In the French Revolution nobles were hung on them. In London they were intended as a deterrent to poor behavior, but increased it. In Austin, Texas they were so bright, homeowners had to close their blinds at night. This seemingly benign addition to our streets is a fascinating source of ongoing tension. We will explore these tensions and some fascinating alternatives to lighting our cities at night.

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Jeff Schnabel is the Director for the PSU School of Architecture, a member of the Willamette Light Brigade and a co-founder of the Portland Winter Light Festival.

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Photo: Courtesy of the Artist