Adequate lighting constitutes a crucial night-time requirement for people. However, public space lighting in informal settlements tends to be characterised by fragmentation, which means an inconsistent distribution of light due to missing luminaires or due to luminaires provided by the authorities that fail to adapt to the informal context. Such fragmentation can be regarded as one element that contributes to socio-spatial inequality.

The aim of this research is to contribute to a reduction of socio-spatial inequality in contemporary urban environments by developing a luminaire based on state-of-the-art lighting technology that considers the special lighting application requirements of the informal urban fabric in cities of the Global South, as well as the social structure of the residents living within it. In doing so, it is believed that informal settlement communities provide clues to their own improvement and that the cultural adaptations and survival strategies found there can guide future interventions. Furthermore, the aim is to define the content of a policy required for the implementation of such lighting technology.

The local focus is on informal settlements in the Colombian capital Bogotá.