Light design during the winter months

Branding

With projects like this, one can focus on, and achieve place branding. It is important to keep the local identity and character. The goal is to increase the place's attractiveness, and increase the inhabitants' pride.
Træna municipality consists of more than 418 islands, islets and skerries, but only Husøy, Svolvær, Sanna and Sandøy have fixed settlements. The municipal center is located on Husøy. There are only about 500 permanent residents in Træna municipality.

Dialogue with users

User interaction has been central to this project. Lighting designer Bulut Büküm spent a lot of time in Husøy before the design process, communicating with municipalities and residents about what was needed and what was already installed. He mapped what sites they use in the summer and which they use in the winter. He also found what sites they did not use and which areas they would use if there were enough light. Five places in Husøy were selected: the church, the outdoor museum garden, the playground, the chapel, and the water tower. OSRAM invited the inhabitants to vote and decide which places and buildings would be seen under the new light.

The lighting concept

Throughout the project ‘Træna Urban Lighting’, Bulut Büküm, Hilde Olaisen, management and programming officer Nicholas M. Hagen, Sinus installation and Træna municipality set up five different light installations in the Husøy municipality center. The installations are to be tested for a trial period and the inhabitants are to decide whether the installations are to remain on a permanent basis. Bulut Büküm’s concept is based on a collaborative process to determine what is unique and attractive in Træna, and to cooperate with the locals to showcase this with lighting. Light design has sought to create spaces the inhabitants will use and interact in, facilitating activity throughout the year, making the spaces more accessible, while enhancing the local pride.

Good light doesn't necessarily mean a lot of light.

The chosen solutions sought to put focus on buildings and spaces that have special significance to the locals. Each sub-project was given an aesthetic that complements its location on the island. Træna Church has a V-shape in the ridges, with accent lighting. This upside-down "V" shape symbolizes the church as the gathering place for the people under one roof. The V-shape directs one’s gaze to the skies, and is also a symbol of the mighty mountains in Træna. Another sub-project is the Petter Dass chapel, located at the end of a dark road, with the sea and the mountains in the background. By showcasing the white walls of the chapel in a slightly warm white light, a bright point at the end of a dark road is created. This helps to draw people in.

Evermore people will get to experience both the chapel and the wonderful views and the starry heavens from the viewpoint. For the playground, the idea was to attract the children's attention, they should think it a fun place, as well as increase the children's desire to play and the overall level of activity. For this, a slightly different and "vivid" Dynamic lighting with a lot of color was used. In the outside museum garden, a more vivid and a mystical atmosphere was created by illuminating the wall made of rock, and the trees from below. The road was designed with safety as the upmost important factor, though also included energy saving features. This was accomplished by creating smooth lighting on that particular road stretch. Visual comfort was also important, i.e. avoid glare from the road lighting. Where possible, shielded light sources were used, to not blend or create unnecessary light pollution. All installations can be dimmed and light levels are tested and adjusted in collaboration with the locals.

Products and technology

Products and technology from the market leading brands OSRAM, Siteco, Traxon e-Cue and Tvilight Smart City Solutions were successfully utilized in this project. OSRAM’s high-technology products made the project possible and simple.

Environmental concerns

Combining product technologies, such as OSRAM's highly efficient LED technology and smart control systems Tvilight and E-cue, and conceptual approaches made it possible to reduce overall energy consumption and prevent light pollution. The lighting concept is designed to distribute focal points, landmarks and gathering points for all and to make it easy to navigate the island. Special regard for visual comfort is taken into account through custom brightness and contrasts, and the placement of the luminaries to avoid glare. All the aforementioned lighting was installed during the winter months of 2017. The installations were performed by Sinus Sandnessjøen. Now the project is being discussed with the municipality regarding the continuation of the new lighting and the replacement of the old luminaries.