Dynamic lighting is reshaping the future of urban living

Dynamic lighting is developing as an essential tool for making cities safer, more sustainable, and emotionally engaging. Lighting designer Ulrike Brandi and Professor Thomas Römhild from Wismar University of Applied Sciences analyse how adaptive, human-centred solutions may transform the urban nightscape.

Daylight is evolving, changing with the time of day, seasons, and weather. This approach, they suggest, should be applied to artificial lighting. “We need the variation we encounter in nature,” says Ulrike Brandi. Rigid lighting concepts do not suit the needs of contemporary urban architecture. Rather, light should be viewed as a variable element that responds to use, location, and time.

Professor Römhild mentions the “Dynamic Light” European research initiative, which was developed in part at Wismar University. He says, “We examined how outdoor lighting scenarios can be tailored to different uses – similar to how lighting scenes are used indoors.” The results were clear: adaptive systems that respond to movement or conditions, as well as proactive concepts that intentionally produce atmosphere, are required.

Brandi shares a practical example: in the Netherlands, long-distance cycle lanes typically have illumination that turns on only when riders approach. They are accompanied by a “wave of light” that is energy-efficient, safe, and needs-based. In Hamburg, a sports pitch was outfitted with a simple buzzer system: touching it activates the illumination for 30 minutes before turning it off automatically – a low-threshold solution with significant impact.

Public lighting nowadays must do more than just provide visibility. Biodiversity, light pollution, and dark-sky protection are becoming increasingly important issues. Römhild believes that the integration of light and darkness planning is essential: “We work with darkness masterplans to identify zones that should remain dark – to protect wildlife or to foster the experience of natural darkness.” Brandi highlights the aesthetic value of nighttime darkness, stating that wandering through a dark forest can be more restorative than artificial illumination if we rely on our own vision.

Another important topic is engagement. Modern lighting design actively engages consumers, not just to assure acceptability, but also to create awareness about light in urban environments. Citizen involvement, as demonstrated in many publicly sponsored projects, expands perspectives and contributes to location-specific solutions.

Another significant issue in urban lighting design is the evaluation of existing standards. Illuminance levels must adhere to strict limits, particularly on traffic routes, which are frequently built on old infrastructure. Ulrike Brandi explained, “We now have much more efficient light sources like LEDs, but in many places, existing pole spacing is simply retained and upgraded with stronger luminaires.” As a result, cities become over-illuminated, despite the fact that lower and more equal light levels are often more practical and ecologically benign.

Professor Römhild envisions AI-controlled lighting systems. Early concepts for dynamically tying light to external factors such as bus schedules or school hours were developed as part of the Dynamic Light project. With artificial intelligence, such systems may respond even more sensitively in the future, for example, to weather, traffic congestion, or social activities in public places. Tomorrow’s lighting design will be linked, adaptive, and forward-thinking, while still retaining the sensory quality of light.

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