Lighting is an essential element of the urban nightscape. It defines the urban realm at night time, contributes to a safe, active and sustainable city, reinforces a sense of place and encourages creative architectural expression.  The use of human-made lighting at night-time spans across a wide range. Whether in the form of feature or façade lighting for significant buildings, monuments or public artworks; in the form of landscape lighting for a park, plaza or a landmark; or in the form of public streetscape lighting to provide pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles with a safe and comfortable visual environment at night, lighting can define a city and contribute to its identity and serve as a vehicle for enhanced living quality, promotion, for attracting tourism and increasing night time economy.

This research explores the many aspects of the use of light as part of architecture within the urban realm, and its micro and macro dynamics in shaping the appreciation of architecture at night. As the world moves towards smart cities, the research provides the basis for new and innovative ways of the use of night-time lighting in the urban realm.