Program Overview

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Course Overview

The course HS2008, Light and Space-Outdoor, is a 12.0 credit course that focuses on outdoor space and urban lighting. It uses the city of Stockholm as a living lighting laboratory for observation and analysis.

Course Description

In this course, students will explore how lighting contributes to urban morphology, influences social interactions, and impacts both the environment and non-human life. The course addresses public spaces, from streets and facades to pedestrian pathways, with a focus on creating balanced, responsible lighting solutions.

Course Objectives

Students will work at various scales to harmonize darkness and illumination, designing with sustainability, social responsibility, and technological progress in mind. The KTH campus functions as a hands-on site, where students will install a real-scale lighting installation, giving them the opportunity to turn theory into practice and see the transformative power of light in the built environment first-hand.

Information per Course Offering

• Termin: Autumn 2025
• Course location: KTH Campus
• Duration: 25 Aug 2025 - 12 Jan 2026
• Periods: Autumn 2025: P1 (6 hp), P2 (6 hp)
• Pace of study: 100%
• Application code: 50198
• Form of study: Normal Daytime
• Language of instruction: English
• Target group: Mandatory for TLODM
• Part of programme: Master's Programme, Architectural Lighting Design, year 1, Mandatory

Course Syllabus

The course syllabus is available on this page in an accessible format.

Content and Learning Outcomes

Course Disposition

• Design Methodology I (Approach and Methods)
• Technology I (Light sources, luminaires)
• Sustainability and Ecology (People, Energy, Environment)
• Urban Space Theory (Landscape and City Scale)
• Urban Lighting Design (Full scale application)

Course Contents

• Description of methodology and tools for outdoor lighting design process
• Fundamentals in urban planning related to lighting design
• Full scale applications, functional tests, and criteria for aesthetics and design-based assessment

Intended Learning Outcomes

• Students should expand their vocabulary, introducing new terms, technologies, and scales
• Students should be able to deal with urban spaces' structures and complexity
• Students shall apply methods for urban analysis and develop urban lighting concepts
• Students shall train and develop skills to work collaboratively in teams and independently reflect on their methodology and results
• Students should be able to evaluate and develop project work through self-analysis and peer-review

Literature and Preparations

Specific Prerequisites

The eligibility as required for the programme, or the equivalent knowledge in Architecture or a related field.

Literature

• Armengaud, Marc, et al. (2009) Land & Scape Series: Nightscapes
• DiLaura, David, et al. (2011) Lighting Handbook, 10th ed, IES
• Gehl, Jan (1987) Life between Buildings: Using Public Space
• Jacobs, Jane (2011) The Death and Life of Great American Cities
• Lynch, Kevin (1960) The Image of the City
• M. Rea, Lighting Handbook, 9th ed., IESNA, NY, 2000
• Millet, Marietta (1996) Light revealing architecture
• Narboni, Roger (2004) Lighting the Landscape
• Schwalbach, Gerrit (2009) Basics urban Planning
• Rapoport, Amos (1977) Human Aspect of Urban Form
• Zardini, Mirko (2005) Sense of the City and alternate approach to urbanism

Examination and Completion

Grading Scale

A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

Examination

• INLA - Workbook, 6.0 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
• PROA - Project, 6.0 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

Other Requirements for Final Grade

To receive a final grade for this course, a grade E or higher on the workbook and the project is required, as well as 80% attendance.

Further Information

Course Room in Canvas

Registered students find further information about the implementation of the course in the course room in Canvas.

Offered by

ABE/Lighting Design

Main Field of Study

Architecture

Education Cycle

Second cycle