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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Category: Downward View
Photo by: SHOMEI TANTEIDAN
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GLOBAL RESEARCH

City Night Survey: Hanoi, Vietnam

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2024.11.21-24 Chuanyi Liu + Jiang Kunzhi Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam where history and modernity blend seamlessly. Thanks to its rich cultural heritage, it has established itself as one of Southeast Asia’s premier tourist destinations. In this city where the Old Quarter, St. Joseph’s Cathedral, and Lotte Tower coexist, we explore Hanoi’s nightscape culture through the lens of light. Vietnam, a populous nation of 100 million people, has Hanoi as its capital serving as the political, cultural, and economic center as well as a key transportation hub. In July 2020, the Vietnamese government issued Decision No. 1129, promoting the development of the night economy and designating Hanoi as the pilot city for this initiative. The city’s rich heritage and unique cultural arts provide favorable conditions for the growth of Hanoi’s night tourism. Hanoi’s urban lighting exhibits distinct characteristics depending on the area and function. In the Old Quarter, narrow alleys and historic buildings create a lively atmosphere with bustling night markets. The nighttime lighting here mainly consists of creatively designed decorative lights at individual shops, which enhance the vibrant energy. Around Hoan Kiem Lake, soft lights reflected on the water’s surface and the illumination of the Turtle Tower standing in the lake harmonize to create a calm and serene nightscape. In the new urban area, modern building facades and bright LED lighting present a contemporary and sophisticated city image. Dynamic light displays further emphasize the lively spirit of the area….

SEOUL, Korea

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Competing with elaborately planned shop facades, intense Han River bridge illuminations, sign luminaries, and bare light bulbs, all flood the streets with chaotic lights. Multi-colored and thriving on pure energy, the different areas in Seoul are alive at night with their own individual style of light. Looking towards the Han River from the observation deck of KLI 63 Building. Myeongdong Commercial District. Light from sign luminaries flood the streets, a typical scene in many Asian cities. In the Dongdaemun Market, numerous bare light bulbs hang from the ceiling and reflect off the canopies overhead.

TOKYO : NIHONBASHI & SUMIDAGAWA

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In the heart of Tokyo, Nihonbashi River lies hidden under a system of highway overpasses and the Sumida River is wide and commanding and it cuts through the city. With a variety of bridges, both rivers assert their own unique presence in the Tokyo cityscape. On our own river tour, we encountered the particular water and lightscapes surrounding the bridges and shores of each river. The newly built Nihonbashi Mitsui Tower next to the famous Nihonbashi Bridge. This is the first skyscraper in the Nihonbashi area and as the sun sets, the facade detail is elegantly illuminated. At the historical Nihonbashi District, a variety of lighting methods are on parade, but the highway overpasses keep most of the river hidden from view. Rumors of reconstructing the highway system underground would help revive the scenery along the Nihonbashi River. The main structure of the Chuo-Ohbashi Bridge is beautifully illuminated. The many bridges along the Sumida River compete with each other for top beauty marks, as each is illuminated in a multitude of colors.

NAGASAKI

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Nagasaki is said to be a melting pot of cultures and people, this also describes its city lighting plan. The city is rainbow colored, with streetlights illuminating white light one moment, orange the next, and green the next from all different types of poles and light fixtures. Lighting is predominantly for street surfaces, but another feature of the Nagasaki nightscape is the illumination of many historical buildings including churches, bridges, and the old trading post. Formed in the hills sloping towards Nagasaki bay, the City of Nagasaki as seen from Mt. Inasa. The faint lights dotting the hills are the many lanterns along the numerous stairways and slopes leading up the hillside. A hot nightspot along Nagasaki bay, Nagasaki Dejima Wharf attracts many after hour visitors looking for a late dinner or drink. The cool breeze from the bay and warm light from the many outdoor restaurants provide a relaxing atmosphere on hot summer nights. The network of cars, streetcars, and pedestrians connect at the busy intersection of Tsukimachi Avenue and Kanko Avenue in downtown Nagasaki. But, as the shops close and the city shutsdown for the night, streetlights specific for road surfaces are the main light source remaining.

TOKYO : SHIODOME & SHINBASHI

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Shiodome Sio-Site was a joint public and private sector redevelopment project completed in 2006. In nearby Shinbashi, eateries and bars built under and into the brick structure of the elevated railway tracks during the Meiji era have become a famous cityscape of this area. We set out to discover what kind of lighting environment exists in this conflicting neighborhood of Tokyo. Red lanterns, single light bulbs hanging under the eaves, colorful luminous signage…All the lighting is warm and inviting. The lighting environment along the streets of Shinbashi is wide and varied, but somehow closes the distance between strangers. Lighting for an elevated pedestrian deck connecting high-rise buildings in the area. The warm colored lighting creates a comfortable atmosphere for a nighttime stroll. The Shiodome high-rise buildings are not showy, and along with the interior office lighting, only a few have facade lighting on the building crowns.