When it comes to the idea of giving a city a distinctive face, lighting is a versatile instrument. Light to see supports safety and orientation and light to view accentuates the look of attractive buildings and structures in the public space; and highlights – for example in the form of events – create attraction. It is therefore not surprising that more and more cities take the opportunity to shape its image through a systematic and planned architectural night scape.

Worldwide cities, which made lighting a central element of their public appearance, found in 2002 the association Lighting Urban Community International (LUCI). In Germany, Hamburg, Leipzig and Luedenscheid and others are part of this association. Around Luedenscheid, in North Rhine-Westphalia, more and more light-based activities take place. With its positioning as “City of Light”, the district town in the Sauerland is nevertheless unique. Like no other city it consistently made lighting part of the essence of its city branding. The background to this strategy is the traditionally high status of lighting technology and lighting manufacturing in the industries in Luedenscheid. Lighting manufacturers are of international importance at home here as well as the German Institute for Applied Lighting Technology (DIAL) and the German Museum of Light in the “Phaenomenta”.

In 1999 a working group under the title “Luedenscheid – City of Light” of the City Council, the South Westphalian Chamber of Commerce in Hagen, a bank, two companies of the lighting industries, a major real estate agent and the DIAL implemented the idea of becoming “City of Light”. With an annual budget of 125.000 € and some sponsors pilot projects have been realized. Further impetus was given the project in 2001 by the state grants under the program “Towards the center! The city initiative NRW”.

In the meantime the branding of the city is based on a three-pillar approach, which is coordinated through a specialized administrative office in the municipality:

(1) “LichtRäume” creates lasting lighting installations in the city. Works of renowned lighting designer as Belzner Holmes, Stefan Hofmann, and Uwe Knappscheider add up – step by step – to an overall picture that shapes the entire city in its architecture nightscape.

(2) “LichtRouten” are an event that takes place in 2010 for the fifth time since 2002. As an international forum of light in art and design as well as of sociourban values and city planning it is the platform for a variety of activities. Artists, urban planners, architects, lighting designers and lighting industries come together in the two weeks of the event to exchange views and develop ideas. Of the same importance is the active participation of citizens. “LichtRouten” ensures that light is regularly talk of the town.

(3)“LichtQuartier” closes the gap between the permanent installations of the LichtRäume and the temporary action of the LichtRouten. In the rhythm of the LichtRouten an internationally renowned artist is invited to implement a site-specific work in the city, which then becomes part of the cityscape for two years.

Nevertheless, there are three points of action: Against the backdrop of tight budgets ever-lengthening intervals between the events must be filled by other activities, so that the subject of light does not disappear from public consciousness. Second, the citizens outside the event periods are too little involved in the activities, the brand image of the city that is aimed outward rather than inward. Declining budgets and low activity density are already the first results. So the Stadtwerke Luedenscheid have finished their commitment as a sponsor of the lightart prize Lux.us. Third, most activities are concentrated in the downtown area, so policies and measures for the outskirts of the city are therefore still pending. A solution to this problem could bring the next big project – the master plan. This project, in cooperation with academic specialists and architectural lighting designers, includes a detailed analysis of urban structures, architectural design and social space usage for the entire city. Extended by a concept of citizens’ participation the master plan is a chance to hop on the fast track to become “City of Light”.

Heike Müller
City of Luedenscheid/Department of City Planning