Specifying the right lighting products in any architectural project is crucial. Not only does artificial light ensure 24/7 functionality, safety and security, it can influence our perception of space, emphasise aspects of a building’s form and the texture of construction materials, and maximise visual interest. And this extends beyond offices and homes to outdoor spaces – private gardens, public parks, squares, thoroughfares and everywhere in between.
No-one who has tried to concentrate in the flickering light of a faulty fluorescent tube will need to see the mountain of research that shows how important lighting is to the wellbeing and productivity of office workers. But digging into the detail of these findings reveals two simple considerations for designing workplace lighting: focused task lighting needs to be tailored to the job at hand; and general lighting should provide consistent ambience with minimal shadow and glare.
Common options for focused task lighting include track lighting, table lighting, desk lamps and light fittings integrated into the underside of shelving. The objective here is to provide illumination that is discreet and flexible, so that the worker can control the intensity and spread of light, and turn it off completely when it’s not required.
Ambient light can come from many different sources and, especially when natural light isn’t available, the aim is to create diffuse, even light. Downlights can perform a similar function to those old fluorescent tubes, but give greater control over the strength and warmth of the illumination, both through the wide range of lamps available and the addition of dimmable switching. This can be complemented by reflected light from surface-mounted wall lighting and wall washers, as well as new innovations like LED panels and virtual windows, which reduce the glare associated with sources of direct light.
Because of the larger scale of office fitouts, energy-efficient lighting solutions are very important. At the level of individual light fixtures, LED luminaires can use around 75% less energy than incandescent lighting and last for up to 20 years. (This technology even extends to LED projectors, providing presentation functionality with the same energy-efficiency.)
At the project-wide level, intelligent lighting control systems turn lights on automatically when they’re needed, and off when they’re not. These lighting systems comprise a network of motion sensors and light sensors, timeclocks, switches, touchscreens and other devices, and can be integrated with HVAC, alarm and other building systems. They are often referred to under the umbrella term of “smart lighting”. When you consider their environmental and cost benefits, it’s easy to see why.
Contemporary residential architecture in Australia is characterised by open-plan living spaces and strong connections between indoors and outdoors. This has delivered houses and apartments with much greater access to daylight and opportunities for a more nuanced approach to using artificial light.
Where previously a chandelier might only be seen in the centre of a room, sculptural pendant lights are now not only decorative features but are used, in concert with table and chairs, to define the dining zone within a multipurpose interior volume. LED downlights provide unobtrusive energy-saving lighting for lounge areas, while LED strip lighting or other under-cabinet lighting in kitchens and bathrooms similarly emphasise the lighting effect over the light fitting itself. A blank wall might be transformed into a feature wall with simple accent lighting – plasterboard illuminated with a coloured wall washer, concealed uplighting or other floor lighting highlighting the rough texture of raw brick, or a ceiling-mounted spotlight directed onto an artwork.
Technology is changing the way we control light in our homes too, through home automation, wireless light-switching systems and other digital lighting accessories. There are even smartphone apps that let you switch lights on or off, no matter whether you’re worrying about home security while on an overseas holiday, or just forgot to flick the switch in the bathroom before you walked out into the backyard. Speaking of backyards…
Exterior lighting can have a truly magical effect. Concealed garden lighting can illuminate leaves and branches, creating dynamic interplay between shadow and highlights, and surprising flashes of colour. Lighting can also be used to emphasise aspects of a building or garden’s form, such as in-ground lighting illuminating a retaining wall or spotlights picking out trees, plants or sculptures.
Light fixtures can also be integrated into hard landscaping as sculptural features in their own right, in the form of lighting poles, post-top lighting, LED bollards and more. And as our cities, and the ways we move through them, have changed, demand has increased for purpose-designed landscape lighting, such as footpath and bike-path lighting, giving architects and landscape architects ever more options.
Lighting in public spaces also plays an important role in maintaining safety, reducing the risk of accidents and antisocial activity, and extending the habitable hours of squares and parks. Products specified for these environments must be highly durable – weatherproof lighting is a must, and it should also be resistant to vandalism and other damage.
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