The Nighttime Traveller A new research project has been established to examine the ways in which women interact with the urban environment after dark. We speak to the research founder, Colombian lighting designer Cristina Gil Venegas, to find out more.
F
or many in the lighting design
interest in urban design and outdoor lighting.
added bonus of plenty of global
environments, and in the course of my lighting
sphere, the job comes with the
travel. Whether it’s working on projects overseas or attending international conferences,
many of us are lucky enough
to occasionally swap the office for the airport and see the world (before 2020 had other plans).
With this luxury of international travel comes
the opportunity to experience different cultures, immerse ourselves in new environments and
discover new cities. However, while it can be exciting to explore places that we’ve never been to before, for some, this can come with an added sense of caution or trepidation, especially once night falls.
This is the basis for a new research study from
Colombian lighting designer Cristina Gil Venegas,
entitled The Nighttime Traveller. Based in Bogota,
Colombia, Venegas has travelled around the world,
studying in Buenos Aires, Barcelona and Stockholm, and throughout her career has always had an
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“I have always been keen to work in outdoor
design studies, I began to feel an interest in working in urban environments at night,” she told arc. “During the first urban intervention I saw in
Barcelona, during the Llum BCN Festival for Santa Eulàlia, I felt really inspired by the poetical way Barcelona’s old town was transformed through
lighting and the way that locals and tourists of all ages enjoyed the outdoor activities. Even though
those activities were mainly contemplative, people’s mood transformed just by walking by and admiring the city, seeing Barcelona through new eyes.
“Since that moment, I wanted to inspire other
people to explore the night with that curiosity I saw in people’s faces during the Llum BCN Festival,
contrary to the current panorama in which most
citizens almost don’t interact with the urban night. I wanted to become a spokeswoman for the endless opportunities of urban lighting design to create a sense of wellbeing at night.”