Participatory priorities
Site analysis and resident voting translated safety, identification, atmosphere, durability, and community culture into design criteria.
CASE STUDY / 042023
Follow the Light
Safer night movement through responsive light
01 / Overview
An interactive lighting intervention for a former factory workers’ community in Chengdu. Light follows pedestrians along a dark riverside path, improving visibility while turning an ageing wall into a shared cultural surface.
02 / Challenge
The problem had to be experienced, not only seen.
The path lacked lighting, wayfinding, and a sense of care, disproportionately affecting older residents and children. The intervention needed to be safe, maintainable, energy-conscious, and rooted in local memory.
03 / Process
Layered lighting
Entrance spotlights support navigation, neon outlines create identity, and responsive LED strips provide movement and delight.
Working prototype
Ultrasonic sensing and Arduino logic were tested through a physical wall model before the final spatial presentation.
04 / Outcomes
05 / Full project presentation
Selected portfolio spreads showing the research, design process, and final outcome.
06 / Reflection
The project connects spatial safety with emotional attachment. A full installation would require longer-term tests for weather, false triggers, maintenance, and resident comfort.