Urban Lighting: Light for Liveable Cities

Anyone moving through a city today – whether in the dense traffic flow of main thoroughfares, the quiet side streets of a residential area, across squares or through parks – encounters the subject of light at every turn. Modern light is far more than a means of making paths visible: it is an essential element of urban quality of life, relating equally to safety, orientation, atmosphere, sustainability and design quality.

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Urban lighting

Lighting architecture

Opportunities and challenges for future-oriented light architecture

Urban lighting is not a mere technical detail, but fulfils a central societal function. It ensures visibility and safety in public spaces, reduces accident risks and crime, supports mobility and orientation, and enhances the quality of public life. This goes far beyond merely street lighting. The lighting of squares, buildings, and objects significantly shapes the spatial appearance of a city and contributes to the identity of urban areas. Private and commercial lighting also influences the impact of the urban landscape – as does the conscious decision to forgo lighting in certain areas to preserve darkness as part of an ecologically balanced night-time environment.

lantern light car person — Electricity consumption and sustainability

A crucial step on the path to a sustainable lighting design is the switch to energy-efficient LED technologies. These enable a significant reduction in electricity consumption and improve local authorities’ carbon footprint. Lighting still accounts for around 30 to 50 per cent of local authorities’ energy consumption – investing in this area delivers long-term cost savings whilst sending a clear signal in support of climate protection and quality of life.
In parallel, the implementation of new lighting systems requires a holistic view of the

Life cycle costs – from installation through maintenance and spare parts supply to eventual disposal. The selection of high-quality, durable and sustainable systems is crucial for economic operation and public acceptance. In this regard: Standards and guidelines are helpful guides, but they do not replace design or ecological responsibility. They are not laws – and do not automatically solve many of the current challenges.

Because sustainable lighting design goes beyond technical indicators. It operates within the demanding intersection of energy efficiency, investment costs, maintenance effort, environmental and nature conservation, as well as urban development and design requirements. The greater the desire to reduce light pollution, the more complex and expensive the technology often becomes – and conversely, maximum light yield can come at the expense of the environment. This is where the true art of holistic lighting design lies: finding a balanced relationship between all objectives and consciously setting priorities depending on the location and function.

So requires increased Nature conservation potentially a higher investment or greater energy expenditure. At the same time, the necessary amount of light always depends on the quality of the lighting solution. Therefore, forward-thinking lighting design must not only function from a technical and economic perspective, but also integrate ecological and aesthetic criteria – and have the courage to deliberately limit or even omit light.

Note on the scope of our planning. Motorways in Germany are generally not illuminated and are not part of our responsibilities. We plan classic street lighting as part of an overarching urban space or a lighting master plan – that is, where it can be meaningfully integrated spatially, aesthetically, and ecologically.

The requirements, opportunities, and challenges are diverse. The following presents current topics and projects that show what future-oriented lighting concepts look like today – and how they can shape the cities of tomorrow.

Road Safety: A New Look at Public Space

The importance of contemporary urban lighting may seem simple at first glance, but its societal added value is multi-layered. The aim is not solely to illuminate traffic areas, but to create safe and easily readable spaces for all road users – pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists. Standards are a helpful guide in this regard, but they do not replace expert design and context-specific considerations. Good solutions sometimes align with regulatory requirements in practice – and consciously deviate from them in justified cases.

Methodological classification of lighting design
Informed lighting design therefore does not follow a schematic „more light“ principle, but rather a qualitative assessment of the respective visual task, the spatial context and the existing lighting environment. What is crucial is not just adherence to individual parameters, but the interplay of visual comfort, glare limitation, luminance ratios, orientation and environmental compatibility. In this sense, planning means consciously weighing up different requirements – traffic safety, quality of stay, energy efficiency, species protection and legal frameworks – and translating them into a balanced overall concept. Standards provide important reference points for this, but they are not a substitute for the planner's responsibility to make situation-appropriate decisions.

Visual comfort as the basis of traffic safety
The essential prerequisite for traffic safety is not maximum brightness, but good visibility. This is achieved through balanced luminance ratios, sufficient uniformity, and clearly discernible contrasts. Particularly in areas with mixed use – such as residential streets, traffic-calmed zones, or shared space situations – it is crucial to make potential conflicts visually identifiable at an early stage, without creating new risks through glare.

Glare, visual performance, and visual comfort
Glare is one of the underestimated safety risks in the nocturnal traffic environment. Bright, directly visible light sources or highly imbalanced luminance distributions impair contrast vision and prolong reaction times – particularly in older people. In addition to physiological glare, psychological glare also plays a role, which must always be assessed in the context of the specific surroundings. In dark environments, individual luminaires can be particularly disruptive; bright surfaces and uniform light distribution help to reduce extreme luminance differences.

Sense of security and orientation
Good lighting enhances the subjective feeling of safety by providing orientation, structuring spaces, and making it easier to recognise people and situations. However, blanket equations of brightness and safety are too simplistic. Light quality, direction, vertical light components, and the integration of lighting into the spatial context are crucial. Only in this way can understandable, legible urban spaces be created that are also used in the evening hours.

Stray radiation and light immissions
While adequate light contributes to safety, excessive illumination levels and light trespass lead to burdens for residents and the environment. Modern luminaires with optimised optics can significantly reduce upward light emission but are not sufficient to completely avoid stray light in adjacent areas. Only holistic planning, taking into account light control, installation, surroundings and usage times, effectively minimises light immissions while simultaneously increasing public acceptance.

Lighting design: safety in public spaces

Foundation for safe and future-proof lighting design
Ensuring safety and orientation in public spaces at night significantly depends on the quality of lighting. Lighting design extends far beyond technical considerations: alongside functional and aesthetic goals, ecological, social, and legal aspects must also be taken into account. Standards can be used as a support, but they do not replace context-specific assessment. The aim is to create safe visibility conditions, promote the quality of stay, use energy efficiently, and deliberately minimise environmental impacts.

Flicker-free vision and luminance at night

The eye adapts to a medium luminance level – uniformity and balance are more important than maximum brightness.

Objects become recognisable when contrast is right; sharp changes in brightness extend reaction times.
Reduced contrast vision results from blended light sources (point-like brightness, excessive luminance differences).
Good visibility is achieved through balanced luminance, controlled light direction, and the avoidance of direct and indirect glare.

Assessment criteria Quality over quantity

Traffic volume High frequencies require not just „more“ light, but also uniform, glare-reduced light for better visual acuity.
Junction density Busy junctions need clear sightlines and orientation – targeted highlighting in the urban context supports wayfinding.
Baking taskMixed traffic increases demands on light quality (without glare).
Traffic calming Thresholds/islands only work if they are visually present – targeted lighting instead of a brightness maxim.
Conflict Zones & Parking: Clear room images for easy recognition of people, vehicles and movements through precise light control instead of uniform brightness.
Ambient light Consider and, where possible, control or shield external influences (sports, advertising, commercial/private lighting).
Facial Recognition & Security Vertical illuminance but also glare reduction – for clear perception.

Lighting for pedestrian zones and squares – safety, atmosphere, identity

Squares and pedestrian zones are social and cultural spaces. Light creates orientation and safety here, shapes atmosphere and tells the identity of the place. Safety is not achieved through maximum brightness, but through visual comfort: balanced luminance, low glare and a clear, understandable spatial structure. At the same time, ecological aspects must be considered – stray light into vegetation and residential areas must be avoided, warm light spectra are to be preferred, and lighting levels are to be linked to usage and time of day.

Atmosphere arises from the legibility of the space and its site-specific character. Plasticity and depth are created through calm contrasts, differentiated accentuation, and precise lighting design – not through blanket over-illumination. Zoning with islands of light and transitions structures the space, supports different uses, and promotes orientation. Individual elements are deliberately staged with restraint; the focus is on structure and detail, not on a homogeneous flood of surfaces.

The operation of the lighting is also part of the design and functional quality. Dimming and timer profiles allow for adaptation to actual use, while high maintenance and material quality ensure long-term impact. Glare-free light points outside the primary field of vision contribute to safety just as much as a calm light distribution without harsh contrasts. Facades act as space-defining elements: their subtle, reflective, or accentuated inclusion strengthens the orientation and identity of the place – without illuminating vegetation from below or impacting ecological assets.

Criteria for places

Depict orientation & readability clearly. Visual comfort before overall brightness and uniformity (narrow-beam and well-shielded cones of light prevent glare, enable zoning, and promote contrast and plasticity).
Ecology: Minimising stray light and blue light components in the light spectrum.
Identity: A public square is defined as a space by its facades: The inclusion of these surfaces promotes orientation and the identity of the place. The eye's adaptation behaviour can be supported by balanced luminances.

Lighting concepts for parks and green spaces – species protection & light pollution

Light changes ecosystems. Insects and nocturnal animals, such as bats, are sensitive to spectrum, intensity, and direction. How dark corridors can be preserved, why warm/red light is often useful, and how urban habitats can function ecologically despite illumination, you can read in the in-depth article: Species Conservation & Light Pollution – How Light Changes the Night.

Guiding principle: as little as possible, as much as necessary.

Only illuminate paths where it is absolutely necessary.
Avoid unintended radiation (no radiation into vegetation, water, or the sky).
Visual comfort rather than brightness (reduce glare, allow for lower uniformities).
Facial recognition only when needed (entrances, meeting points, junctions).
Demand-controlled operation (motion detectors, night setback, follow-me).
Spectrum with reduced blue light components (≤ 2700 K, preferably 2200 or even 1800 K/amber in sensitive areas – the light spectrum can also be included in demand-driven control).

Darkness is part of the conservation concept here – it preserves habitats and enables natural rhythms. To the detailed article

Lighting for train station forecourts & bus stations

Light for safety, orientation and identity.

These areas are mobility hubs and city entrances. Safety also arises from quality here, not just quantity: glare reduction, balanced luminance, vertical components (facial recognition). A high-quality atmosphere supports social control (broken window effect).
The staging of architecture and spatial boundaries by light characterises and forms identity as a city's calling card and portal.

Bus stations – Special aspects: visibility/conspicuousness for orientation; good recognisability of people for driving personnel (high contrast, low glare); high colour rendering; architectural staging of canopies/structures; atmospheric waiting areas.

Car parks – Sense of security & prevention
Low speeds, but a sensitive perception of safety: Uniformity without deep shadows, vertical elements for visibility, clear transition zones (entrances/exits, pedestrian paths). Aesthetically understated, unobtrusive, ecologically sound.

Pedestrian crossings & refuge islands – visibility through vertical lighting

Zebra crossings (FGÜs - Fußgängerüberwege) are essential elements of safe, accessible cities. Vertical lighting is crucial for clear visibility on the crossing and in waiting areas. Additional lighting is arranged asymmetrically from the driver's perspective; a position directly above the centre line is not permitted. A different light colour can increase attention.

R-FGÜ 2001 / DIN 67523 Define requirements for supplementary lighting (including minimum values in the assessment area). A switch-off during dark hours is not planned. Alternative planning option: Continuously increased lighting levels over sufficiently long sections can replace separate supplementary lighting for traffic signal control – this is a different planning principle, not an exception to the operational duty.

Crossing aids (Central islands, narrowings) shorten crossing distances; targeted, low-glare lighting in accordance with DIN EN 13201 can improve safety, but this is not a requirement.

Lighting Design for Traffic Facilities – Conflict Zones & Traffic Islands

Conflict zones (Crossroads, roundabouts, junctions) require high-quality light:

Minimise glare → better perception, less light required.
Uniform illumination → better contrast vision, earlier detection.
Adaptive zones → smooth transitions between brightness levels (especially at > 50 km/h).
Colours/Contrasts → high colour reproduction improves detectability.
Consistently consider footpaths and cycle paths.

Roundabouts: Install lighting primarily on the outer ring; include a central island only in large or complex schemes; illuminate footpaths and cycle paths; provide lighting for pedestrian crossings at access points in accordance with R-FGÜ/DIN 67523.

Lighting design for underpasses

Underpasses – integrating heterogeneous use safely and sustainably
Underpasses bring together different types of traffic in a confined space. Pedestrians, cyclists and motorised traffic use the same built structure – often with different speeds, lines of sight and safety requirements. In addition, there are escape and rescue routes, technical installations and, in some cases, additional advertising or functional uses. This overlap makes underpasses one of the most challenging areas for urban lighting design.

Sustainable lighting solutions do not respond to this with a blanket increase in light levels, but with clear differentiation within a connected space. Traffic areas must be clearly legible, crossing and seating areas clearly recognisable, escape routes always safely perceptible. Lighting design supports orientation and visual guidance along the respective use, without creating competing stimuli or glare.

Particular importance is attached to coordinating different lighting requirements: vertical light components for the detection of people, calm luminance gradients at transitions, uniformly perceptible entrances, and the controlled integration of additional elements such as signage or advertising. These must not disrupt the visual order, but rather be integrated into the overall concept.

In our in-depth article on lighting underpasses, we demonstrate how precise lighting design can transform underpasses into robust, safe, and permanently accepted urban spaces – despite heterogeneous use and a high density of functions. The link

Lighting bridges

Precise planning at sensitive interfaces

Bridges are among the most demanding tasks in outdoor lighting. They are traffic spaces, urban spaces, and landscape elements all at once – often with a considerable far-reaching effect and high ecological sensitivity. Their lighting influences not only the safety of roads, footpaths, and cycle paths, but also the city's nighttime appearance and the interaction with adjacent bodies of water, green spaces, or protected areas.

Sustainable bridge lighting is not created through standardised solutions but through context-specific planning. Light is directed where it is functionally required and consistently limited where it would become a burden to the urban space or environment. Integrated systems in the structure or railings, precise shielding and calm light distributions are increasingly replacing mast-based concepts, enabling a balance of safety, design restraint and ecological responsibility.

Whether as a standalone measure, as part of a renovation, or as part of larger infrastructure projects: high-quality bridge lighting requires planning experience, technical expertise, and a deep understanding of urban and landscape contexts.
In-depth article: Illuminating bridges – Planning between function, distant effect and environment

Legal Framework: Environmental Protection & Local Authority Discretion

There is not yet a general lighting requirement for streets/squares in all federal states. Traffic safety obligations demand hazard prevention, not constant light.

The German Federal Immission Control Act (BImSchG) considers light as a potential environmental impact; the LAI guideline on light provides assessment criteria (without legal force). Nature conservation law is gaining importance (e.g., restrictions on facade/advertising lighting, skybeamers). Federal states (e.g., Bavaria) have tightened regulations. Municipalities have broad design flexibility: standards on spectrum, operating times, levels, dark corridors, etc. are possible.

In-depth article on species protection

Commercial and private lighting – integrate rather than over-regulate.

Commercial and private light sources significantly shape the nocturnal cityscape. Shop windows, facades, advertising displays, and temporary installations have a direct impact on public spaces, especially in central locations, busy squares, and architecturally significant areas. For public lighting, this means: it never stands alone but reacts to its existing luminous environment.

High-quality lighting design therefore does not rely on blanket restrictions or additional regulations, but on classification and coordination. The goal is a harmonious overall picture that supports orientation, creates visual calm and, at the same time, enables economic use.
Distinguish between permanent and temporary lighting situations

A nuanced approach opens up possibilities: temporary lighting applications can be used to specifically enhance vibrancy without permanently increasing luminance levels or overwhelming the nocturnal urban landscape. Permanent lighting, on the other hand, should be more closely integrated into the urban spatial context to provide long-term support for orientation, safety, and quality of stay.

Strengthening trade through visual engagement

Restraint is called for, especially in times of structurally challenging retail. Cities benefit from vibrant ground-floor zones, open shop windows, and a clear visual address formation. Harmonious integration of commercial lighting can increase dwell time, make spaces more legible, and contribute to the social use of public space – without the need for additional amounts of light.
Unregulated advertising lighting leads to:

excessive luminance levels in urban areas
increased glare and visual disturbance
disturbed adaptation conditions of the eye
increased energy demand for public lighting

Many existing regulations on outdoor advertising currently inadequately consider these lighting-related aspects. Permits are often based on size, position, or design – but not on luminance, spectral composition, emission direction, or operating times. From a planning perspective, it is crucial to distinguish between permanent lighting and time-limited light applications. Shop window lighting during opening hours, temporary accentuations for events, or seasonal light installations fulfil different functions than permanently operated advertising systems or facade lighting.

What is crucial here is not the intensity of individual light sources, but their integration into a balanced overall structure. Conversely, superimposed, competing luminances often lead to public lighting needing to be readjusted – with increasing energy consumption and decreasing visual quality.

Planning assistance rather than prohibition logic
For municipalities, the added value lies not in restrictive individual regulations, but in clear, comprehensible guardrails. These offer guidance for traders and planners without unnecessarily restricting creative freedom or economic use.

Local government control: the decisive lever
Light quality requires binding frameworks
From the perspective of future-proof lighting design, there is a central need for action here. Municipalities already have instruments at their disposal to control advertising and shop window lighting – for example, through advertising installation statutes, design guidelines, or environmental impact assessments. However, these instruments should be systematically supplemented with lighting engineering criteria, particularly concerning:

maximum permissible luminance
Limitation of dynamic or changing light content
Reduction of blue components in the spectrum
Shielding and emission limitation
Timed control and night shutdown

Only through such specifications will it be possible to reduce public lighting without creating safety or orientation deficits.

A Lighting Masterplan can act as an instrument of mediation here: It defines spatial focal points, sensitive areas and robust zones where different requirements may apply. This allows landmarks, central squares or busy locations to be deliberately accentuated, while at the same time visual calm and ecological consideration take centre stage in other areas. In this way, light is not regulated, but controlled – as an integral part of a readable, economically viable and sustainable urban space.

Standards & Guidelines – Aids, Not Dogmas

Standards and guidelines provide helpful references

DIN 13201-1 – Principles and selection of lighting classes
DIN EN 13201-2 to -5 – Lighting requirements/methodology

However, the expert assessment within the context of immission control, environmental, and nature conservation law remains crucial.

From fragment to strategy – the lighting master plan

The aspects presented here – precise light control, adaptive management, biodiversity protection, and legal frameworks – demonstrate that lighting design is not a purely technical task. Only when these perspectives are systematically coordinated can a viable concept be developed.

The Lighting Masterplan is the organised and holistic framework that intertwines technical parameters with ecological objectives, links legal requirements with design scopes, and employs light as a tool for biodiversity, climate adaptation, and urban identity. It creates a common language between urban planning, environmental and nature conservation, transport, architecture, landscape, and energy – defining priorities (reduce, improve, systematise, innovate) – and translates them into projects.

So, in the future, the city will shine not brighter, but smarter.

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Urban lighting design

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