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Social interaction in local public squares after dark

Hennig, Katarina LU ; Fotios, Steve ; Gentile, Niko LU ; Sternudd, Catharina LU and Johansson, Maria LU orcid (2022) Light Symposium 2022 In IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science 1099.
Abstract
This paper explores social interaction in local public squares under different lighting conditions. At its best public squares are social spaces that engender a sense of belonging, increase the quality of life and wellbeing of individuals. It is proposed that outdoor lighting would be essential to the use of the public realm after dark, but empirical results regarding lighting conditions and social aspects of life in public squares are limited. Based on a socio-physical conceptual model of the transactional relationship of the user, the lit environment and
the behavioural outcome, this study investigated active social interaction in daylight compared to after dark. A field study was conducted in two local public squares in Malmö,... (More)
This paper explores social interaction in local public squares under different lighting conditions. At its best public squares are social spaces that engender a sense of belonging, increase the quality of life and wellbeing of individuals. It is proposed that outdoor lighting would be essential to the use of the public realm after dark, but empirical results regarding lighting conditions and social aspects of life in public squares are limited. Based on a socio-physical conceptual model of the transactional relationship of the user, the lit environment and
the behavioural outcome, this study investigated active social interaction in daylight compared to after dark. A field study was conducted in two local public squares in Malmö, Sweden. The occurrences of which visitors were being alone, in pairs, or in groups of three or more (N=2522), and verbal or non-verbal interaction amongst those in company of another person were recorded.
The lit appearance of the two squares after dark, was assessed with HDR-photography and photometric measurements; portraying dissimilar spatial, spectral and intensity characteristics.
The results of social interaction show dissimilar patterns of the two squares; an increase in social interaction in EL after dark was observed in one of the squares, while a decrease in the afternoon and no significant difference was displayed in the evening after dark in the other square. It is suggested that lighting may sustain patterns of social interaction after dark, however it might be, that the company of another is especially important after dark. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
host publication
The 8th International Light Symposium : Re-thinking Lighting Design in a Sustainable Future (Light Symposium 2022) - Re-thinking Lighting Design in a Sustainable Future (Light Symposium 2022)
series title
IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science
volume
1099
article number
012008
pages
11 pages
publisher
IOP Publishing
conference name
Light Symposium 2022
conference location
Copenhagen
conference dates
2022-09-21 - 2022-09-23
external identifiers
  • scopus:85143242433
ISSN
1755-1307
1755-1315
DOI
10.1088/1755-1315/1099/1/012008
project
Lighting for public open space in neighbourhood centres: energy efficiency and sense of community
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
856b6765-a338-41db-9b8a-0aaacd652966
date added to LUP
2022-11-28 11:08:30
date last changed
2024-05-30 19:54:51
@inproceedings{856b6765-a338-41db-9b8a-0aaacd652966,
  abstract     = {{This paper explores social interaction in local public squares under different lighting conditions. At its best public squares are social spaces that engender a sense of belonging, increase the quality of life and wellbeing of individuals. It is proposed that outdoor lighting would be essential to the use of the public realm after dark, but empirical results regarding lighting conditions and social aspects of life in public squares are limited. Based on a socio-physical conceptual model of the transactional relationship of the user, the lit environment and<br/>the behavioural outcome, this study investigated active social interaction in daylight compared to after dark. A field study was conducted in two local public squares in Malmö, Sweden. The occurrences of which visitors were being alone, in pairs, or in groups of three or more (N=2522), and verbal or non-verbal interaction amongst those in company of another person were recorded.<br/>The lit appearance of the two squares after dark, was assessed with HDR-photography and photometric measurements; portraying dissimilar spatial, spectral and intensity characteristics.<br/>The results of social interaction show dissimilar patterns of the two squares; an increase in social interaction in EL after dark was observed in one of the squares, while a decrease in the afternoon and no significant difference was displayed in the evening after dark in the other square. It is suggested that lighting may sustain patterns of social interaction after dark, however it might be, that the company of another is especially important after dark.}},
  author       = {{Hennig, Katarina and Fotios, Steve and Gentile, Niko and Sternudd, Catharina and Johansson, Maria}},
  booktitle    = {{The 8th International Light Symposium : Re-thinking Lighting Design in a Sustainable Future (Light Symposium 2022)}},
  issn         = {{1755-1307}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{11}},
  publisher    = {{IOP Publishing}},
  series       = {{IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science}},
  title        = {{Social interaction in local public squares after dark}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/129646032/Hennig_2022_IOP_Conf._Ser._Earth_Environ._Sci._1099_012008.pdf}},
  doi          = {{10.1088/1755-1315/1099/1/012008}},
  volume       = {{1099}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}