Abstract

In this chapter, we will explore the phenomenon of playful and playable lighting in smart cities. We will describe and discuss participant experiences of playful and playable lighting based on the design and evaluation processes of four case studies. These studies, we argue, provide aspects of participation, communication and self-expression; experiences of the sense of place, meanings and beauty; and activities of play and physical exercise. We will look at these case studies, and the aspects of playfulness and playability, through the lens of both smart city literature and relevant theories, and the practical experiences from the processes, examining also the afterlife of the case studies. We reflect on the presented case studies and their experiential aspects, asking: How can playful and playable lighting be made viable in a city? Finally, we conclude by presenting a design framework which consolidates aspects that, we argue, should be acknowledged, considered and addressed in the design and decision-making processes of smart cities, neighbourhoods and urban places in order to create playful experiences of playable urban lighting in a viable way.