Ponte-di-Rialto

Graz is the second largest city in Austria. The Mor River runs through the center, with old cityscape and warm-colored street lighting giving the city a cozy feel. On the other hand, Kunst Haus and other newer architecture have added an element of the arts with a system of reflection streetlights also creating a new face for this city of culture. From the top of castle hill, with its large clock tower, Uhrturm, the City of Graz is in full view. Photo to the right, city hall offices in the city center. The building facades along Herrengasse Street are also up lit for a festive atmosphere as the sun goes down. The Kunst Haus, built along the Mor River and in the middle of the old cityscape, resembles a spaceship just blasting off. Fluorescent lights are mounted on the main facade and at night a program controls the fixtures, sometimes turning it blazing white. Reflection streetlights in the plaza before city hall. These streetlights are visible in many places throughout the city.

2022.09.10　Singapore Lighting Detectives After 2 years of being quiet during the Mid-Autumn Festival, we were able to finally participate in the community event organised by the local grassroot committee of Tanjong Pagar. We held a lantern-making workshop in the early evening of Saturday, 10 September 2022 in conjunction with the Mid-Autumn Festival. The festivities were organised by a place-making committee Discover Tanjong Pagar overseeing the businesses and people of the district. The theme was “upcycling” and we were limited to the use of recycled materials for the activity. It was tough to collect items like plastic bottles, cardboard boxes and bottle caps 2 weeks before the event to gather enough for around 50pax estimated to turn up. We had assistance from the organiser to obtain tables for our workshop and some recycled bottles. A celebration of mooncakes, tea and lantern walks are commonly seen around the residential neighbourhoods as part of the festivities. There were snack stalls and live music flanking our workshop tables to draw the crowd that was out with their kids. The turnout was weak at the start, around 5pm in the evening. However as it turned to nighttime, the numbers surged and we were overwhelmed until our scheduled walk at 8.30pm. The children ranged from toddlers of 18 months old to adults, with most around 6-10 years old. They had to be supervised by Lighting Detectives volunteers as there was a lot of use of scissors…

Interviewer: Satomi Yamaguchi Mende：So, today’s topic of conversation is “What is your favorite season of the year?” So… What is your favorite season of the year? Yamaguchi：Spring.  Especially early spring.  Plants are shooting up, budding cherry blossoms, trees covered in pastel pink flowers.  It makes me feel so excited.  Mende：You could almost say late winter.  Where did you grow up?  Did you wait out long, dark winters for springtime? Yamaguchi：I am from Tokyo.  Since I take care of many plants, I have really become more conscious of the seasons.  What is your favorite season of the year? Mende：When I was growing up it was probably summer.   During the last few years of elementary school I took up playing music, after that I really began to enjoy the fall.  The turning of colors and preparations for the long and lonely winter ahead is very moving.  I think I’m a romanticist.  The fish tail rows of light, fluffy clouds are very different from the aggressive thunder clouds of the summer season.  These clouds reveal the first glimpses of autumn.  Although, I really don’t dislike any season of the year, which is my real answer, but I do love the cultural atmosphere of the fall season.  I think it is the real season of love.  Yamaguchi：I think the saying goes that people fall in love and the spring and break up in the autumn.   Mende：When I was younger I never liked the confused…

Basel Architecture Week 2022 2022.05.10 & 05.13　Lisbeth Skindbjerg Kristensen+Kelly Bannwart+Michael Hübscher ■ At the Biegining In January 2022, Kelly Bannwart and Michael Hübscher from the Basel Lighting Design office HÛBSCHER GESTALTET contacted the Lighting Detectives to ask if it would be possible to do a col laboration during the upcoming Basel Architecture week. It was quickly agreed that Lighting Detective core member Lisbeth Skindbjerg Kristensen, who currently lives in Basel, would participate. The theme of this year’s Architecture week was “Reale Räume” (Real Spaces) of three current development sites: Dreispitz Münchenstein), Bachgraben (Allschwil) and lybeck (Basel). The AWB uses various formats to promote dialogue between experts and local protagonists. The Forum offered an opportunity to discover these sites and exchange views on the urban transformation process with the various stakeholders. For the night walks Hübscher Gestaltet had chosen to focus on the areas of Dreispitz and Klybeck. Both areas are currently undergoing transformations from mainly industrial to mixed use and residential neighbourhoods. Michael Hübscher and Lisbeth Kristensen welcome the group and introduce the route and purpose of the night walk Discussing the value of lighting as a wayfinding and informative tool Hero: An evenly lit passageway where public and private lighting elements supplement each other Hero: The illumination of the plaza creates a nice ambience with paths illuminated for safe passage across the space. Villain: Observing the abrupt threshold between light and dark waiting to see if glary security lighting…

2025.10.17 Shino Yabuta + Yua Miyakoshi + Shiho Fujita Gakugei-daigaku was the only district in Japan selected for the “Coolest Neighborhoods in the World” rankings by the British media outlet Time Out. It is a town where “new” and “old” intersect, featuring lively shopping streets favored by the youth alongside quiet residential areas just a short walk from the station. We set out to uncover the secrets behind this neighborhood’s appeal, which has captured even international attention. Gakugei-daigaku is a popular station on the Tokyu Toyoko Line, extending from Shibuya. Bustling shopping streets spread across both the east and west sides of the tracks. Here is our report on the nighttime charm of Gakugeidai, an area celebrated by overseas media. ■Team 1: North Area Team 1 primarily explored the northern side of Gakugei-daigaku Station. We walked north along the elevated tracks, passing through dark alleys before emerging into the bustling commercial district. As bright streets and dim lanes appeared alternately, we searched for heroes and villains while experiencing the contrast between light and shadow. Stepping just one block away from the streetlamp-lit main thoroughfares plunges you into immediate silence. I felt that this contrast between light and dark is a defining characteristic of the Gakugei-daigaku neighborhood. The lighting we selected as heroes highlights the unique personality of this town. Spotlights illuminating restaurant terrace seats appeared suddenly after a stretch of dark alleys, signaling the start of the entertainment district. The…