Spaces & Species: Light and Dark

Introduction

Artificial light shapes our cities, creating orientation, atmosphere and identity. At the same time, there is growing awareness that night-time lighting can also have considerable effects on animals, plants and entire ecosystems. With the new legal requirements to protect nature from light pollution, municipalities, planners, architects and property owners face important questions: How can outdoor lighting be designed responsibly in the future? What changes lie ahead? And how can attractive, safe and at the same time nature-friendly solutions be realised?

The Lab Talk focuses on current developments surrounding the new Section 41a of the German Federal Nature Conservation Act and their significance for practice. The discussion addresses the requirements for future lighting design, possible effects on the lighting of buildings, façades and public spaces, and innovative approaches to sustainable lighting design. Inspiring examples from practice will show how contemporary lighting concepts can combine the protection of people and nature with design quality. Together with lighting designers, architects, urban and landscape planners, project developers, municipalities and public authorities, nature and environmental protection, and everyone interested from planning, research and practice, we want to discuss how a more conscious approach to light can succeed – and what opportunities this opens up for liveable cities, species protection and the nocturnal atmosphere of our built environment.