The World Lighting Journey is a photo library of nightscapes and lighting environments from cities worldwide. Lighting Detectives hopes this database will be a catalyst for future discussion on urban lightscapes and local lighting culture. Lighting Detectives encourages all web viewers to send nightscape from your hometown to add to our ever-expanding photo library.

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Photo by: SHOMEI TANTEIDAN
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GLOBAL RESEARCH

HO CHI MINH, Vietnam

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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.

City Night Survey: Shinjuku Kabuki-cho, Tokyo

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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 excessive number of paper lanterns, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of an Asian festival. Outside, the building’s digital signage, facade indirect lighting, reflected…

City Night Survey – Taipei & Taichung, Taiwan

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City Night Survey – Taipei & Taichung, Taiwan 2023.10.30 – 11.04　Genki Watanabe＋Hikaru Kimura Office of the Governor-General 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. The nightscape of Old City (west side) from Taipei 101 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, where historical buildings still remain. Many important political centers are still located on the west side, and historical buildings are still used as administrative…

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia

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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.

AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands

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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.