LIGHTITUDE: Lighting urban areas above the polar circle

What role can lighting elements play when the sun never sets or when it stays below the horizon throughout the day? Thoughts about lighting in extreme latitudes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE THEME

“The history of humanity, preferring warm and temperate countries, has poorly prepared mankind to accept the diversity of the earth, especially in high latitude locations where hours of sunshine are sometimes scarce.” Louis-Edmond Hamelin, geographer and founder of the Northern Studies Center of the Université Laval

“LIGHTITUDE” is the theme of the 2012 CLU foundation contest. This year’s theme invites participants to reflect on lighting the communities near the Polar Circle. Due to their high latitude these communities are subjected to particular lighting phenomena. Since light is an essential part of every living organism, it or its lack thereof has a profound effect on humankind. Can these isolated communities benefit from a more adapted artificial outdoor lighting solution to satisfy their particular Nordic needs and identities?

These are some of the questions that the CLU foundation members invite the participants from all walks of life to reflect and create upon.

More info here.