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Social interaction in public squares : the role of users’ environmental appraisals in daylight and after dark

Hennig, V. K.R. ; Gentile, N. LU and Johansson, M. LU orcid (2025) In Journal of Urban Design
Abstract

Public squares are important spaces for social interaction, yet the influence of lighting on people’s experience and social interaction in such spaces after dark is poorly understood. This study examines users’ environmental appraisals and self-reported social interaction in two public squares in Sweden, comparing daylight with electric lighting after dark. The results show that perceived atmosphere is associated with self-reported social interaction in public squares after dark. In turn, perceived atmosphere can be attributed to users’ environmental appraisals of lighting quality, visual accessibility, and reassurance. It is argued that lighting design plays an important role in socially sustainable public squares.

Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
keywords
Environmental appraisals, Lighting, Public squares, Social interaction, Social sustainability, User needs
in
Journal of Urban Design
pages
25 pages
publisher
Routledge
external identifiers
  • scopus:105012421073
ISSN
1357-4809
DOI
10.1080/13574809.2025.2526214
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
0be99627-1793-4f04-8a9a-f8caab24c3cc
date added to LUP
2025-08-18 22:55:29
date last changed
2025-10-14 11:00:04
@article{0be99627-1793-4f04-8a9a-f8caab24c3cc,
  abstract     = {{<p>Public squares are important spaces for social interaction, yet the influence of lighting on people’s experience and social interaction in such spaces after dark is poorly understood. This study examines users’ environmental appraisals and self-reported social interaction in two public squares in Sweden, comparing daylight with electric lighting after dark. The results show that perceived atmosphere is associated with self-reported social interaction in public squares after dark. In turn, perceived atmosphere can be attributed to users’ environmental appraisals of lighting quality, visual accessibility, and reassurance. It is argued that lighting design plays an important role in socially sustainable public squares.</p>}},
  author       = {{Hennig, V. K.R. and Gentile, N. and Johansson, M.}},
  issn         = {{1357-4809}},
  keywords     = {{Environmental appraisals; Lighting; Public squares; Social interaction; Social sustainability; User needs}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{07}},
  publisher    = {{Routledge}},
  series       = {{Journal of Urban Design}},
  title        = {{Social interaction in public squares : the role of users’ environmental appraisals in daylight and after dark}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13574809.2025.2526214}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/13574809.2025.2526214}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}