Saving the Night – public lighting along the river in London

We have learned from the ‘lockdown‘ how we can re-focus on the essentials. We can choose to change our habits and re-balance our lifestyles. But can we learn how to ‘save the night’?

London is a twenty-four hour city with millions of people using its streets, open spaces and transport system after dark. Good public lighting is therefore essential. At the same time darkness plays a critical role in supporting our well-being and protecting flora and fauna.

When we experience London at night the illumination of the public realm appears secondary to the over-lit backdrop. Empty offices are left with their lights on. The uncontrolled use of illuminated advertising competes with civic landmarks like St Paul’s Cathedral. Monuments and public art are often poorly lit and pedestrian areas either overwhelmed by highway lighting or under-lit, making the places we enjoy by day feel hostile and inaccessible at night.

We will explore how to create a more coherent night-time experience of London - one that reinforces our social and cultural values and, crucially, is kinder to the environment.

Join our panel of expert speakers Alex Lifschutz (Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands), Mark Major (Speirs + Major) , Mathew Frith (London Wildlife Trust), Don Slater (London School of Economics) and design guru Stephen Bayley for a 45 minute webinar followed by Q+A.