Re-wilding the night: understanding how darkness is valued through the nighttime light ecology of Bonn Botanical Gardens

Re-wilding the Night is an interdisciplinary research project that aims to reimagine the urban night by capturing and communicating the qualities and rhythms of both artificial and natural light at night. Central to the project is a re-evaluation of urban darkness by questioning and expanding the normative frameworks surrounding urban lighting. Through a collaborative and experimental approach, the project seeks to make the urban night legible by employing sensor technologies and data visualization techniques, thus fostering a deeper engagement with and appreciation for urban darkness. The project has three objectives—first, to capture and analyse environmental light data to create an accessible understanding of the variations in natural and artificial nighttime light. Second, to use this groundwork to engage with public perceptions and values regarding darkness; and third, to develop lighting prototypes responsive to both data and values. This paper outlines the conceptual foundations and practical steps undertaken to achieve the first objective. In doing so, it underscores the importance of interdisciplinary research and design in addressing complex urban challenges, offering a model for future research aimed at creating more liveable, sustainable, and inclusive urban night environments for both humans and non-humans