Published 2026-07-01
Keywords
- Urban Night,
- Darkness,
- Urban Redesign,
- Phenomenology
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
How to Cite
Abstract
The text proposes a phenomenological approach to night and darkness as key tools for rethinking the contemporary city, challenging the dominance of lighting in the urban order that renders experiences in the twilight invisible. It highlights the relevance of night to Urban Studies by visualizing it as a time-space with its own dynamics that transform social practices, perceptions, and uses of space. It analyzes darkness through the works of authors such as Brayan Palmer (2000) and Jun’ichirō Tanizaki (2015), among others, understanding it as a cultural and material construction and presenting it as a realm of transgression, control, and resistance. Finally, the paper highlights its aesthetic and design potential for urban redesign, opening interdisciplinary possibilities for imagining cities that are more complex, inclusive, and sensitive to the nocturnal experience.
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References
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