The external lighting strategy of the new Park Square development, devised by Arup, embraces the latest in lighting concepts. 

The  R1bn development mixed-use office and retail development situated in the heart of Umhlanga New Town Centre in Kwa-Zulu Natal opened late 2018. Arup provided integrated lighting design for the external lighting strategy of the Park Square Development. They progressed the lighting concept, developed in conjunction with MAP Architects, by looking at each external lighting element in detail with a view to creating a high-quality night-time environment.

“Park Square showcases how various street-and-landscapes as well as architectural features can transform public environments through their careful integration of light” explains Shikar Takurpersad, Associate at Arup and electrical lead on the project. “That visitors and tenants experienced a quality experience in the public spaces was a key consideration in the design for the external lighting for Park Square”.

Integrated lighting 

The external lighting design had the following objectives:

• to create an appropriate ambience and mood.
• to promote legibility through the illumination of features including edges, nodes, paths and the enhancement of key vistas.
• to promote a unique identity for the area ‘after-dark’
• to provide for safety, security, orientation and assists way finding.
• to provide sustainable lighting solutions that minimise energy use.

“The intention was always for the lighting to guide movement – people are always attracted to the brightest part of a lit scene” expands Takurpersad. “The dynamic lighting components create visual interest that encourage people to linger in the space rather than simply pass through.”  

The lighting design combined well illuminated focal points and destinations. Light modulated the architecture, creating visual interest. This was balanced with ensuring that a high quality lit environment was achieved by using a limited light colour temperature palette of white light, together with a range of light intensities, giving definition to the different areas and functions of the site.

Enhancing the façade

The intention for the façade was that the lighting will vary, respond to, and reinforce the layers of the building and activity behind accentuating the ‘wrapping’ nature of the vertical screen element. Illuminating these vertical fins on the park facing façade screen highlighted the ‘layered’ nature of the building and accentuated the lightness of the glass office ‘blocks’. The dynamic digital control for this lighting component created ‘moving lines’ of light and resulted in a lively animated effect when viewed from the adjacent Chris Saunders Park. This illumination was achieved through a complex Digital Multiplex (DMX) control system which required an extensive testing and commissioning process with specialist sub-contractors.

Lighting the square

The public square area is in effect a ‘void’ space created by the collection of ‘blocks’ forming the development. In order to further enhanced these blocks and voids after dusk, the lighting strategy for the square took inspiration from the built form with different layers and volumes of light including recessed, flush and extruded forms.

The perimeter glow from the retail units was supplemented by lit elements within the piazza such as up-lit trees providing visual interest in the vertical plane, integrated bench lighting and lit floor tiles and restaurant tables.

The wrapping façade screen flows into the piazza forming a ‘slatted’ backdrop to the space. The opportunity was again taken to digitally animate the linear light elements in this façade screen creating various light scenes and visual intrigue for users of the space.

The tall form of a central stair tower with adjoining amphitheatre creates the largest ‘block’ of the hierarchy within the square. Just as a fountain or sculpture can be the centrepiece of an external space, this lit ‘volume’ has become a key focus after dark with the incorporation of feature colour changing lighting.

Sustainability in design

Park Square was awarded a 4-star Design rating by the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA). Nedport have subsequently committed to targeting a more ambitious 5-star As-Built rating. Lighting plays a critical role in achieving these objectives. 

Preliminary calculations show that project will achieve a 36% reduction in energy consumption over the Green Star benchmark. Contributing to this is the fact that lighting design to the internal office spaces were in accordance with green star best practice principles. Both passive and active strategies are being implemented to achieve this target. 

Good daylight levels, coupled with the use of occupancy sensors for switching, saving energy when unused have been applied; lighting zones in the office space will not exceed 100m2  thereby allowing light for occupied spaces only; LED sources have been utilised for additional energy efficiencies - these are all factors that ensure that energy efficiencies are optimised.