page_title: Pavement light
hierarchical_section_title: Pavement light
caption_attribution_description: English: Hyatt patent basement extension vault lights
context_page_description: Pavement lights, vault lights, floor lights, or sidewalk prisms are flat-topped walk-on skylights, usually set into pavement or floors to let sunlight into the space below. They often use anidolic lighting prisms to throw the light sideways under the building. They were developed in the 19th century, but declined in popularity with the advent of cheap electric lighting. Older cities and smaller centers around the world have or have had pavement lights. Most such lights are approximately a century old, although lights are being installed in some new construction.
context_section_description: Pavement lights (UK), vault lights (US), floor lights, or sidewalk prisms are flat-topped walk-on skylights, usually set into pavement (sidewalks) or floors to let sunlight into the space below. They often use anidolic lighting prisms to throw the light sideways under the building. They were developed in the 19th century, but declined in popularity with the advent of cheap electric lighting. Older cities and smaller centers around the world have or have had pavement lights. Most such lights are approximately a century old, although lights are being installed in some new construction.
caption: A sidewalk vault daylit through vault lights