Going Dark Edition 2023

The first Going Dark took place during 2 – 3 November 2023 and started with a meet-up inside the Castle of Monteriggioni. We began with a passeggiata along the Via Francigena ending at the monastery of Abbadia. This well preserved medieval village was the central point of all the workshop activities of the workshop.

The workshop was made possible by a collaboration with the local commune, l’osservatorio astronomico dell’Università di Siena, the Tuscany Environment Foundation and also with sponsorship by Manfrotto, IGuzzini and City Green Light.

The first day included experimental, practical and educational activities that covered the topics of astronomy, night time lighting, the flora and fauna of Tuscany, the local architecture and night sky photography.

Participants also got to experience two architectural lighting installations set upas laboratories for discussion on luminance and colour temperatures in relation to the night sky and the Tuscan landscape.

The second day allowed participants to consider conceptual lighting approaches for the villageof Abbadia Isola taking into account the medieval architecture and protection of the sky above it.

The event finished with a small conference in Italian to share the process and results of the workshop with the local commune.