Although apparently aesthetic in nature, the decorative overlay lighting of the NorthConnex tunnel is designed for environmental psychology goals of enhanced attention to driving, tourism-driven identity creating a gateway to Sydney, and an exercise in joy. The event experiences along the 9 minute drive (each way) are designed to raise alertness levels in drivers preventing boredom related accidents. The intensity of experience is calibrated to raise emotional valence while containing minimal visual information – immediate legibility balancing alertness with risk of distraction.
It is extremely unusual in the world of roadway lighting convincing clients to positively draw attention to lighting on to roads is a hard sell to brave clients. Through careful stakeholder communications, roadway authorities, governments and the operators of this roadway tunnel in the end, all parties actively supported the creation of a rich, complex visual environment.
Events, located away from decision points are experienced as departures from the tunnel, into forests, or the night, under the stars. Based on psychological timing and simulation, events between 6 & 9 seconds were planned as this is long enough to become aware of the conceit of a design but not to understand how they are achieved, consistent with the tricks of stage magicians – the effect is gone before you have time to analyze it.
Drivers surge from white tunnel lighting into amber-lit roadway under a royal blue vault and seven orders of magnitude of stars – before you understand what you saw, you’re back into the normal tunnel. Was it real? You remember it’s midday outside. Knowing the gag already, the second event has stars stretched like speed lines: “Warp speed Mr Sulu” – you’re in on the joke now!
Southbound, forest motifs give a sense of the Hills District above, trees stretching in a solid canopy overhead. The lit “sky” is a narrow band of white graphic, inferring the canopy. Royal blue LED light is at the edge of the eye’s focal response, blurring the sense of depth and infinity.
Graphics are intentionally simplified minimizing distraction. Starscapes are based on real star-maps avoiding pattern interpretation by brains seeking order.
Stars range through seven orders of magnitude of luminance, mixing LEDs and passive retro-reflectors for visual richness and quantity with reduced maintenance and energy consumption.
Swoops of native flocking birds pour in the entrances. Silhouettes are mirrors, reflecting sky – indistinguishable from apertures in walls, but changing in brightness and color with time and seasons – salmon at sunset, black silhouettes at night.
Active testing over the coming years will be used to confirm if tunnel safety and accident rates are improved by these active measures.
The design addresses numerous brief elements, some of which were original, and others were identified by the lighting designer as value-adds. These include:
1. Active enhanced safety through surprise.
2. An arrival brand for Sydney.
3. Low cost of energy and ownership due to passive technologies (mirrors/retroreflectors), limited illuminated surfaces.
4. Placemaking for urban design.
5. Improved public perception of the toll road – creating “love” for the road/operator.
6. Answering the eternal question “Are we there yet?” Not until you see the stars.
