The importance of lightingLighting is an important component of parks, allowing people to use and enjoy spaces into the evening hours. Good lighting can help make parks safe, by reducing the level of crime and the perception of crime.
It is not practical or desirable to illuminate all of our parks in their entirety. However, it is possible to selectively light gates, paths, sports fields, focal points, art work or edges, so that our major open spaces remain a positive part of Auckland's night character.
When designing a park you should develop a lighting strategy which achieves the following design outcomes:
- creates a feeling of well-being
- increases safety (applies CPTED principles)
- encourages night time use and enjoyment in appropriate locations
- aids in geographic orientation
- highlights the identity and history of an area
- creates a sense of drama and celebration
- keeps energy consumption to a minimum
- minimises light pollution
- provides functional lighting for active sports areas
Designing good lighting
Ensure lighting responds to the surrounding context by:
- working with the local community to identify areas where lighting will contribute to greater use or increased safety
- ensuring the landscape, local context and community preferences influences the selection of light fixtures
- ensuring the layout of light poles considered future height of growing trees
- ensuring steps are taken to minimise the impact of light on neighbours
Ensure your lighting strategy is successful by:
- ensuring the design responds to the requirements of the park's various uses
- lighting entrances and buildings
- lighting the edges of the park
- lighting wayfinding maps and directional signage
- lighting sculptures, fountains, bridges and other major elements
- lighting sports fields or hard courts
- using selective lighting to direct pedestrians to the safest thoroughfares
- not lighting large areas, unless they are used for legitimate night activities
- locating illuminated activity zones only along major pathways and street frontages
- making light fixtures part of a coordinated suite of elements
- ensuring light fixtures are compatible with other park furniture
- switching off or dimming the lighting as required
- using shields or louvers to direct the light and prevent light spill and glare
- checking if planning permission for lighting is required
Getting the details right by:
- undertaking a CPTED assessment or applying CPTED principles to lighting design
- making sure lighting in parks has a P lighting classification, as it relates to pedestrian usage
- ensuring that light fixtures are spaces appropriately by undertaking photometric analysis
- reducing clutter by developing secondary roles for light poles (e.g. banners, speakers or CCTV cameras)
- considering adjustable illumination levels for sports fields to meet different purposes
- using luminaires with double asymmetric beams where appropriate for sports fields. This will ensure that the front glazing is kept almost parallel to the surface being lit, to minimize overspill light
- ensuring the beam angle of the lighting from the vertical is not excessive, and that lights are fitted with shields to control glare.
Plan for maintenance and management by:
- using LED or solar lights where possible
- using standard lighting fixtures where appropriate
- considering the selection of luminaires to ensure low ongoing energy consumption and replacement costs
- ensuring all components of proposed lighting elements can be serviced by New Zealand based contractors and have parts which are easily replaced if damaged
- using timers or energy-efficient dimmers on lamps along infrequently used pathways
- limiting the duration of feature lighting on landmark buildings and landscape features, by placing feature illumination on timer controls
- incorporating automatic or occupancy sensor control (e.g. timing switch or motion sensor)
- considering areas where lighting could be switched off after certain time at night. These should be areas where user safety is not dependent on lighting, and lights should be switched after 11pm, as recommended by International Commission on Illumination (CIE)
- ensuring easy access and the appropriate facilities should be provided to facilitate regular cleaning
Auckland Design Manual Resources:
Technical standards:
- AS/NZS 1158.3.1:1999 Road lighting - Pedestrian area lighting (Category P) – performance and installation requirements for minor streets, lanes and plazas
- AS/NZS 1158.1-1986 Road lighting - Vehicular traffic (Categories B & C) – performance and installation requirements for lighting on local roads
- Flood Lighting should be planned in accordance with applicable Australian standards AS2560.2.3:2007
Other documents and resources (downloadable PDFs)
External links