2017 CONTENT IN ENGLISH 75 Contents in English NIKIS SQUARE: LIGHTING FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE CENTRAL SQUARE OF KOZANI, IN GREECE Located at the principal commercial district of the city of Kozani (population 75.388), “Nikis Square” is the most sig- nificant public & historical space of the city of Kozani. Dur- ing the Ottoman Rule, the area provided refuge. In a similar manner the new square is meant to be a place free from today’s city “threats” –pollution, traffic and lack of space–, aiming at the economy of the installation, protecting the environment, avoiding the impact of glare and light pollu- tion. The new winning architectural proposal of the Greek national competition suggests a central large space “an ur- ban field” gradually sloping downwards towards the exist- ing pedestrian zone on the south side, infiltrating into the town’s activity. The square is organized around an arc that accentuates accommodating all commercial uses offering protection from the street and heavy traffic. A sloping edge with long benches, trees and water features, marks the transition between places for movement and pause. Lighting for Nikis Square was developed early on, at architectural conceptual stage and was considered as an integral and primary material of the overall architectural composition. The Lighting Design Scheme for the new square, starting from the pedestrian vistas on the south, aims at enabling the appreciation of the new diverse quali- ties of the spaces created within the new urban field, as well as intensifying the emotional impact of the project, emphasizing the dynamic movement and serene transi- tion between spaces. The feeling of a self luminous space is achieved through a designed pattern of embedded lin- ear led strips and brightness variations integrated within different activities. Excessive dominant illumination is avoided while a rhythm of movement suggesting direc- tion is created. The arc shape is emphasized by linear led cove lighting along it creating ambient luminescence for the spaces below making them safe and reassuring. Mo- tion and transition are amplified by the reflectance of the lit flowing water elements. The lamps used were mainly led, metal halide and fluorescent. Cool white 4000 K was used for the suggested routes while warm white 3000K for the spaces of refuge, recreational and vegetation areas thus creating hierarchies and desired contrasts. PHILOSOPHY As an architect I was trained to treat natural light as a pri- mary material of the architectural composition. Structure and form evolved around natural light. I learned more about measuring and controlling it, the science and tech- nology behind artificial light and the development of a lighting scheme, following an MSc in Light & Lighting. The floodlighting of the Cathedral of Patra in Greece, awarded Young Lighter of the year 2006 by the SLL, CIBSE in U.K, could be considered the most important, although all pro- jects have felt equally challenging in terms of treating light in different applications as a silent design associate, im- proving visual quality, complementing shape, form, color. Lighting architects reveal elements of art and architecture with the use of integrated light technology. “Light directly affects human sentiments. We aim at creating energy ef- ficient lighting schemes that go beyond the mere satis- faction of functional needs, providing the ability to create dynamics, hierarchies and mood at both exterior and inte- rior. As night time becomes another spatial dimension in- formed by detailed design, working at several interior and exterior projects, focusing at shadow and darkness, using light to reveal narrative, in sync with human interaction and natural conditions. Collaborating with a broad range of people from different backgrounds and design disciplines.” ABOUT MARA SPENTZA Freelance Architect and Lighting Designer, lecturer at the Technological Institute of Central Macedonia teaching Lighting and Structural Art. Born in Patra, Greece, 1978 BA (Honours) Degree in Architecture from Portsmouth University(UK) 1996-1999. Worked as an Architectural Assis- tant at the Architectural Practice The Haddow Partnership, Hampshire 1999-2000. Diploma and a Scholarship for a Masters Degree in Architecture from The Mackintosh School of Architecture of the University of Glasgow in Scotland 2000-2003. Specialized in Lighting through an M. Science in Light and Lighting from the University of London UCL, The Bartlett School of Architecture 2003-2004. Returning to Greece in 2005 started working as an Architect, Lighting De- signer and writing articles for the Technical Magazine Ktirio. 2005 – 2nd prize for the Architectural Thesis Project “Kid Size” by the Technical Chamber of Greece 2006 ¬– Awarded Young Lighting Designer of the Year 2006 from the Society of Light and Lighting of the Char- tered Institute of Building Services Engineers, in London, U.K. for the lighting of the Facade of the Cathedral of Patra. 2008 - Joined the architectural team 406architects.com and together have won the first price for the redevelop- ment of the Central Square of Kozani in Greece 2011 – 1st prize at the national architectural competition for the redevelopment of the central square of the city of Kozani – awarded to 406 architects 2017 – 1st prize in the “Urban Landscape Lighting Catego- ry” in the International Competition organized by the Lamp Lighting Solution Awards in the Urban Lighting Category 2017 – Darc Awards, Shortlisted, Spaces – High Budget – Nikis Square Greece The Lighting Design Scheme for the new square emphasizing the dynamic movement and serene transition between spaces Arthur Erickson: “It is with light that we can bring soul and spirit back into architecture and perhaps find our soul in the process” AULA CD INTERIOR LIGHTING FOR SENIOR CITIZENS WITH DEMENTIA Society’s demography is changing and the number of el- derly people is inexorably growing. This means that, in the future, more and more people will need care in specialized centers. The challenge becomes meeting the needs of all