On the boulevard there is a sports beach where visitors can exercise on their own or join organized lessons. To encourage more physical activity in the evening, extra lighting was needed. In 2021, The Wave was installed. It is an innovative smart structure with lights and sensors that encourage people to be more active.
What started as a simple request for lighting at the Scheveningen Sports Beach grew into a special project: a smart light column, 3D printed from beach sand, that responds to athletes through hundreds of small lights.
The Wave shows how a digital solution can encourage people to be active while also creating a sense of safety. The boulevard is a place where many people come to relax, and it should offer a positive experience, even after dark. That is what The Wave is about: it invites visitors to move and helps them feel comfortable in its presence.
The Wave is an interactive light installation that responds to movement and gently illuminates its surroundings. This makes the sports area more inviting and keeps the boulevard welcoming without causing excessive light pollution.
The installation consists of 200 moving light points, four powerful ambient lamps, and 64 coloured lights. The column is 3D printed from beach sand and is fully recyclable, allowing the material to eventually return to the beach.
Interactive play and exercise installations can positively influence the living environment. Lighting in public spaces also contributes to a sense of safety. With The Wave, the municipality explored how these effects can come together on the boulevard.The results show that such an installation encourages movement, makes the area more attractive, and helps visitors feel more comfortable. Similar solutions could also be used in other parts of the city, such as playgrounds or public squares, to further improve the quality of the living environment.
This use case was developed in collaboration with Hola Studio, the Municipality of The Hague, and Scheveningen Beach Management. Together, they created an interactive light installation that encourages people to move and be active.
The contact person for this use case is Suzanne Kalf (suzanne.kalf@denhaag.nl). Or send a general inquiry to Living Lab Scheveningen at smartthehague@denhaag.nl