Date of Issue: 16 January, 2024 -Activity 1 /Lighting Survey: Nepal（2023.11.12-11.14） -Activity 2 / Children Workshop Experiencing Old Traditional Japanese house in Chiba (2023.11.25-11.26) Lighting Detecdtives Newsletter Vol.127 Download PDF Lighting Survey: Nepal 2023.11.12 – 2023.11.14 Mayumi Banno Xianyu Liu (Flower) Kathmandu Valley, a World Heritage Site encompassing Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhaktapur; how is the city faring now after the devastating earthquake of 2015? During Tihar, Nepal’s festival of lights, we visited the capital city of Kathmandu and the adjacent ancient city of Bhaktapur. ■IntroductionHow are Nepal’s cities faring after the 2015 earthquake? During Tihar, Nepal’s festival of lights, we visited the capital city of Kathmandu and the adjacent ancient city of Bhaktapur to explore the reconstruction and the lighting environment during the festival. From the plane overlooking the whole of Nepal, shocked by the twinkling lights of the stars. Nepal is a country with a high national happiness index, but it is also very poor. But when I saw this from the plane, I was surprised, I thought Nepal would have no lights, or very little lights. Later, I heard local people say that because it is the New Year, every family will prepare the colored lights, decoration, and create a lively atmosphere. (Flower) ■KathmanduKathmandu is located at an altitude of about 1,400 meters. In mid-November, when we visited, the days were hot and sunny, but the nights were cooler than 10 degrees Celsius. The city was filled with the…

Date of Issue: 04 December, 2023 -Activity 1 / City Night Survey – Taipei & Taichung, Taiwan（2023.10.30-11.04） -Activity 2 / Visiting Tanteidan in Ishigaki Island (2023.08.26) -Activity 3 / Online Lounge Talk (2023.11.27) Lighting Detectives Newsletter Vol.126 Download PDF City Night Survey – Taipei & Taichung, Taiwan 2023.10.30 – 11.04　Genki Watanabe＋Hikaru Kimura Taiwan is geographically close to Japan and has deep historical ties. It is famous for its skyscrapers such as Taipei 101 and, more recently, for buildings designed by Japanese architects. Renovations of old buildings are also being actively undertaken. We investigated how the mixture of old and new influences the light and human activity in the cities of Taipei and Taichung. Taipei and Taichung The capital of Taiwan, “Taipei” is characterized by world-class skyscrapers such as Taipei 101 and streetscapes that retain historical architecture. In addition to new buildings, there are also many renovations of existing buildings, creating a city with a mixture of old and new architecture. Taichung has become the second largest city in Taiwan in terms of population in 2017 as a result of government-led urban development efforts in recent years to disperse the over concentration of the metropolis in Taipei.We investigated how Taichung, planned as a compact city, affects the city’s light and human activity, and how it differs from Taipei’s light. Taipei’s Urban Area Taipei’s urban area can be roughly divided into two areas. The west side of the city is the Old City,…

Date of Issue: 28 November, 2023-Activity 1 / City Night Survey : Urumqi, China（2023.09.22-09.26）– Activity 2 /  Kaoru Mende / Lighting Design Workshop 2023  (2023.09.16-09.16) City Night Survey : Urumqi, China2023.09.22 – 2023.09.26　Ke Yonglin + Chuanyi Liu Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is the largest province in China in terms of area, and borders eight neighboring countries. It is also a multicultural and multi-ethnic area.Since ancient times, it has prospered through long-distance trade with China, Central Asia, India, Iran, and Europe, and has been an important hub along the Silk Road with active cultural exchange. We surveyed the light of Urumqi, the largest Uyghur city, an unexplored area of the Lighting Detectives where all cultures coexist.It has prospered in international trade since ancient times and has become an important region on the Silk Road. Trade and cultural exchange took place with China, Central Asia, India, Iran, and Europe. As a result, Xinjiang is a multicultural and multiethnic region. It is a very mysterious region that has become a famous tourist destination in China in recent years. We have been investigating Urumqi, the largest city in the region.Urumqi has been urbanized through redevelopment in the past decade, and I had the impression that commercial facilities, office buildings, and housing complexes occupy most of the city. The old city was built around a mosque, but the mosque is now covered by buildings. (Ke Yonglin) ■Xinjiang International Grand BazaarNo visit to Urumqi is complete…

Date of Issue: 20 November, 2023-Activity 1 / Night Walk Vol.72 – Sangenjaya & Kyoto（2023.09.26）-Activity 2 / Round Table Discussion vol. 70 – Sangenjaya & Kyoto Review (2023.10.27)-Activity 3 / Visiting Tanteidan in Kozushima-Island (2023.10.17)-Activity 3 / Night Walk in Hong Kong Historic Meet Light @ Hong Kong Island Mid Level (2023.09.05) Night Walk Vol.72: Sangenjaya & Kyoto ～Let’s Go Search for Darkness～2023.09.26　Shinichi Sakaguchi ＋ Tomoya Furukawa＋Ryuji Hatta ＋ Ryuma Shiota＋Noriko Higashi This time, our night walk survey was themed “Exploring the Darkness of the City,” taking us through the green paths of Setagaya in Tokyo and visiting shrines in Kyoto where darkness lingers. Typically, our walks focus on the lights of the city, but this time we decided to take a different approach with the theme “Let’s Search for the Darkness of Tokyo”. While parks, shrines, and cemeteries are places with inherent darkness, we thought there wasn’t much room for discussion. Instead, we focused on Setagaya’s green paths, which are commonly used at night for commuting, school, and jogging. Although these paths are very pleasant during the day and popular for strolls, we wanted to see what the nighttime environment is like, so we divided into three groups to explore. (Noriko Higashi) ■ Group 1: Ikejiri-Ohashi to Sangenjaya The first group walked along the Meguro River Greenway and the Karasuyama River Greenway from Ikejiri-Ohashi to Sangenjaya, which are connected by a single greenway, and we were able to feel the various expressions of the greenways from different…

Date of Issue: 30 October, 2023-Activity 1 / City Night Survey : Iwakuni ＆Miyajima, Japan（2023.08.02-04） City Night Survey : Iwakuni ＆Miyajima, Japan 2023.08.02 – 2023.08.04　Yumi Honda＋Sachiko Segawa The theme of this survey is “lighting on boats since ancient times”. Cormorant fishing on the Nishiki River in Iwakuni has been practiced for about 400 years. The Kangensai Festival at Miyajima Island has been held since the Heian period (794-1192). We investigated the relationship between water, light, and people in these two different areas. ■Iwakuni　The Light of Cormorant Fishing, an Ancient Fishing MethodCormorant fishing has been practiced on the Nishiki River in Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, for about 400 years. The cormorant fishing is still enjoyed today by taking a pleasure boat ride from the foot of Kintai-kyo Bridge, one of the three most famous bridges in Japan. The day we visited was a weekday in mid-summer, and the daytime crowds were sparse, but in the evening, people began to gather along from somewhere the riverbank and board the cormorant fishing boats. In western Japan in summer, it is still light even at 18:00. Looking at the sightseeing boats from the bridge, I could see people enjoying a party on the boats with lanterns hanging down. As it gradually got darker and the lights of Kintai-kyo Bridge and lanterns along the river were lit up, we slowly waited for the cormorant fishing time to start. By the time the pleasure boat landed…

Date of Issue: October 13, 2023– Activity 1 / City Night Survey : Shinjuku Kabuki-cho, Tokyo（2023.07.19） City Night Survey: Shinjuku Kabuki-cho, Tokyo 2023.07.19　Shunichi Ikeda + Masashi Kurobe + Yuta Shibata　 Shinjuku Kabukicho, Japan’s largest entertainment district, is a dazzling neon-lit labyrinth filled with restaurants, movie theaters, and amusement facilities. Its streets are teeming with people all night long. In recent years, however, the district has faced challenges, such as the growing presence of “Toyoko Kids” congregating in Cine City Square and engaging in criminal activities. Despite these issues, the opening of the new iconic Tokyu Kabukicho Tower has brought renewed attention to the area. As lighting detectives, we delve into the current state of Kabuki-cho, examining its lighting environment and cultural significance. ■Kabuki-cho Reborn: A Post-COVID Entertainment DistrictSeventeen years after our lighting survey in Shinjuku in 2006, Kabuki-cho has evolved from large-scale development into a global tourist hotspot. Though deserted during the 2020 state of emergency, the area is now vibrant again with the opening of Tokyu Kabuki-cho Tower. This survey revisits Kabuki-cho, comparing it with the previous survey and analyzing its changing lighting environment. ■Tokyu Kabuki-cho Tower: An All-Out Entertainment ComplexThe Tokyu Kabuki-cho Tower, a 48-story, approximately 225-meter-tall, super high-rise entertainment complex comprising a hotel, movie theater, theater, and more, opened in April 2023.Upon entering the building, I was overwhelmed by the countless glittering lights that filled the space. The small shops and narrow corridors were adorned with an…

Date of Issue: July 11, 2023・Activity 1/ City Night Survey: Kobe（2023.01.18-01.20）・Activity 2/ Night Walk Vol.71: Yaesu and Otsu（2023.03.24 & 04.21）・Activity 3/Round Table Discussion Vol.69: Review on Yaesu and Otsu（2023.04.28） City Night Survey: Kobe2023.01.18-01.20　Yumi Honda ＋ Misuzu Nakamura　 Kobe is famous for the night view from Mt. Rokko as the “10 Million Dollar Nightscape” and for its waterside nightscape as a port city. Nightscape guidelines have been established in 2012, and efforts are being actively made to improve the lighting in the city. We walked around the city, which continues to be updated, and explored the components of a nightscape that is uniquely Kobe. ■“Instagrammable” NightscapePort Tower, Maritime Museum, Oriental Hotel, Hotel Okura, Ferris wheel, sightseeing boats, and the “BE KOBE” monument…. When people think of the city of Kobe, they probably think of Meriken Park. Meriken Park is the face of Kobe, and even at night many people were visiting the park to take commemorative photos. Many of the park’s symbolic monuments were lit up and color lighting was used extensively, but the colors and color schemes were mainly neutral, not primary colors, so it was nice to enjoy the colorful light without getting an overpowering impression. To complement the color lighting, the ground lights of the pole lights, handrail lights, and bollard lights were uniformly lit with light bulbs, creating a subdued brightness. Both decorative lighting and functional lighting emitted little excessive glare, allowing us to concentrate on the…

Date of Issue: June 7, 2023・Activity 1/ City Night Survey: Okinawa Main Island（2023.01.26-29）・Activity 2/ City Night Survey: Kozushima＋Niijima（2023.01.20-22） City Night Survey: Okinawa Main Island 2023.01.26-01.29　Masafumi Yamamoto + Yuki Ito Okinawa is a place where diverse cultures and histories are intertwined. In Okinawa, each region has its own unique streetscape, and this is due to the fact that each region has a completely different historical background. The following is a simplified explanation of the historical background of each area. The Naha area was severely damaged in the war and was rebuilt; the Koza area was influenced by the U.S. military base and retains a strong American culture; and the Bise and Imadomari areas retain the traditional streets of the Ryukyu Islands. By comparing the light environment of each area, this survey sought to determine what kind of lifestyle culture and light features each area has, and what kind of light is unique to Okinawa. ■Sakae-machi MarketSakae-machi Market, located in Naha City, is a shopping street that was established during the postwar reconstruction period and has remained almost unchanged since then. Today, the market is a lively place where locals gather during the daytime, but at night it transforms into a more local haunt, drinking district that is quite different from the impression it gives during the daytime. The only light at night is from the taverns and the faint fluorescent lights in the upper part of the shopping street. (Floor illumination:…

Date of Issue: March 28, 2023・Activity 1/ City Night Survey : Hitoyoshi, Kumamoto（2022.11.10-12） City Night Survey : Hitoyoshi, Kumamoto 2022.11.10-12　Mari Kubota + Noriko Higashi In July 2020, Hitoyoshi City in Kumamoto Prefecture was devastated by catastrophic flooding caused by heavy rainfall. Since the disaster, the city has made steady efforts toward recovery— efforts in which lighting has played a significant role. To understand how lighting has contributed to the city’s revitalization, we conducted interviews with local stakeholders, including hot spring inn owners and city officials, and followed up with an on-site investigation of the actual lighting projects. From July 3 to 4, 2020, torrential rains caused the Kuma River to overflow, resulting in catastrophic flooding in Hitoyoshi City, Kumamoto Prefecture. Known for its scenic beauty, hot springs, and hospitality centered around local shochu, this tourism-driven city suffered devastating damage—not only from the flooding but also from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to the disaster, a local inn owner launched the Hitoyoshi Hikari no Fukkō Project (Hitoyoshi Light Recovery Project), using light as a tool for recovery. In 2021, Hitoyoshi was selected as a model city for Japan’s Cabinet Office-led Super City (SC) initiative, proposing a future-oriented recovery plan. This plan placed lighting as a key component, aiming to promote both disaster resilience and tourism attraction through thoughtful illumination. This survey included interviews with stakeholders such as hot spring inn owners, city officials, and lighting designers involved in…

Date of Issue: February 1 , 2023・Activity 1/ City Night Survey : Shimokitazawa, Tokyo（2022.10.27）・Activity 2/ City Night Walk : Shimokitazawa＆Kobe（2022.11.25&11.26） City Night Survey : Shimokitazawa, Tokyo 2022.10.27　Genki Watanabe+ Chuanyi Liu+ Yuki Ito　 This Tokyo night walk survey took place in Shimokitazawa, a neighborhood especially popular among young people. Known as one of Tokyo’s most culturally rich districts, the area is filled with vintage clothing shops, eateries, theaters, niche cinemas, and art galleries.The Lighting Detectives previously conducted a survey here in 2009. This time, we examined how the area has changed since the Odakyu Line was relocated underground. We also focused on the newly developed Shimokita Senrogai area, which opened on May 28, 2022, assessing its lighting design and comparing it with the older shopping streets to explore the contrast between new and traditional urban atmospheres. ■Map around Shimokitazawa Station With the Odakyu Line moved underground, a new neighborhood called Shimokita Senrogai was developed between Higashi-Kitazawa Station and Setagaya-Daita Station. Driven by the desire to support the community, redevelopment progressed step-by-step while listening to local residents’ voices. The entire area officially opened on May 28, 2022.Alongside the railway line, new facilities such as daycare centers, a hot spring inn, commercial spaces, student dormitories, and event venues were established. ■Development of Shimokita Senrogai The Shimokita Senrogai area we surveyed is a newly developed space created by moving the Odakyu Line underground. It was designed with the intention of reconnecting the northern and…

Date of Issue: January 16, 2023・Activity 1 / City Night Survey : Koyasan（2022.10.01-03）・Activity 2 / Online activities City Night Survey : Koyasan 2022.10.01-10.03 Shunichi Ikeda + Genki Watanabe Koyasan (Wakayama Prefecture), a sacred site of Japanese Buddhism with a history of 1,200 years, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2004 and again in 2016, and is one of the world’s most renowned religious cities. It is also a popular tourist destination, attracting many international visitors prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the distinctive light environment created by the numerous temples and shrines, as well as through the experience of staying at temple lodgings (shukubō), we conducted an investigation into this extraordinary lighting culture from the perspective of the Lighting Detectives. Koyasan is a town situated in a mountain basin at an altitude of 800 meters, surrounded by peaks of around 1,000 meters in northern Wakayama Prefecture. It was founded about 1,200 years ago, in the early Heian period, by the Buddhist monk Kōbō Daishi (Kūkai) as a sacred site of Japanese Buddhism, with Danjō Garan serving as the central temple complex of this religious city.Originally, the entire area of Koyasan was considered part of the grounds of Kongōbu-ji Temple.For us, this was the first time to focus on a religious city in an urban lighting survey. We wanted to examine what the nightscape of this temple town looks like and how the lighting culture of Japan and…

Date of Issue: December 22, 2022・Activity 1/ City Night Survey : Tsushima Fishing Fire（2022.09.30-10.02）・Activity 2/ Night Walk in Hong Kong（2022.11.24） City Night Survey : Tsushima Fishing Fire2022.09.30-10.02　Momoko Muraoka + Hikaru Kimura + Akemi Sasamoto Squid, the local specialty of Tsushima, are caught at night. The view of fishing fire illuminating the horizon is not a planned lighting environment, but a nightscape that naturally emerges from the livelihood of local fishermen.To explore this scenery of “light from daily life,” we visited Tsushima and boarded a fishing boat to experience night fishing. Under a sky full of stars, we documented the striking contrast between the vast shadowed sea and the line of fishing fires along the horizon.The interplay of starlight, fishing fire, and their faint reflections on the water revealed a beauty entirely different from that of urban lighting design. Through this survey, we were able to appreciate not only the outcome of the fishing itself, but also how light is deeply intertwined with the culture and daily life of the region. ■Boarding the Squid Fishing Boat Night fishing with lights (called “yodaki”) is a traditional fishing method that makes use of the phototactic nature of fish—their instinct to gather toward light. Its origin dates back to ancient times, and while the light sources themselves have changed over the centuries, the practice of kindling lights at sea remains the same. The nightscape of fishing fires has thus continued as a scenery born…

Date of Issue: December 02, 2022・Activity 1/ City Night Survey : Sawara District, Katori, Chiba (2022.11.4-5)・Activity 2/ Mid-Autumn Lantern Workshop (2022.09.10 & 2022.09.23) City Night Survey : Sawara District, Katori, Chiba 2022.11.4-5 Sachiko Segawa Surprisingly, this survey of the Sawara district marks the first time the Lighting Detectives have conducted an investigation within Chiba Prefecture. The team focused on an area designated both as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings and as a Landscape Formation District. Here, the townscape of merchant houses, which flourished from the Edo period thanks to river transport on the Tone River, still remains. Located about 70 km from Tokyo Station and slightly inland from the Tone River, the Sawara district of Katori City once thrived as a merchant town, to the point it was said to rival Edo itself. However, the town declined during Japan’s period of rapid economic growth. Following a townscape survey in 1974, the value of its historic scenery was reappraised. Today, leveraging its convenient location—just two hours from Tokyo and one hour by train from Narita Airport—the area is being redeveloped as a tourist destination. For this survey, the team limited their scope to the townscape along the Ono River and conducted a nightscape survey. ■Uniquely Designed Lighting Fixtures From JR Narita Line Sawara Station, as we walked toward the Ono River, we were greeted by a bollard topped with a monkey. “Why a monkey…?” we wondered, but…

Date of Issue: December 15, 2022・Activity 1/ Kaoru Mende/ Lighting Design Workshop 2022 (2022.09.17-19) Kaoru Mende/ Lighting Design Workshop 2022 3-day Student Workshop2022.09.17-19 Noriko Higashi We held a three-day introductory workshop on lighting design, where professional designers from LPA shared their expertise. A total of 23 university students participated, making it a highly intensive program. Although some students were initially reserved, through city walks, group discussions, and social gatherings, they gradually built friendships, learned to respect each other’s opinions, perspectives, and styles of expression, and created a positive atmosphere that led to a fruitful experience. While Lighting Detectives’ activities have been restricted due to COVID-19, we are even more concerned about the limited opportunities for children and students to experience things that can only be done at their age. In particular, lighting design requires going to actual sites to observe and experience lighting firsthand, which is an essential first step. We carefully considered how to conduct a workshop that could communicate the importance of lighting design and the value of firsthand experiences, even during the pandemic, and were finally able to hold it over the September holiday weekend. (Noriko Higashi) ■Purpose of the WorkshopI once taught lighting design-related courses for about ten years at several universities, including the Department of Design at Tokyo University of the Arts, the Department of Architecture at the University of Tokyo, and the Department of Spatial Design at Musashino Art University. Each school had a…

Date of Issue: November 07, 2022・Activity 1/ City Night Survey : Yokohama Minato Mirai (2022.06.28)・Activity 2/ Children Workshop (2022.10.22) City Night Survey : Yokohama Minato Mirai 2022.06.28　Kouki Iwanaga+ Xiaoyi Dong+ Hikaru Kawata Yokohama Minato Mirai, which has seen rapid development in recent years with projects such as Japan’s first urban circulation ropeway “YOKOHAMA AIR CABIN” launched last spring, the cruise ship terminal “Yokohama Hammerhead,” and the prestigious Hawaiian luxury resort “The Kahala Hotel & Resort Yokohama.” The purpose was supposed to be to investigate whether the “nightscape of Minato Mirai,” which could be considered a tourism resource in itself, has been well preserved… but. ■Relationship Between Zoning and Street Lighting The Minato Mirai area, which was developed on reclaimed land around Yokohama Port, can be broadly divided into three zones: the “Central District,” the “Shinko District,” and the “Yokohama Station East Exit District.” Among these, our survey focused on the Central District—with its high-rise buildings such as Landmark Tower and Queen’s Square Towers—and the Shinko District, which features many commercial and cultural facilities such as the Red Brick Warehouse and Yokohama Hammerhead. When examining the street lighting in these two districts, it was found that the streets running parallel to the Rinko trunk road and the Metropolitan Expressway were lit with sodium-colored lamps, while the streets leading toward the port, such as Icho Street and Keyaki Street, were illuminated with streetlights at a color temperature of 4000–5000K. At first glance,…

Date of Issue : September 19, 2022 ・Activity 1/ Maxwell Light-up（2022.07.08-09） ・Activity 2/ Small-Group Night Walk Vol.069（2022.06&07） ・Activity 3/ Round Table Discussion Vol.068 @ZOOM（2022.07.29） Lighting Detectives Maxwell Light-up Maxwell Food Centre, Singapore 2022.07.08-09 Sherri Goh Changing the lighting ambience of Maxwell Hawker Centre, part of the UNESCO-protected hawker culture. SINGAPORE:As part of the closing of Venice Architecture Biennale Homecoming Exhibition that was held at the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) from April to July, we fought to do something at Maxwell Food Centre due to its prominent reputation, close proximity to the exhibition and to celebrate hawker culture (in line with the theme of the exhibition). It was our first time working with the National Environmental Agency (NEA) as they run the local hawker centres here. Supported by Louis Poulsen, we managed to have a successful exercise that had many members of the public take part. We had a ambitious plan that was to transform the space by implementing ambient, coloured linear light, along with spotlights to emphasise the tables. However, that was phased out as we coordinated with officials to find that it would require formal licensing and permits to enact the entire idea into place. To obtain sufficient funding also meant that we would need to create something that would last around 6 months with many safety protocols covered. Hawker centers are far and many in Singapore. We put out a survey to the members of the public to…

Date of Issue: July 11,2022・Activity 1/City Night Survey : Shibuya, Tokyo（2022.03.10） City Night Survey : Shibuya, Tokyo　 2022.07.11　Hikaru Kimura + Yonglin Ke + Xueying Piao Shibuya, known as a youth hub, began redevelopment in 2012, transforming into a business district with a cluster of new office buildings and commercial facilities. While many new restaurants have emerged, traditional drinking alleys remain intact. This survey investigates the contrasting night scenes of the new and old Shibuya. ■Overlooking Nightscape of ShibuyaFrom the Shibuya Scramble Square, the rooftop of Miyashita Park stands out prominently to the east of the central railway tracks. The warm glow along the podium belongs to Shibuya Yokocho (alley). Nestled beside the pitch-black railway tracks and appearing as a dotted red line is Nonbei Yokocho. Viewed from above, Nonbei Yokocho exuded a soft, flickering light, resembling candles, in contrast to the lively and vibrant atmosphere of Shibuya Yokocho.The overall nightscape, divided by the Yamanote Line tracks, presents a striking contrast: the western side is dominated by tall buildings, densely packed with billboards and advertisements, exuding the lively energy of a traditional entertainment district. The eastern side, on the other hand, has fewer billboards and subdued signage, giving it a unified and calm appearance.I wonder if Shibuya will eventually become a more standardized urban landscape, much like its eastern side. Personally, I felt the bustling, nostalgic charm of the western side embodies the true spirit of Shibuya, and it’s something worth…

Date of Issue：28 June, 2022・Activity1/Night Walks in Basel（2022.05.10&13）・Activity2/Night Walks in Singapore, Live Stream (2022.04.21）Lighting Detectives News Letter Vol.110 Download PDF version During the Basel Architecture Week 2022, Transnational Lighting Detectives together with local lighting design firmHübscher Gestaltet led two guided night walks in two of Basel’s less known areas: Dreispitz and Klybeck. Night Walks in Basel Basel Architecture Week 20222022.05.10 & 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 theupcoming 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 processwith the various stakeholders.For the night walks Hübscher Gestaltet had chosen to focus on the areas of Dreispitz and Klybeck. Both areas arecurrently undergoing transformations from mainly industrial to mixed use and residential neighbourhoods. ■ Night Walk 1 Basel DreispitzMay.10(Tue) Dreispitz (21h to 23h) Number of participants: 14 (with various backgrounds, mostly not related to lighting)Dreispitz is a mixed use semi-industrial area located in the…

Date of Issue：December 29, 2021・Activity 1 / City Night Survey : Akasaka, Tokyo（2021.10.27）・Activity 2 / City Night Walk Vol. 68 : Small-group Night Walk (2021.11）・Activity 3 / Round Table Discussion Vol. 67 ＠ ZOOM (2021.12.02） City Night Survey : Akasaka, Tokyo　 2021.10.27　Shunichi Ikeda + Erina Hosono + Namiko Watanabe About three weeks after the state of emergency in Tokyo was lifted, we conducted our first urban night walk survey since the COVID-19 outbreak, heading to Akasaka. The area between Akasaka and Akasaka-mitsuke features both traditional establishments such as atmospheric ryotei (Japanesestyle restaurants) and neon-lit entertainment districts reminiscent of Kabukicho. At the same time, Akasaka has gained recognition as a tourist destination due to redevelopment centered around Akasaka Sacas. We surveyed the nighttime environment of this area where tradition, business, and nightlife coexist. ■Aerial Nightscape of AkasakaThe central area of Akasaka lies roughly in the middle of the cluster of high-rise buildings. At first glance, the nightscape viewed from above gives a rather subdued impression, due to the lack of prominent building illuminations or large advertising towers. However, upon closer inspection, one can see clusters of commercial lights peeking through the gaps between buildings. While the limited presence of dramatic lighting or decorative illuminations may make it less visually striking, the overall effect is a calm and environmentally friendly nightscape. ■Akasaka Sacas AreaAkasaka Sacas, a multi-use complex directly connected to Akasaka Station, is usually frequented by businesspeople and shoppers. However, likely due…

Date of Issue：13 December, 2021・Activity1/The Singapore Pavilion at 17th International Architecture Exhibition Venice Biennale（2021.05.22-2021.11.21）・Activity 2/Project Asagao (2021.10.22-2021.10.23)Lighting Detectives News Letter Vol.108 Download PDF The Singapore Pavilion at 17th International Architecture ExhibitionLa Biennale di Venezia 2021.05.22-2021.11.21　Reiko Kasai, Mayumi Banno, Sun Young Hwang, Sherri Goh, Shosaku Takahashi In late November 2019, we were invited by the National University of Singapore (NUS ) Department of Architecture curatorial team to submit a proposal for the Singapore Pavilion under the theme To-Gather: The Architecture of Relationships.Our pitch was shortlisted amongst 16 other participating architects and designers. We began work at the start of January 2020 to design and fabricate the installation scheduled to exhibit in Venice from 23rd May to 29th November 2020.The brief was to question how our work responds to the dialogue of: how will we live together? Our ResponseIn Singapore, terms such as “light pollution” and “loud lights” are now used to describe the lit environment in Singapore. There is a pressing need to re-evaluate and balance the current situation with our needs and wants. Do we need to examine if such an increase in light actually provides us with more pleasant nights? Designing the installation The format conceptualized by the curators was of the iconic Singapore hawker center.Hawker centers are integral to the Singaporean way of life pertaining to everyday dining. All participants are assigned a table with stools arranged around it, mimicking a typical layout in hawker centres.We updated the…