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Jørpelandsholmen Island, Norway

Light Bureau

Previously disused farmland, the local authority saw the potential of Jørpelandsholmen island as a tourist destination.

In 2017, a connecting pedestrian bridge was built and landscape architect Anita Ellefsen Hus masterminded a 2.1 km nature walk around the island. 

Designing lighting for an island that had previously been unlit was a rare opportunity to explore how little light one needs to make the experience of the walk a magical experience after dark. 

Light Bureau developed a design where the artificial light would balance visually against the night sky to avoid all glare and keep the light levels low so that the views across the fjord would remain intact.

To keep the light levels low, Light Bureau developed bespoke fixtures with a reduced light output and highly shielded sources. 

Corten steel was the material of choice due to its robust qualities and natural patina that would blend in and be complementary to the natural environment both during day and nighttime.

Tree mounted spotlights were used to accent key, but otherwise inaccessible parts of the landscape. 

Post top luminaires, in a dimmed down state with very good glare rating, illuminates areas of the path densely populated by trees. 

The restrained use of light has resulted in a low power consumption. The lighting for the path 2.1 km path uses 575 W in its dimmed state, less than 0.3W per meter.

The result is a subtly lit nature walk tailored to make the walk around Jørpelandsholmen a truly magical experience after dark.

Pictures: Arve Olsen / Kristofer Ryde

Katine Lund Paul Traynora