ABSTRACT'Light'is'important'to'human'beings,'and'since'the'invention'of'gas,'oil,'and'electricity'it'has'

been' possible' to' light' up' cities' at' night.' The' streetlights' have' changed' from' the'

yellow/orange' lamps' to' white' lights,' and' there' are' many' positive' things' about' this;' for'

instance' the'way'people' see,' react,' and' feel' about' this' kind'of' light.' But' are' there'other,'

more'aesthetic,'possible'solutions'for'illuminating'urban'places?'The'group'report'Lightning'

up' Nature' explores' the' preserved' area' Amager' Fælled,' and' investigates' how' light'

installations' can' aesthetically' create' a' more' comfortable' and' appealing' atmosphere' in'

Amager'Fælled'when'it'is'dark.'This'essay'discusses'how'lights'are'and'can'be'used'to'create'

places,'and'how'aesthetics'in'interaction'design'is'considered'through'the'exploratory'study'

Lighting'up'Nature.'

Keywords;''

Light,'nature,'urban'places,'aesthetics,'interaction'design'

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TABLE'OF'CONTENTS'

Introduction*........................................................................................................................*3!

Urban*places*........................................................................................................................*4!

Light*in*cities*.......................................................................................................................*6!

Aesthetics*in*interaction*design*...................................................................................*8!

Conclusion*............................................................................................................................*9!

References*........................................................................................................................*10!'

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3'

INTRODUCTION'There'are'many'definitions'of'light;'particles,'warmth'and'colours'are'among'a'few'of'them.'

This'essay'will'try'to'answer'the'question'of'how'to'use'light'in'the'sense'of'practicality'and'

aesthetics.'Light'is'in'many'ways'the'essence'of'life'and'almost'all'creatures'of'our'world'are'

drawn'to'it.'We'need'it,'crave'it,'but'light'can'differ'in'many'ways'and'different'colours'and'

strength' of' lights' generates' different' feelings;' from' the'warm' light' emitting' from'a' single'

candle'on'a'sofa'table'to'the'cold,'white'illumination'of'industrial'lamps.'The'group'report'is'

an' exploratory' study' on' different' ways' of' using' lights' aesthetically' in' a' specific' area' in'

Copenhagen.' After'working'with' lights,' I' find' it' interesting' to' dig' a' bit' deeper' into' urban'

places,'and'how'light'can'affect'and'transform'places.'Therefore,'this'essay'tries'to'explore'

and'discuss' lights' in'urban'places,'how' light'affects'humans,'and'how' light'can'be'used' in'

interaction'design.'

Research.question.

How'can'light'affect'urban'places'and'interaction'design?'

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URBAN'PLACES'Today,' there' is' a' correlation' between' information,' technology,' space' and' society' (Souza,'

2010,'p.'32).' Souza' (2010)'examines' the'difference'between' space'and'place,' and'defines'

place'as' architectural' space'–' a' space'with' symbolic,' functional,' and' technical'dimensions'

(Souza,'2010,'p.'36).'The'three'dimensions'concerns'some'qualities'places'have'compared'to'

spaces.'Space'is'only'defined'by'geometric'and'quantitative'aspects,'and'does'not'have'any'

qualitative' features' (Souza,' 2010,' p.' 36).' Souza' (2010)' defines' place' with' help' from'

Heidegger,'and'explains:'

“The'term'‘place’'is'itself'derived'from'Greek'and'Latin'roots'meaning'‘broad'or'

open'way’,'as'well'with' the'sense'of' ‘place’'associated'with' the'way' in'which'

intersection'of'roads'in'a'town'or'village'may'open'out'into'a'square'that'may'

itself'function'as'somewhere'people'may'gather'and'events'take'place,'perhaps'

even'acting'as'the'centre'of'the'town'or'village'as'such.”'(Souza,'2010,'p.'37)'

A' place'might' be' open' and' broad' without' specific' boundaries,' but' what' qualifies' it' as' a'

place,'is'its'functions'and'qualities.''

Souza' (2010)' identifies' three' qualities;' setting' up' an' inside/outside,' the' hidden' and' the'

visible,'and'appropriation'(Souza,'2010,'pp.'39a41).'The'initial'two'qualities'are'much'about'

the'physical'place;'deciding'what'is'inside'and'outside'the'place,'and'define'what'should'be'

visible'to'the'outside.'The'visibility'aspect'concerns'also'the'qualities'of'privacy'and'identity:'

“’Privacy’' corresponds' to' what' should' be' kept' in' secret' (including' sounds' and' other'

revealing'aspects'of'the'interior),'and'‘identity’'to'what'must'be'displayed'or'shown”'(Souza,'

2010,'p.'40).''

The' third' quality,' appropriation,' is' more' about' the' usage' of' the' place' –' acting' in' it' and'

preserving'it'(Souza,'2010,'p.'40).'This'quality'seems'interesting'to'the'theme'of'light.'Since'

appropriation'deals'with'maintenance'and'comfort'of'a'place,'and'lighting'can'be'essential'

to' creating' a'mood.' As' Souza' (2010)' states:' “This' characteristic' corresponds' to' providing'

people' with' ‘gearings’' inside' places' for' the' purposes' of' care' and' maintenance”' (p.' 41).'

Appropriation' also' has' to' do' with' ambience;' for' example' candlelight' creates' a' certain'

ambience.' The' ambience' quality' is' related' to' emotions' and' is' therefor' a' subjective'

dimension' in'places' (Souza,'2010,'p.'42).' Therefore,'a'place'with'a' specific'ambience'may'

seem'appealing'to'some'people,'and'repellent'to'others'of'different'cultures.''

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5'

In'the'theoretical'framework'by'Souza'(2010)'there'are'no'reflections'about'light,'although'

light'can'be'very'effective' in'creating'different'kinds'of'atmospheres.'As'mentioned' in' the'

introduction' light'has'different'definitions'and'can'be'understood' in'different'parameters.'

Spaces'has'only'the'geometric'and'quantitative'aspects,'so'what'really'makes'the'difference'

is'the'feelings'you'have'within'a'place.'How'can'light'affect'and'change'a'feeling?'Can'light'

itself'transform'a'simple'space'into'a'more'meaningful'and'pleasant'place?'The'next'section'

will' look' into'how'light' installations'are'used' in'urban'places,'and'how'light'affects'people'

on'the'streets.''

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LIGHT'IN'CITIES'This' section' is' somewhat' built' on' a' study' Philips' Electronics' (2008)' did' on' white' light'

compared'to'yellow/orange'light,'and'how'it'changes'cities'at'night.'The'paper'is'of'course'

very'biased,'since'the' lights'they'endorse'are'their'own'products,'but'they'still'have'some'

good' points' based' on' valid' research' (Philips,' 2008,' pp.16a28)' regarding' light' and' its'

influence'on'people.'

The' study' discusses' and' argues' for' white' light' instead' of' yellow/orange' light' on' four'

different'levels;'aesthetical'improvements,'feeling'of'security,'safety,'and'energy'efficiency.'

The'main'purpose' for' Philips' (2008)' is' to' convince'us' that'white' lighting'will' create'more'

lively'and'inviting'streets'at'night'(p.'5).'

Some' of' the' arguments' are' that' white' lights' creates' a' feeling' of' safety' because' of' the'

increased' recognition' of' faces' and' other' details,' and' that' the' increased' visibility' for' car'

drivers,' bike' riders,' and' pedestrians'makes' the' streets' safer' (Philips,' 2008,' p.' 6a7).' These'

arguments'are' indeed'good,'when'it'comes'to'safety'and'security,'and'what'Philips'(2008)'

claims'is'that'when'people'feel'safe'and'secure,'they'will'be'more'on'the'streets,'which'will'

create'more' lively' and' inviting' streets' at' night,' and' leave' them' less' deserted,' which' will'

counteract'crime'(p.'11).''

What'are'also'enhanced'in'the'study'are'the'aesthetical'improvements.'White'lights'should'

highlight'attractive'building'details,'and'in'general'emphasize'characteristic'features'of'the'

city'at'night' (Philips,'2008,'p.'8).'Besides' this,' research'shows' that' the'white' light' is'more'

authentic' and' creates' a' more' natural' atmosphere' compared' to' the' yellow/orange' light'

(Philips,'2008,'p.'9,'pp.'16a18).''

In'the'exploratory'study'Lighting'up'Nature' (2011)' investigations'with'different' lights'were'

made'on'bike'and'walking'paths' in' the'area'of'Amager'Fælled' in'Copenhagen.'The'aim'of'

that'exploration'was'to'experience'how'different' lights'affected'the'paths'when' it' is'dark,'

and' both' different' colours,' strength,' temperatures,' and' different' settings' (flashing' or'

steady)'were'tested'(Lighting'up'Nature,'2011,'pp.'9a11).'The'findings'were'that'green'light'

“really' blended' in' with' the' nature' and' created' an' aesthetic' and' pleasant' atmosphere”'

(Lighting'up'Nature,'2011,'p.'9).'Further'more,'findings'were'made'on'the'placement'of'the'

lights.' The' idea'was' to' place' lights' near' the' ground' to' both' light' up' the' ground,' but' also'

illuminate' the' trees’' branches,' and' leaves,' instead'of' having' light' bulbs' lighting' the' paths'

from'above'(Lighting'up'Nature,'2011,'p.'10).'

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7'

Many'paths'do'have' lighting,' also'white' lighting,' and' it'makes' it' safe' and' secure,' but' the'

purpose' of' the' Lighting' up' Nature' experiment' was' to' aesthetically' create' a' more'

comfortable'and'appealing'atmosphere'in'Amager'Fælled.'This'area'is'preserved'nature,'and'

it'has'no'lighting,'which'makes'it'uncomfortable'and'unattractive'to'travel'through'when'it'is'

dark.'

White' lighting,' as' Philips' (2008)' suggests,' could' illuminate' the' space' to'make' it' safer' and'

more'secure,'and'maybe'some'more'creative'lightning,'like'the'green'lights'illuminating'the'

nature'and'the'paths'Lighting'up'Nature'suggests,'can'make'it'more'aesthetic'and'natural'to'

its' surroundings.' These' ideas' and' approaches' have' to' do' with' subjective' feelings' and'

appropriation.'So,'does'light'in'itself'transform'a'simple'deserted'space'like'Amager'Fælled'

at'night'into'a'place,'where'bike'riders'and'pedestrians'might'feel'safe'and'actually'attracted'

to'travel'through'or'even'gather?'If'we'look'at'it'according'to'Souza’s'(2010)'three'qualities'

of'place,'it'seems'to'me'that'light'has'the'effect'to'generate'places'on'all'three'levels:'it'sets'

up'an' inside/outside,'since'the' light'will'keep'the'path' in' focus'as'the' inside;' it'makes'the'

paths'visible,'and'still'includes'an'idea'of'the'nature'around'it,'so'the'identity'of'the'nature'

is'visible;'and'at'last'it'has'appropriation,'since'it'creates'ambience.''

Light'can'be'used'in'many'different'ways,'and'if'it'is'aesthetic'or'not'is'very'subjective,'and'

does' not' necessarily' relate' to' the' visuals.' The' next' section'will' deliberate' on' the' idea' of'

aesthetics,'and'the'meaning'of'the'expression.''

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' 8'

AESTHETICS'IN'INTERACTION'DESIGN'Interaction' design' is' about' designing' for' a' reciprocal' action' or' influence.' It' is' about'

influencing' the' users' in' a' way' that' will' make' them' interact' with' the' design' object' or'

concept.'Löwgren'(2008)'identifies'five'things'he'deems'worthy'considering'about'aesthetics'

in'interaction'design'(pp.2a8):'

1. It'makes'little'sense'to'talk'about'‘visual'aesthetics’'as'an'isolated'modality'

2. The'genre'determines'the'aesthetic'qualities'

3. Aesthetic'is'not'equal'to'good,'pleasant,'pretty'or'nice'

4. Aesthetic' experience' is' connected' with' intellectual' deliberation' as' much' as' with'

immediate,'‘visceral’'response'

5. We'need'holistic,'interpretative'approaches'to'dealing'with'aesthetics'in'interaction'

design'

These' five' beliefs' are' helpful'when' reflecting' on' aesthetics' as' an' expression,' and' also,' of'

course,' when' dealing' with' interaction' design.'With' light' there' are' several' possibilities' to'

create'an'aesthetic'experience.'Löwgren'(2008)'uses'a'horror'game'as'an'example,'where'he'

describes' a' dilemma' where' the' player' must' decide' whether' or' not' to' switch' on' the'

flashlight'in'a'dark'place'–'if'you'turn'it'on,'the'enemy'might'see'you,'but'if'you'leave'it'off,'

you' do' not' know'what' is' waiting' in' front' of' you' (p.' 3).' The' aesthetic' experience' here' is'

determined'by'the'genre'–'the'aim'is'to'leave'the'player'fearful'and'nervous,'and'to'put'him'

in'situations' like'that,'will'create'the'wanted'aesthetic'experience.'Considering'the'case'of'

Lighting'up'Nature'(2011),'the'wanted'aesthetic'experience'was'to'make'the'bike'riders'and'

pedestrians'in'Amager'Fælled'feel'safe,'and'experience'a'kind'of'invitation'to'travel'through'

the'park.'This'relates'to'Löwgren’s'(2008)'first'credence;'“when'we'talk'about'aesthetics'we'

need'to'talk'about'look'and'feel”,'not'merely'about'look”'(p.'2).'Lighting'up'Nature'(2011)'

aims'to'create'a'feeling'of'security,'wellabeing,'and'also'it'should'‘look'nice’'and'natural'to'

its'surroundings.'That'was'the'aim'of'the'exploratory'study'–'if'it'succeeded'is'a'subjective'

matter.'It'was'also'only'a'minor'part'of'the'area'that'was'tested'in'that'study,'and'to'create'

a'holistic' (Löwgren,'2008,'p.'7)'experience,' it' should'be' investigated'how'to' include'much'

more'of'the'park.'The'idea'of'Lighting'up'Nature'can'be'considered'as'a'preastudy'to'a'larger'

exploration'of'the'area'of'Amager'Fælled,'and'how'to'make'it'more'urban'and'usable'for'the'

citizens.''

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9'

Aesthetics'are,'as'said,'about'look'and'feel,'and'I'believe'light'has'affordance'to'create'both'

visual'and'visceral'aesthetics' in'an'area' like'Amager'Fælled.' It' is'an' ‘untouched’'area,'with'

possibilities' to' create' different' genres' of' experiences' –' it' can' be' illuminated' with' white'

lights,'to'make'it'bright'and'safe'at'night,'or'it'could'be'gloomy'and'interesting'with'darker'

lights' in' dim' colours.' It' is' up' to' someone' else' to' explore' this,' and' figure' out'what'would'

attract'citizens'to'this'area'of'Copenhagen.''

'

CONCLUSION'This'essay'has'discussed' light' in'a'practical' and'aesthetic'matter,'and'has' to' some'extend'

answered'the'question,'if'light'can'affect'urban'places'and'how'it'can'be'used'aesthetically'

in' interaction'design.'Aesthetics' is' a'word'with'different'definitions'and'perceptions.'How'

people'experience' light,'or'any'other'digital' installation,'aesthetically'depends'on'their' life'

experience,'immediate'feelings,'and'subjective'depiction'of'the'world.'With'inspiration'from'

lectures'and'articles'on'digital'aesthetics'I'have'developed'this'view'on'how'aesthetics'relate'

to'the'project'of'Lighting'up'Nature.''

'

' 10'

REFERENCES''

Souza,' F.' and' Cesar,' R.' (2010).' Information' Technology' in' Urban' Places:' A' Theoretical'

Framework' for' the' Development' of' IT' Applied' in' the' space.' Lambert' Academic'

Publishing,'pp.'30a47.'

'

Philips'Electronics'(2008).'Hvidt'lys:'Forvandler'Byen'om'Natten.'Holland.'

'

Lighting' up'Nature' (2011)' –' group' report' by' Vanja' Cosic,' Alexander' Almegaard,' Nana' Sø,'

Sophie'Mørk,'Victoria'Rahbek,'and'Signe'Harring'Hansen.'

'

Löwgren,'J.'(2008).'Five'Things'I'Believe'About'the'Aesthetics'of'Interaction'Design.'Dagstuhl'

Seminar' Proceedings' The' Study' of' Visual' Aesthetics' in' HumanaComputer' Interaction,'

pp.'1a8.'

'