The largest city in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh, has developed into the center of economic activity for the country. The city is in the mists of a huge transformation with new building wherever you turn. We will have to wait and see how the streetscape and lighting environment will be altered. Birds-eye view from the tallest building in the city at the time of survey. Lights from construction　sites all over the city are an undeniable element of the nightscape, but it won’t be long before several skyscrapers begin to dot the skyline of Ho Chi Minh. The principal user of the streets of Ho Chi Minh is the constant stream of motorbikes. Street lighting consists mainly of functional roadway pole lighting and the headlights of these motorbikes. They seem to have forgotten the sidewalks and pedestrian traffic. From restaurants along a main street to the night market and department stores, fluorescent lighting is everywhere. This is Asia before the introduction of LED`s.

Putrajaya has been developed as the new center for government since its functional move from the former capital Kuala Lumpur. The city planning is very representative of the nation’s authority and symbolic in nature with a very elaborate lighting plan in progress. This main road is a prime example of the sense of authority this city invokes. Its symmetrical design and point of view are very important aspects. The lighting methods and luminance levels are also very detailed and divided by function. View of the office of the Prime Minister and Putra Mosque in the center of Putrajaya. The lighting for this Islamic style of architecture reflects in the water and tints it blue for a fantasy like nightscape. The center of Putrajaya is built around a man-made lake, making bridges an integrate part of city life. Many unique bridge designs are part of this urban landscape.

Georgetown is a town with a very colonial atmosphere. The entire city still has many surviving historical landmarks from its period of British rule and a collective colonial feel to its cityscape. However, it is very different then the beauty displayed in a European city, with a more lived-in feel. A panoramic view of Georgetown from the observation tower in the city center. From above, light spills out from dark city blocks of buildings to highlight the few roadways. From this location both the city and bay are visible, making it a prime viewing spot and a chance to slow down and take in the view. Green spotlights up lighting rows of trees were visible in several places around the city. It’s a little eerie at first, but the foliage seems very vivid and is a unique characteristic of this quiet city. During the day this is not a heavily traveled area, but when the sun goes down food booths line the sidewalks and festive lanterns hang overhead, a typical reminder of Asian inspired lighting.

Kuala Lumpur is one of the major cities of Southeast Asia. Recent economic grow has transformed the city, with numerous skyscrapers now dotting the skyline. The outdoor market is a conglomeration of people who seem to naturally congregate here, creating a vibrant and energetic atmosphere. The Petronas Twin Towers, a world-famous symbol of Kuala Lumpur, are brightly illuminated, almost to a dangerously intense level. However since the surrounding cityscape is very dark, the sight of the glowing towers creates an almost beautiful nightscape. Bukit Bintang is the predominant entertainment district in Kuala Lumpur. The area is a showcase for many different lighting methods, but without uniformity. An assortment of lighting elements was my first impression on a walk down the street. Away from the center of the city, Titiwangsa Park is a popular nightscape viewing spot for young couples. Even at this distance the Twin Tower’s reflection on the surface of the lake is a powerful reminder of its overwhelming presence.

Taking a drive along the Tokyo Metropolitan Expressway is a great experience in the sequence of Tokyo light. In one drive you can catch glimpses of Tokyo Tower in between buildings, awe at the endless Ginza neon signage, and hide in the dark shadows surrounding the emperor’s palace and Tokyo Bay. Close up lights zoom by, but in the distance light is scattered everywhere, creating a complex sequence of overlapping elements. Such a variety of light exists in Tokyo! Rainbow Bridge and Tokyo Tower, Dual Features of the Tokyo Night (Ariake JCT～Shibaura JCT) At night the Rainbow bridge is a bridge of light connecting the Bayshore Route and Tokyo mainland. As we drove across the bridge, the Tokyo Tower that seemed to twinkling in the far distance became a dominating presence. However, all of the distance lights of Tokyo were swallowed by the cluster of buildings waiting for us on the Shibaura side of the bridge. The Lights of the Tokyo Nightscape (Ohi JCT ～ Shibaura JCT) Working from Haneda towards the center of Tokyo, among the rough and tumble lighting for warehouses and factories, is warm light spilling from offices and condominiums. The expressway takes a dive under the Tokyo Monorail for a real peak at Tokyo-style building light and luminous signage. The Expressway in the Ginza Sky (Tokyo Expressway) The Tokyo Expressway is elevated in midair as it cuts through Ginza. Officially, it is not part of the…

Saint Petersburg is a city of deep imperial and artistic culture. As the city was once the capital of the Russian Empire, many impressive palaces and cathedrals convey this great history. Although, there are not many newly constructed buildings in the city and it doesn’t seem that the economic growth of recent years has improved the lighting environment of the city. Once a secret hide-a-way of the empress this building is now the State Hermitage Museum. As a former private art museum to royalty and aristocracy, the luxuriousness of the interior is a little overwhelming, but the lighting environment is absolutely beautiful. Pleasure boats run tours on the Neva Heba River at night to view the river nightscape cutting though the middle of the city. The shimmer of lights on the water’s surface is awe-inspiring. The fancily decorated palaces and cathedrals are symbols of this once imperial culture. At night most are light up to emphasis their beauty. However, the city also has many waterways and the nightscape along these canals is a lonelier story.

During the day short sleeves are fine, but even the Russian summer nights are cool with a little bit of white breathe after the sun goes down. Many main roads run through the middle of Moscow with classic Stalin style architecture lining the sides of the streets. The detailed, but dynamic lighting is very becoming for this architecture. On the other hand, lighting for roadways and plazas is rougher and not as artistically finished. The Red Square has been the stage for numerous historical events. The entire plaza is beautiful paved in stone, but at night huge floodlights shine huge amounts of light on the plaza and the glare is unbelievable. This beautiful, palace-like subway station platform is not uncommon in Moscow. We didn’t see one naked fluorescent light, very common in Japan, but each platform space was softly lit with indirect lighting. In the suburbs of Moscow along the river is the new “Moscow City,” a large multi-complex project still under construction. The developed area is a whopping 10,000 sqkm! What kind of lighting will this new town have? We’ll have to wait until its finished in 2020.

The streets of Moscow are mostly buried in shadows except for a few groups of lucent buildings, maybe an expression of authority. During the intense commercial time bawdy lights are lost, along with street activity, and stillness returns to the city. Now, towering lights dot the cold winter landscape. Looking towards Moskva University at dusk. The Bolshoi Theatre rebuilt in 1856. The upper lights set off the detail of this Greek-style Architecture. Christmas illumination at Tsum Department Store next to Bolshoi Theatre.

Roppongi has many faces including, an entertainment district with a foreign twist, new offices for daily business, and is developing as a center for the Tokyo art scene. The Lighting Detectives sped around on their bikes in April to discover what kind of light exists in this multi-functional area. The presence of the entertainment district is strongly felt at Roppongi intersection. Most people recognize this intersection as the center of Roppongi, but in recent years new development has created two new areas of focus, leaving the center of Roppongi very ambiguous. Points of reference include Mori Tower, Midtown Tower, Tokyo Tower and the metropolitan expressway, that cuts through, dividing this area of Tokyo. Large-scale luminous signage and a collage of other miscellaneous lighting dominate the view. Looking toward Roppongi from Aoyama Cemetery. The 3 towers that stand pronounced over Roppongi are a product of power and force, but appear alien in this setting. The towers look close and, yet, far off, as this scene can play tricks on your eyes.

Five main canals fan out from the central station to form the city of Amsterdam. In contrast to the nostalgic streetscape along the canals, newly redeveloped areas include modern Dutch architecture with a touch of humor. Because these buildings stand in the same city the lighting environment is rich in variety. The signage at Schiphol Airport is easy to read and designed so anybody can understand with very effective use of color and light. For the residence of Amsterdam the waterfront is their backyard. Just watching the way they live, water is a part of their normal lives. Even the ordinary streets seem wistful as the canals wind through the city. I was completely surprised by the shear amount and variety of flowers and bulbs at this flower shop. A floodlight was mounted to the ceiling and illuminated the entire lot of flowers.

A city for the young and young at heart, Shibuya. The area is composed of a mess of streets all with a different atmosphere, including a few main streets connected by narrower alleyways. Each street has developed its own personality and role, including lighting conditions to create the Shibuya night. From the scramble intersection in front of Shibuya Station, 3 distinctive roads, Dogenzaka, Center Gai, and Koen Dori radiate. After dusk, the lights come on and the personality of each street is even more clearly defined. As the title implies, Center Gai is the center of Shibuya geographically and caters to the young as the center for shopping and entertainment. This street is full of light. Each shop seems to be competing for the brightest facade with infinite amounts of luminous signage and advertising, creating a 3-dimensional playground. Dogenzaka is a festive street with a steady flow of pedestrians, but turn down one of the narrow side streets and the atmosphere changes immensely. The facades of many love hotels packed into the area are saturated with color creating a seedy blend of light and young couples prowling the Maruyama-cho area.

Because of previous colonial rule and occupation by Spain, USA, and Japan, many different cultures are accepted in the Philippines. As with architecture or cuisine, the uniquely arranged culture is also visible in the lighting environment. But behind the bright lights and in the shadows, we also saw a gap in the standard of living. For many people the church is a stronghold in their lives. The walls of this church were brightly lit with fluorescent lights and for relief from the heat several fans are also mounted on the walls, a nightscape very familiar in Asia. The floodlights bath the facade in featureless, flat light. In the area of town where Spanish architecture is still preserved hang sodium lamps, giving everything, walls, ground, and buildings an orangish glow. The dark green vegetation by the day is lost, but the historical atmosphere of the street seems like a scene out of a period movie. In the poorer areas of the city burned out streetlights are everywhere, but in the wealthier areas high-rise apartments and office buildings stand tall and just like in any other big city, there is a lack of individualism in this nightscape. Compared to the intensity of light in adjacent neighborhoods, the economical gap is prominent.

Wien is a city of artistic culture built upon the glory of the Habsburg Family Rein. Floodlights illuminate the heavy, stone architecture along the old streets, but just across the way is newer architecture with systems of LED`s that illuminate shear glass facades. The clash between the old empire and new culture is clearly visible in this city. viView of the City of Wien from Donauturm Observatory. The city, clustered around the Danubian River as it winds through the urban landscape, is beautiful at dusk. Nineteenth-century buildings used to store gasoline, Gasometer, have been transformed in to apartment buildings, shopping malls, and other facilities in 2001. Lights from the new living quarters spill out over the redeveloped area. Stephans Plaza at night. All the shops are closed, but store windows are aglow with soft light. Neon lights and other illuminated signage are also more visible along this street.

Ljubljana, the self-contained capital of Slovenia has a charming old cityscape made up of buildings topped with red tiled roofs. At dusk, people flock to the Ljubljana River to rest after a busy day and watch the lights come on over the city. Many historical buildings are lit up in this compact downtown, with other lights here and there creating a comfortable rhythm of lighting and darkness. The Tomostovje Bridge designed by Jose Plecnik connects the old city with the new city. Of all the bridges over the Ljubljana River, this is the one most central and with the most foot traffic. The orange lit facade of the Franciskanska Church next to the Presernov Plaza is visible from the bridge.。 Leaving the Presernov Plaza behind, the smaller streets are cloaked in darkness. Shop windows are dimly lit and a few neon signs are aglow down the street. View of the city from Ljubljanski Grad. From the darkness, activity along the river and the illumination of some main buildings creates axis of light across the city.

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.

The Marunouchi district in the center of Tokyo has been transformed in recent years from a business and financial center to the latest redevelopment to intertwine commercial and office space. Our survey started in Marunouchi, as we closed in on the infamous Tokyo Tower to view the sprawling Tokyo nightscape. Marunouchi Central Street is enclosed on both sides by buildings all at the same height of 31 meters. Facade lighting and streetlights throw an even light over the street, creating a flat nightscape with no rhythm of light and shadow. Quite possibly occupying the staring role in the production of the Tokyo nightscape is the Tokyo Tower. The ironworks structure of this tower is illuminated from underneath, beautifully generating a glowing symbol for the city. At 250 meters, looking down on Tokyo from the tower is a beautiful site. Glare is blinding and there is no visible unified pattern to the lights of Tokyo, but lights twinkle all over the city and continue as far as the horizon. Things always look better from a distance and the Tokyo nightscape is one of them!

Spring of 2007 in the city-state of Hong Kong; a million dollar nightscape along the waterfront, rows of neon signs create the streetscape, and everywhere you look construction sites for new skyscrapers. The transformation of the city is laid out before your eyes, past present, and the future urban landscape of this small, but powerful city. Along the Hong Kong waterfront a nightly narrated light show thrills tourists with artistic images. Surprisingly, the local government and business community coordinate this show. Streets in the Kowloon District are lined with storefronts that still have an old-fashioned flavor. While walking down these streets I realized that with surrounding buildings and lights of the modern city are out of sight. Is this old street deliberately shielding the buildings to preserve this old district? If so, we have stumbled upon a rare model for urban lighting. Macao, a city in the middle of a construction boom and developer’s dream. Like Hong Kong, large-scale complexes that have taken over entire city blocks are central to the urban layout. Especially on Taipa Island, construction sites are numerous and building not only expand up, but also out. Buildings after building line the streets.

Bangkok, a city in a swirl of on-going change. In our previous survey of Tokyo’s Kanda River, we discover that the backs of buildings face the river creating and area of dark contrast in the middle of the city. But here along the Chaopraya River the opposite is true with the front facades lining the waterfront. Open-air restaurants and bars occupy the rooftops, as the spectacle of the city spreads out below. The Millennium Hilton, Bangkok, opened in May of 2006, is the first major hotel brand to open a hotel in the country in 20 years. The hotel boasts 543 riverfront rooms. With a UFO-like disk on top of the building, the cool-modern design stands tall among the neighboring structures. Along the riverfront, a private pier is provided for guests and dinners at the restaurant and bar. As river taxis come and go, the warm spots of light along the river reflect and shimmer on the water surface. Scirocco, one of many open-air restaurants, is approximately the same height as the special observation room at Tokyo Tower, 246 meters above ground, but without the glass barrier!. Without a glass window the lights of the city below seems so much more clear and real!! At the next table sat an older coupe that came to watch the sunset. The woman was surprised when presented with a big bouquet of flowers, undoubtedly a romantic gesture from her husband. A single candle…

In Bangkok, the development of giant commercial facilities continues, as modern times blend with Buddhism to create the nightscape. The light from architecture, high-class restaurants, and shopping centers of these civilized, modern times are built right along side the fluorescent lights of roadside stands and vendors. Wat Arun, The Temple of the Dawn, illuminated; above all, gold is the symbol of culture and power in Thailand. Wat Arun from the opposite shore of the Chao Phraya River. The sunset also helps to convey the feeling of a country for the gods. Florescent lights shine on the street vendor`s restaurant signs, but incandescent lamps are used in the showcases.

From up above Tokyo looks like an overturn jewelry box, the night streets glitter with lights and it a fairly beautiful sight. Once back on ground, the glitter has turned harsh. It is an economically advanced nightscape, an efficient nightscape with needless light and light pollution. An aerial view of Tokyo at night. The dark area in the center of Tokyo, the Emperor`s Palace, is surrounded by clusters of lights that resemble precious stones. From this view it is unclear where Tokyo begins or ends. The Tokyo nightscape is illuminated in bright white light. Mercury lamps and florescent lights in the background of Tokyo Tower control the nightscape of this city. Old-fashioned houseboats gather in the foreground of the Odaiba District and the Rainbow Bridge.