Innovation for Bologna ENLIGHTENme pilot case: shared management of the new lighting system installed in Piazza Lambrakis

The city of Bologna, one of the three ENLIGHTENme cities, has a long tradition of involving citizens in co-designed urban processes.

Nevertheless, the new ENLIGHTENme lighting installation, which serves as test bed for investigating the impact lighting can have on citizens’ health and wellbeing, has added a new layer to the city co-design experience. Not only did citizens actively participate in the co-creation of designing the best possible lighting solution for Piazza Lambrakis, but also took charge of its management. In collaboration with the city’s maintenance department, citizens manage the smart system directly, according to the needs of the local residents. As such the lighting can be adapted to life in the square according to daily and seasonal changes and accommodate a variety of cultural events, markets, festivals and other occasions for social gatherings. Currently, three local residents are in charge of the lighting system management. After an initial training period to familiarise themselves with the system and its functions, now a communication flow has been established among the community that allows for timely information on any lighting changes.

The City of Bologna also stresses the important aspect of intergenerationality in the co-design process. Members of different generations - young people, families with children and adults with special attention to older people, who are the main target of our project - have successfully collaborated to bring this new installation to life and therefore added great value to the local community.

Community members and ENLIGHTENme project partners with the new lighting installation at Piazza Lambrakis

One of the lighting poles with the new light at Piazza Lambrakis