The AICCI Pikisaari bollards are built on a modular system. The light directed onto the pathway is soft, DMX‑controlled 1800K amber and 2700K warm white light. This allows seamless adjustment of the pathway lighting within a colour temperature range of 1800–2700 Kelvin.

The bollards are equipped with DALI‑2 motion and daylight sensors for adaptive lighting control, as well as daisy‑chain installation, allowing power and data to be efficiently transferred from one bollard to the next.

Designed for long‑term use, the bollards feature a modular construction that allows all key components to be easily accessed, opened, and maintained. This ensures high serviceability, future upgradability, and a significantly extended product lifetime.

Art of Darkness project explores the cultural, aesthetic, and ecological values of darkness and develops urban design practices based on these insights. Through collaboration between cities, research institutions, and creative professionals, the project pilots new urban lighting solutions in five European countries.  The Art of Darkness path in Pikisaari, Oulu, is one of these pilots and forms part of the European Capital of Culture Oulu2026 programme.

The bollard trail forms part of pathway in Pikisaari, an island located close to the centre of Oulu, where a multilayered cultural environment meets rich urban nature. This unique setting defines the lighting approach: the aim is not to eliminate darkness, but to complement it gently and with respect for the place.

AICCI’s role in the Pikisaari path project is to design and manufacture the permanently installed pathway bollards. The design seeks to offer residents and visitors of Pikisaari and Oulu a safe and inviting opportunity to experience the island’s darkness — shaped by coastal nature, the estuary, layers of industrial history, views across the water toward contemporary industrial Oulu, and light art along the route.

The development plan draws on the expertise of Associate Professor Henrika Pihlajaniemi and her research group at the University of Oulu, alongside the participation of local stakeholders and co‑design networks. AICCI’s project partners include the City of Oulu, the University of Oulu, and the Finnish Light Art Association FLASH.

While the Pikisaari bollards are developed in direct response to the site‑specific conditions of this urban environment, their design is grounded in principles applicable beyond a single location. From the perspective of context‑driven urban design, the same solution — or a carefully customised variation — can be integrated into other sites where spatial character, cultural layers, and environmental sensitivity call for restrained, context‑sensitive lighting. This makes the concept especially relevant for urban environments guided by dark‑sky principles, heritage‑aware planning, and nature‑conscious design.

The Pikisaari bollards will be commissioned and the pathway lighting completed in autumn 2026. In November 2026, the Finnish Light Art Association FLASH. will organise the first light art event along the Art of Darkness path.