Going Dark No. 4

1 — 3 October 2026
Abbadia Isola
Monteriggioni SI, Italy

Going Dark No. 4

GOING DARK is an international workshop, created by Traverso-Vighy and Light Collective in the heart of Tuscany.

Join us for the fourth GOING DARK, in October 2026 for the next edition of a unique workshop that specifically considers lighting design for heritage spaces that also preserve darkness and the view of the night sky.

We aim to promote responsible lighting practices, and discuss the use of appropriate lighting equipment that reduces unnecessary external illumination and minimise the negative impact of light on human health and the natural environment in line with the ROLAN Manifesto.

Reasons to participate in our Living Lab:

  • A unique experience in the unpolluted night sky of Tuscany
  • Educational session
  • Participants will have the opportunity to explore the historical area, discover the night sky and explore how to design for this environment
  • Understand the problems inherent in heritage lighting by reviewing the existing lighting and leading case studies
  • Practical and hands-on playing with light and luminaires — learn about glare control, proper optics, appropriate colour temperature, dimming and control
  • Opportunity to see the stars with local astronomy group
  • Expand your lighting portfolio and produce a conceptual approach to a specific site with your team to demonstrate exemplar lighting
There are moments in our professional lives when we step outside the familiar hum of emails, drawings and computer screens and remember why we fell in love with our craft in the first place. My time at the Going Dark workshop in the heart of Tuscany, nestled between the medieval castle town of Monteriggioni and the monastery village of Abbadia a Isola, was one of those rare, transformative experiences that reminded me what it truly means to work with light, landscape, and darkness.

Read “Stars, chats and light play: Going Dark 2025”
— Julieta Cignacco, Arup

The ‘Going Dark’ workshop is a one-of-a-kind experience in an exceptional setting. It allowed me to (re)think my professional practice as a lighting designer by experimenting with the true thresholds needed for low-intensity lighting. A highly recommended experience.

Read “Mon premier workshop”
— Jean Yves Soetinck, L’ACTE LUMIERE

Click on thumbnails to view photos. View more in the 2025, 2024 & 2023 galleries.

Step away from the office and
spend time in a dark and heritage environment
to help us create design guidance for
best lighting practice for this application.