Dynamic adjustments of Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) in urban waterfront night lighting: effects on subjective aesthetic preferences

Abstract

As urbanization accelerates, urban waterfront nightscape lighting is essential for shaping a city's image and improving residents' well-being. However, the impact of dynamic color temperature changes on residents’ aesthetic preferences in urban nightscape lighting remains underexplored. This study utilizes the Unity platform to simulate the waterfront nightscape of Xuanwu Lake in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, aiming to investigate the influence of dynamic lighting parameters—including Initial Correlated Color Temperature (CCT), CCT Gradient, Number of CCT Levels, and Frequency of Dynamic Effects—on residents’ subjective aesthetic preferences. Additionally, demographic factors such as age, region, and education level are analyzed. A total of 42 participants evaluated 135 waterfront nightscape lighting scenarios based on three dimensions: Overall Aesthetic Perception, Perceived Comfort of Speed, and Range of Color Perception.The results indicate that: (1) Initial CCT and CCT Gradient significantly affect Overall Aesthetic Perception, Perceived Comfort of Speed, and Range of Color Perception (p < 0.05). The highest rating for Overall Aesthetic Perception (M = 4.15) was observed when the Initial CCT was 3000K and the CCT Gradient was 1000K. (2) When the Initial CCT was 3000K, Perceived Comfort of Speed was rated highest (M = 4.16). Younger participants (aged 18–24) were more sensitive to changes in Frequency of Dynamic Effects, with excessively high frequencies leading to decreased comfort. (3) Initial CCT, Number of CCT Levels, and CCT Gradient significantly influenced Range of Color Perception (p < 0.001, p < 0.05, p < 0.05). A lower Initial CCT expanded the Range of Color Perception, with the highest value (M = 4.56) observed at an Initial CCT of 1000K. The Range of Color Perception was maximized when the Number of CCT Levels was 3 (M = 3.44) and when the CCT Gradient was 3000K (M = 3.45). (4) The 25–39 age group and residents from southern regions exhibited significantly stronger aesthetic preferences for dynamic lighting (p < 0.001). Gender had no significant effect on Overall Aesthetic Perception (p > 0.05). This study provides theoretical foundations and practical guidance for urban waterfront nightscape lighting design. We recommend that core waterfront buildings adopt an Initial CCT of 3000K, a CCT Gradient of 1000K, and a Frequency of Dynamic Effects of 2 seconds to accommodate diverse demographic preferences.

Keywords: Correlated Color Temperature (CCT), Dynamic Lighting, Lighting design, Urban Waterfront Nightscape

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1006781