ICE - Designing cities for night-time: safer cities after dark

This event explores how cities can become safer, more inclusive and more welcoming after dark through evidence-based night-time design.

Drawing on Arup’s latest research, attendees will learn why traditional approaches to lighting often fail to create a sense of safety, and how a more holistic, human-centred strategy can transform the experience of urban spaces at night. The session will delve into the five key principles that underpin effective night time design – emphasising quality over brightness, layered and contextual lighting, and the importance of reflecting diverse lived experiences in every design decision.

Participants will be introduced to Arup’s suite of night time design tools, including Night Walks, the Night-time SPeAR framework and the Night-time Vulnerability Assessment (NVA). These methodologies demonstrate how combining data, community insight and on site assessment leads to more accurate identification of vulnerable areas and more meaningful improvements to safety and comfort.

The event will also feature a detailed look at the Piccadilly Gardens case study, where NVA findings revealed patterns in crime, shifts in public perception after dusk and clear priorities for future lighting and spatial intervention.