Winner of city.people.light 2009

Jyväskylä claims first prize in 2009 city.people.light awards

Jyväskylä – the City of Light project won the first prize in the 2009 city.people.light awards. The annual competition rewards projects, which demonstrate the difference lighting has on the well being of those who live, work or visit a city or town. Philips and the Lighting Urban Community International Association (LUCI) organize the competition.

Mr. Kari Ström and Mr. Pauli Partanen received the first prize at a ceremony October 19th in Gwangju, South Korea. “We appreciated Jyväskylä’s great involvement in using all the potential lighting can offer to stimulate sustainable urban development,” says Iris Dijkstra, an independent lighting designer and president of the multinational city.people.light awards jury. “The City of Light project aims to build high-quality outdoor lighting in a purposeful fashion to highlight architectural gems, as well as to create optical guidance with light. At the same time Jyväskylä will also be able to reduce the energy consumption of its public lighting.”

Jury commented that Jyväskylä constitutes an example of what an integrated approach of lighting can be. An approach where lighting is a major component of the city’s urban identity, and where concerns for energy efficiency, reducing light pollution and safety, build a lighting respectful of the quality of life of the city’s inhabitants. In Jyväskylä, light is used to its full potential and the jury particularly appreciated the subtle use of lighting not only for major urban projects but also for smaller public spaces and parks where light is in direct touch with the people.