, at belysning af træer og planter om natten forstyrrer deres døgnrytme, og at højere lysniveauer i byer bidrager væsentligt til lysforurening, så vi mister mørket og udsigten til stjernehimlen. Dette speciale undersøger og visualiserer en alternativ typologi for belysning af træer i byparker. På baggrund af observationer af nuværende belysningspraksisser og deres påvirkning af træers vækstcyklus foreslås et nyt koncept. Strategien bruger udvalgte dele af lysspektret, som understøtter fotosyntese i blade: rødt lys (500–600 nm), blåt lys (400–500 nm) og UV-lys (100–400 nm) i kontrollerede mængder med det formål at forbedre væksten. Denne lysopskrift anvendes kunstnerisk for at skabe et sanseligt landskab, der inviterer byboere til at bruge parker efter mørkets frembrud, samtidig med at træerne tilgodeses og lysforureningen mindskes. Designet blev evalueret med en brugeroplevelsestest for at vurdere, hvor accepterbar og anvendelig en volumetrisk lysstrategi—tredimensionelle lysformer omkring træer—vil være i offentlige parker. De fleste deltagere støttede forslaget og styrkede visionen om lysende volumener som en kilde til belysning i bylandskaber.
Several studies show that lighting trees and plants at night disrupts their circadian rhythms, and that higher light levels in cities contribute to light pollution, reducing darkness and star visibility. This thesis explores and visualizes an alternative typology for illuminating trees in urban parks. Based on observations of current lighting practices and their effects on trees’ growth cycles, it proposes a new concept. The strategy uses selected parts of the light spectrum that support photosynthesis in leaves: red light (500–600 nm), blue light (400–500 nm), and UV light (100–400 nm), in controlled amounts, with the aim of improving growth. This light recipe is applied artistically to create an experiential landscape that invites people to use parks after dark while benefiting trees and minimizing light pollution. The design was evaluated through a user experience test to assess how acceptable and adaptable a volumetric lighting strategy—three-dimensional light around trees—would be in public parks. Most participants supported the proposal, reinforcing the vision of luminous volumes as a source of illumination in urban landscapes.
[This summary has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]
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