Urban Pendant: Public Space Defined by Light

2nd Prize Winner of 11th JIA Architecture Lighting Design Competition
Theme: Pendant
Jury: Nishizawa Ryue, Kazuyo Sejima, Kuroki Masao, Kaoru Mende, Akari Lisa Ishii
Authors: Siqi Li, Xiaoting Chen (MVRDV)

All over the world, cities are illuminated by generic streetlights, office towers’ windows, or advertisement screens. As a result, urban spaces at night tend to display a similar atmosphere, regardless of the actual use of the place. This kind of public illumination consumes energy without creating an intimate sense of belonging. What if we make public lighting more accessible, flexible and intimate? To answer this question, we think that pendants can be used to create a different kind of light. By hanging low and being provided with a switch that can be manually activated, a pendant creates a very intimate ambiance and invites people to gather. Through a simple ”click,” the light can be turned on or off. What if we install pendants all over the city?

Combining the traditional pendant light with advanced technology, we propose a new type of public lightning called the Urban Pendant. It consists of 3 layers: film solar cells, a structural frame with electronic connections, and an OLED surface. While the solar cells provide the energy, the OLED surface is soft and bendable, so that the pendant can be freely shaped. Moreover, and if compared to the original LED technology, the application of OLED enables the pendant to illuminate with soft and homogeneous light a bigger area without glare and overheating. Since OLED is predicted to become the mainstream technology for illumination, we believe it will be possible to produce Urban Pendants at an affordable price in the near future. Interactive and ecological, emotional and traditional, we imagine Urban Pendants as the future evolution of pendant illumination.

Urban Pendant in action:

The solar cells of Urban Pendant transform the sunlight into electricity while creating a shading space under the sun. When the night comes, the pendant is turned on to provide lighting. By pulling the switch, the luminance can be adjusted according to activities. When people leave, they can turn off the pendant.

“Click,” an ambiguous light realm appears around the human body. There are no walls, no columns, and space is defined by light. Different Urban Pendants create lighting with different shapes and sizes. Homogenous light is distributed everywhere, and everybody can receive the light with the same quality.

A luminance around 400 lux is suitable for a large crowd gathering. When it is around 200 lux, people can join for recreation or picnic. In contrast, when the luminance is around 5 or 10 lux, the place is perfect for dating or parking.

Urban Pendants define a new type of urban space. As people come, gather and leave, the light is turned on, adjusted, and turned off. These undulating lights represent the pulse of city life.

Link to the competition website.