Nightscapes of the American Periphery

Contemporary Landscapes: From Detroit to Los Angeles, the Nightscapes of the American Periphery

The project examines the nocturnal landscapes of peripheral areas in American cities, exploring their diversity and similarities against the backdrop of an economic crisis. Through the study of lighting strategies in suburbs shaped by American urban sprawl, the project highlights the need to reinvest in these territories and their role as spaces of communication. At a time when the United States is being described as a “suburban nation,” the project demonstrates why the nighttime landscapes of these continually expanding peri-urban areas offer a particularly rich field of study. Reinvesting in the city can no longer be limited to traditional public spaces; it must extend to contemporary urban forms and explore the potential for renewing the ways in which these spaces are used.

Between commercial excess and neglected spaces, what can these nighttime landscapes reveal? What boundaries of the city do they define? Can they play a role in how these places are appropriated and inhabited?

Biennial grant for young architects. Jury chaired by architect Claude Parent, member of the Institut de France.