Art of Darkness as Cultural Heritage of Urban Landscape

The Art of Darkness project seeks to preserve and enhance cultural heritage sites across Europe with a better understanding of the cultural, aesthetic, and sustainability values of darkness. By raising awareness of the importance of well-designed darkness, the project highlights its potential as a resource for human and ecological well-being, cultural innovation, and strategic investment in cultural heritage and the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI).

Funders

Touch of light in the lap of darkness. Photo Henrika Pihlajaniemi.
Touch of light in the lap of darkness. Photo Henrika Pihlajaniemi.

Project information

Project duration

-

Funded by

Horizon Europe - Innovation Action (IA)

Funding amount

3 870 000 EUR

Project coordinator

University of Oulu

Unit and faculty

Oulu School of Architecture
Faculty of Technology

Contact information

Project leader

Project description

The Art of Darkness project creates a collaborative network of cities, research institutions, and societies to conduct five artistic pilot trials in cultural heritage sites across five countries. These trials aim to develop design strategies and solutions that enable sustainable, aesthetic, and socially feasible dark-time experiences.

The project methodology is transdisciplinary, participatory, and integrative. Researchers, local citizens, and professionals from creative and technical fields co-design solutions to blend the aesthetic qualities of darkness with high-quality architectural lighting and light art. The project integrates diverse disciplines such as architecture, lighting design, light art, cultural heritage, environmental psychology, cultural anthropology, and engineering to explore and showcase the potential of darkness in urban landscapes.

Project Objectives

  1. Raise awareness of darkness as a cultural asset: Promote well-designed darkness through architectural lighting and light art in cultural heritage contexts.
  2. Conduct pilot trials: Study and develop sustainable dark-time experiences in cultural heritage sites across five countries through co-design with local stakeholders.
  3. Develop the Art of Darkness Piloting Model: Create a replicable model for implementing dark-time design strategies in other regions.
  4. Support policy development: Translate project results into roadmaps and policy briefs to influence sustainable urban and cultural heritage practices.
  5. Foster collaboration and innovation: Build partnerships between cities, researchers, and creative professionals to strengthen cultural heritage and CCI sectors.

Project Outcomes

  • Strategies for integrating darkness into sustainable and aesthetic lighting design for urban and cultural heritage environments.
  • A replicable piloting model for dark-time experiences in cultural heritage contexts.
  • Policy recommendations for sustainable and innovative cultural heritage management.
  • Enhanced collaboration across disciplines and sectors, contributing to cultural and economic development.

Project Partners

  • University of Oulu (Coordinator)
  • Eindhoven University of Technology
  • University of Bologna
  • Aalborg University
  • Tallinn University of Technology
  • Montpellier Metropolitan Municipality
  • City of Tallinn
  • City of Oulu
  • LUCI Association
  • Finnish Light Art Society FLASH

Further Information

For more details, contact:
Project coordinator, associate professor Henrika Pihlajaniemi
henrika.pihlajaniemi(at)oulu.fi