An applied research to assess the experience of the colour of urban lighting: a pilot study in Milano downtown

Abstract

This paper presented an exploratory research about the colours of urban lighting of Milan Downtown. The analysis has been performed in two ways: by measuring urban artificial lighting and by surveying citizens about the perceived urban luminous impressions. Mapped in an objective and subjective way, the urban lighting atmosphere resulted as a mixture of planned public lighting and private lighting with commercial and advertising aims. Private installation, by using extensively coloured and dynamic lighting, are strongly influencing the nightly experience of the city.