By Nic Paton
The Italian city of Genoa has won this year’s LUCI ‘Cities & Lighting Award’ for its work in revitalising parts of its historic centre through the skilful use of light.
The project ‘Lighting for Genoa’ won plaudits from LUCI, which the ILP is a partner of, because of the way it has revitalised 10 ‘non-places’ in the historic city centre.
Lighting has been used to create gathering spaces and make these neglected urban areas more accessible, welcoming and used.
The project worked with light to create a new sense of security for the people who inhabit it, with a particular focus on women, children, the elderly, minorities, and vulnerable groups, LUCI said.
In all, 10 permanent lighting installations were conceived in a joint effort with local associations and residents.
Jury member Clarisse Tavin described the city’s winning entry as: ‘It proves that, through a creative approach of lighting, we can support social interaction and a sense of belonging and reconnect spaces with their community.
The second and third prizes went to the cities of Eskilstuna in Sweden and Bologna, again in Italy.
