The authorities have become more attentive to the design of architectural lighting facades and landscape areas. Moscow and Saint-Petersburg have already introduced mandatory coordination of projects so that objects do not create light noise, but create a sense of security and beauty.

With the advent of electricity in the early 20th century, cities began to be illuminated. And now, the sight of illuminated evening facades of residential complexes and business centers, public spaces, parks, and squares is increasingly becoming an art form in its own right. In fact, they are becoming a new landmark for a particular neighborhood. It would seem that technology has extended the active day for city residents well beyond sunset, made it possible to navigate in the dark, and ensured safety and aesthetics. However, there is a growing demand in society for ethical nighttime lighting.

Until recently, there were no uniform regulations regarding urban lighting in Russia. Each property owner had the right to design their facades individually, without regard for the overall appearance of the city. As a result, cities often became targets for light pollution, where excessive amounts of light fail to reach their intended destination. To assess this indicator, scientists use either data from ground-based measuring devices or satellite information. The latter has allowed the creation of a global light pollution map, which shows the brightness increase in each metropolitan area over the years, as well as the overall background light distribution.

To resolve the issue, Moscow and Saint Petersburg were the first in Russia to introduce mandatory coordination of evening illumination projects at the city level. “Architectural lighting is an important part of any project today. Such a requirement we have in architectural-urban solution, and we always look at this section of design”, – emphasizes the chief architect of Moscow Sergei Kuznetsov.

“The quality of architectural lighting in street lighting systems in Russia varies significantly depending on the region and planning approaches,” agrees Svetlana Kolgushkina, PhD, a lighting designer at QPRO and a researcher. “Since Moscow sets the pace in this area, other cities often follow the trend of increasing the number of illuminated building facades. However, this can lead to an imbalance: while there is a demand for architectural lighting in central areas, residential areas may be left without sufficient functional lighting, especially given limited city budgets. Priority should be given to the interests of residents. It is crucial, first and foremost, to provide a comfortable and safe basic level of lighting necessary for moving around the city. Then, other types of lighting—architectural, decorative, and landscape—can be layered on top of this foundation. The quantity and nature of these lighting types should be determined based on an analysis of the urban structure and the existing visual appearance at night.”

One of the successful regional projects of this complex and multi-layered project I can name the new G. Kamal Theatre in Kazan. QPRO‘s team of lighting designers developed lighting solutions for the facade, interiors, and exterior, with particular attention to the interplay of interior and exterior lighting. The lighting design for the theater and its grounds is a unified system, where each decision influences the overall perception of the building in the urban environment. A key principle of the work was to begin with the building’s architectural features, which dictated the character and logic of the lighting. The specialists sought to emphasize the scale, rhythm, structure, and finish of the facade, and how they are perceived in different lighting conditions. It was important not only to illuminate the building, but also to reveal its cultural code, enhance its identity, and make light an integral part of its architectural language.