Weather adapting outdoor lighting. Establishing sustainable model for hotels in Zagori, Greece

Sammanfattning

This research investigates how adaptive outdoor lighting in Papigo, Zagori can balance visibility, hospitality functions, dark sky preservation, and UNESCO heritage protection under clear sky, fog, and full moon conditions. The study focuses on a hospitality case study located within a sensitive heritage and Natura 2000 landscape characterized by low ambient light levels and ecological sensitivity. The methodology combines site analysis, environmental assessment, the Visit Potential Model (VPM), Lynch’s theory of cognitive mapping, and an adaptive logic framework based on Obligations, Permissions, and Prohibitions (O/P/F). These methods identify spatial hierarchy, occupancy patterns, and environmental constraints in order to determine where, when, and why lighting should operate within the site. The findings demonstrate that effective nighttime visibility does not necessarily depend on higher brightness levels, but on selective illumination, spatial hierarchy, and controlled light distribution. Fog conditions and occupancy reduction produced the most meaningful adaptive responses, showing that reducing unnecessary illumination can improve both environmental performance and nighttime readability. Overall, the research proposes a transferable adaptive lighting methodology that supports hospitality functions while preserving the nocturnal and environmental identity of sensitive heritage landscapes.