Kerstroosplein Eindhoven

2024 | Balancing light for people and nature - a dynamic lighting design based on Light Sketching with residents.

Residents around the green neighbourhood square of Kerstroosplein Eindhoven wished for lighting. At night, many residents avoided the square as it was considered dark, unpleasant and unsafe. At the same time, the city of Eindhoven was hesitant to light green areas for ecological reasons. The city asked me to find a solution, together with residents.

I conducted Light Sketching sessions with the residents and the professionals that were involved. In these sessions, residents use my Light Sketching system to sketch the light they desire live in their environment. Based on the outcomes, we developed a lighting design including dynamically controlled RGBW luminaires. Analysis of the Light Sketches resulted in basic colour schemes. We built the final light scenes based on the colours with lower ecological impact, which I evaluated with a scientific methodology. Different light scenes support different times of day and activities: From activating light in the morning, to playful colour accents at the playground before kids bedtime, to calm, warm and blue-free light in the evening and night.

After installation in May 2024, we revisited the site to evaluate and tweak the light with the residents. The light was positively received. In fall 2024, we will go there again, to learn of the long-term evaluation of the park users and see if further tweaks are desired.

This project was done in collaboration with: Indre Kalinauskaite UX (citizen engagement), Het Lux Lab (support lighting design) and TechDynamics (installation). The client is the City of Eindhoven.

Pictures by Bart van Overbeeke