The effects of artificial lighting on perception of urban spaces: Illumination and urban image

The subject of the study named, ?The Effects of Artificial Lighting on Perception of Urban Spaces: Illumination and Urban Image?, explores the effects of urban scale artificial lighting use in spatial perception process focusing on the night time city image. The aim of the study is to define the analytical framework for the urban lighting design process with defining possible effects of variables on the levels of activity during night time urban spaces that have been researched.?Beyoğlu Region? has been selected as the case study area. It is divided into three subdistricts: Galata Tower Region, as an isolated place in night time, Waterfront, namely Perşembe Pazarı and Salı Pazarı, as a non-functional place during night time, İstiklal Street and its surroundings as a dynamic place during day and night. The reason to choose this area is that Beyoğlu region is a strategic part of Istanbul with its complex and dynamic structure.The research is based on the perception of urban spaces and emphasizes that perception process is related to pedestrian movements. Within this context, Space Syntax Theory is used as the fundamental spatial analysis method. An axial map is created by using space syntax application to form a basis to integrate all variables. The pedestrian movements pattern is taken as a dependent variable and urban landmarks, night-time land use, illumination values and integration values are taken as an independent variables.Linear regression analysis is applied to reveal the relationships between levels of integration, measured illuminance values, range of landmarks on each axises, night time urban land use and night time pedestrian movement in Beyoğlu District of İstanbul. Results showed that there is a strong correlation between the variables. (Adjusted R Square: 0.50 - 0.70). The results concluded that the street lighting in Beyoğlu area is one of the important factors which effecting the pedestrian movements at night-time.This study can be defined as an analytical step of urban lighting master plan. Ultimately, this research?s findings can provide valuable input in developing the nightscape of İstanbul as 2010 European Capital of Culture.Key Words: Perception of urban space, urban image, artificial lighting, space syntax