It was no coincidence that the first FutureDesignDays Nomad event was about lighting design. The interest for lighting design is increasing for many reasons, not the least to help creating safe areas in the cities, and to deal with the global warming. FutureDesignDays News had a chat with architect Kajsa Sperling, specialised in light design at White architects in Gothenburg. Her mission is often about taking care of the interspaces between buildings, and make these spaces aesthetically attractive. To resurrect old buildings is another common assignment, as well as making recreation grounds, subways and other public areas safer and more well-attended.

In contrast to what most people think, such an assignment is often a question about eliminating, instead of adding light. Avoiding bedazzlement is actually more important than lighting up spaces to create a safe area. That is also the case when White through Kajsa Sperling is designing the illumination of an area in Tensta, Stockholm.

Kajsa tells us that the light pollution in the world is an important reason for her commitment to lighting design. Light consumes brutal masses of energy. Kajsa is convinced that a new way of looking at lighting will be a significant part of the environmental work. We must dare to eliminate light, instead of adding more and more, in other words: less light and more focus on the lights we choose to keep. Lighting design is likely to be a very important part of building projects or urban space planning in the future. If it’s up to Kajsa to decide, every municipality ought to have their own lighting designer.