A Way of Light
It’s finally March! For those of us living in the Northeast this is a big deal. The beginning of spring, warming temperatures, and longer days. The psychological effects of more sunlight are almost immediate- we find ourselves spending more time outdoors, and daydreaming about our summer vacations that are now only months away. We could spend countless hours discussing the biological and psychological effects of light, because there certainly are many.
So, if light has such a great impact on how we live our lives, how does it affect how we experience a space? Think about the last time you ate at a restaurant, or walked into a retail store, how did those spaces make you feel?
Harrods Dining Hall, London
In the commercial design industry, lighting is an incredibly important and integral part of what we do. It can be overlooked or an afterthought, when it should be at the forefront of every design process. The lighting layout should work together with the rest of the design with thoughtful intention.
In a successful lighting scheme there are several layers. Ambient light is a term used to address the general lighting in a space. As occupants, we need general light to navigate around safely. Accent lighting is used to highlight different features, such as artwork, building elements, and wall textures. And finally, task lighting is used to illuminate specific areas that require more focus.
The Collector by Framework.
Lighting technologies have come a long way and have vastly expanded the options available to consumers. LED’s have become the standard, as they are energy efficient, last longer, and now come with a wide range of color temperatures, light output (lumens), and candlepower.
What is color temperature you may wonder? One would think choosing a white light would be simple, but not all are the same. White light from a luminaire is generally classified into three tones- cool, neutral, and warm. These temperatures are measured in units called Kelvin (K). The higher the number, the cooler the light.
As designers, these concepts are exceptionally important to understand because it directly impacts the decisions we make. Light plays a critical role on how the human eye perceives color, and various types of light render the color of objects differently. For example, a deep purple fabric will show its true color in daylight. But take that same fabric on an upholstered chair in a moody restaurant bar with low, warm light, and it will appear to look more brown.
When working with our commercial clients, we need a good understanding of what products they are selling. Light can be used to bring attention to certain products, and create a hierarchy in the space if that is the desired customer experience.
Harvey Nichols, Retail Concept
In a restaurant, lighting can be used in a multitude of ways to set the mood, highlight seating areas, and most importantly accentuate the hues and textures of the food and drinks. Color temperature and lighting flexibility are especially important. Any imbalance will be noticed and affect the guest’s experience, whether they are aware of it or not.
Sanya Edition, China.
Lighting design is undoubtedly a science and an art. Designers spend years studying techniques and understanding the many properties of light. Technologies are ever-evolving, allowing us to be more creative and do truly amazing things with light and space.
Keep an eye out for our upcoming projects, and how we use a way of light to bring our designs to life!