ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Architecture of the night

Dear little friend, architecture of the night is all about how cities and buildings look and work during the nighttime. At night, everything changes – we can see things better in the dark, and the lights that cities have make beautiful shadows and reflections.

But there's a lot more to it than that! Architects and designers have to think about things like safety, energy efficiency, and creating spaces that are comfortable and attractive for people to use at night. They use different types of lighting and materials to create different moods and atmospheres. They also have to think about how people move through cities at night, and how to make sure that they can do so safely.

One example of thinking about safety is making sure buildings have well-lit entrances and exits, so people can see where they're going and feel safe walking around. Energy efficiency is important too – using energy-efficient light bulbs, for example, saves energy and money while still giving off enough light.

Overall, the architecture of the night is all about designing spaces that are beautiful, functional, and safe to use during the hours when the sun isn't shining.