Jyväskylä is a Finnish pioneer in the field of city lighting. People in Jyväskylä see the dark season as an opportunity rather than an obstacle. The city makes annual investments in the illumination of public locations, and Jyväskylä was the first town in Finland to have a general outdoor lighting plan. With the plan, the city undertakes to plan and implement high-quality lighting to make the environment more pleasant and safe for its inhabitants.
Lighting designer Annukka Larsen tells us that illumination is used for highlighting spaces and buildings that are also visible in the daylight, such as the Kuokkala bridge over Lake Jyväsjärvi and the centrally located City Church in the church park.
Lighting makes it easier for people to perceive the environment and helps tourists and visitors to find their way in the city. Illumination can also emphasise architectural details of valuable buildings, such as balcony decorations or entrances.
The Light in Jyväskylä event has been organised three times. The event places a specific focus on lighting-related issues. Last autumn the event included seminars dealing with lighting, connected events and workshops led by professionals. The city revealed several new locations to be permanently illuminated and presented a number of lighting experiments.
Importers of lighting equipment implemented eight experimental illuminations in the University of Jyväskylä campus area to highlight the building complex with historical and constructional significance. The campus area includes buildings designed by Alvar Aalto and Constantin Kiseleff, says Annukka Larsen, who coordinated the event.
In conjunction with the event, Jyväskylä Art Museum arranged a photography competition encouraging the citizens to go out and explore the lights of their hometown. The city centre interest organisation Elävä kaupunkikeskusta arranged a competition for the facade and yard lighting of city centre properties.
The next Light in Jyväskylä event will take place in 2008.
http://www.jyvaskyla.fi/valo
Photo 1 (above): The shirts in artist Kaarina Kaikkonens installation conjure up a seascape complete with waves.
Photo 2 (below): Located high on a ridge, the Vesilinna building is a visible sight both in daylight and in the dark.
Photo 3 (below): The former rifle factory now accommodates numerous small businesses. The skilled illumination has made the building attractive to entrepreneurs.
Photo 4 (below): The main building of the University of Jyväskylä designed by Alvar Aalto was one of the experimental illumination locations.
Photo 5 (below): The steel sculpture Hyöky (surge) by Kimmo Schroderus is located in an excellent place in the university campus area on Lake Jyväsjärvi.
By Pia Tervoja Photos by Juhana Konttinen