Photo © GMS Studio Associato
Margherita Süss
Architect , Studio GMS
01 Nowadays , the urban lighting sector is experiencing a great amount of activity . When speaking about this topic , the following themes inevitably arise : LED technology , the economic difficulties of the Administrations , the efficiency of the systems , the greatly fragmented laws in Italy , the opportunities offered by the Public Lighting infrastructure of the Smart Cities , and the IoT . And also a set of laws that is positively evolving with recent updates and upgrading . With the massive adoption of LED technology – whose luminous efficiency in terms of ratio of absorbed power and useful emitted luminous flux is undisputable –, it is essential to not underestimate some important aspects of lighting design , such as the level of glare , the uniformity and the lighting of marginal areas to which the urban users were used to with the technologies of the past . These factors , which are not contemplated in the common lighting design calculation programs , imply relevant repercussions on visual perception : to protect the latter must be the central aim of a project . This is the approach we use at GMS , and it is a guarantee that the urban spaces that are “ re-designed ” with a new lighting are really improved , according to a design methodology that does not only have a technical value but also a cultural one .
02 To exploit the extensiveness and functionality of public lighting to introduce new technologies that can interact with the space and its inhabitants , contributing to a greater quality in the use of the city centres . This can occur exclusively if the technological requalification project has well defined aims that are correctly stated by the Administrations . The final purpose will always be to provide the territory of the city with night-scenarios to be used regularly , that are functional and suggestive , and that can re-create the specific and easily recognizable image of the urban context , defining a complex plan of interventions on the entire territory . This approach primarily shows the need to consider
Centro Storico di Lecce / Historic Centre of Lecce
Palazzo Herno in via Opifici , Lesa ( NO )
the particular details and the clearly visible aspects , not as single enhancing elements , but as a part of a general interacting system . A system that is introduced in an urban context that has its own specific morphological characteristics . Respect of the context must be a guarantee of the correct setting and definition of the prevalent characteristics , which will be the main elements that inspire the proposed lighting design project . In other words , the correct selection of the technologies that are suitable for the public lighting system .
Bianca Tresoldi
Lighting designer
01 The history of architecture is punctuated by the transformations brought on by technological revolutions , marking the highlights of progress in urban geography . Le Corbusier dreamt of “ harmoniously realizing the city that is an expression of our mechanised civilisation ”. Today , cities have gone from mechanisation to a digital revolution , totally altering the planning , construction , and use of urban landscapes . Machines have been responsible for standardisation and elevated productivity ; the digital tools stimulate dynamism , variation and responsiveness . The electronic elaboration of data is an integral part of cities , and the Internet of Things will allow us to build a new environment , of which the lighting project is only a piece . The powers at play today are energy , construction , transport , modes of sharing , and knowledge . Each of these allow citizens to actively take part in the transformation of urban spaces : there cannot be a smart city without smart citizens . The agencies in charge of re-designing and managing the urban spaces should further sensitise themselves on this aspect . When assigning professional assignments , they should increasingly integrate an urban lighting project drafted by an independent lighting designer . An expert that deals with territorial transformation , along with city planners , architects , and engineers . Reformulating a city ’ s lighting project means enhancing the urban space by aiming at the quality of life of a place and respecting it ; that takes a great effort culturally , politically , and economically . We find high tech products on the market that are high performing and capable of fully exploiting the flexibility of the LED light source ; however , this does not guarantee the quality of an urban space . The design determines that .
02 Cities keep growing in population and increasing energy consumption , so digital technology allied with new technological production can bring new benefits to our cities . According to an EU study , around 70 % of energy consumed comes from cities ; for light , heating , transport as well as industrial production , and much of this energy is wasted and used in an inefficient way . Many urban objects today can interact with the environment and its people . I refer to LED urban lighting equipment that , if remote-controlled and connected to the internet , would guarantee higher efficiency and activate a series of services for citizens : urban Wi-Fi connection , video surveillance , multimedia-systems of communication , charging stations , and S . O . S security systems . An intelligent platform , planned ad hoc , allows us to transform the electric network and connectivity on a mass scale with a highly rapid system of communication . This system would illuminate the city , while allowing us to monitor energy consumption , water , gas , and generally the territory , elevating the level of security and conserving a lot of its resources . Transforming a city into a smart city is an extremely complex process , requiring radical innovation of infrastructure , along with how people think and how a project is planned . Investing in social and human capital is essential in order to ensure sustainable economic development and a high quality of life , through the participation of the new smart citizens .
56 LUCE 329 / SPECIALE ILLUMINAZIONE DEI CENTRI URBANI