Interior lighting: floor up or ceiling down?

I have taught Lighting at many different colleges all over the UK, mostly at degree level, on courses studying interior architecture, interior design and 3-D design. During that time I have honed eight simple rules that I ask students to follow in order to create a design-led lighting environment for their projects.

Daylight – More windows or fewer?

Consider how the space will look in natural light at different times of the day and year, whether there will be a need to control the daylight with blinds or other mechanisms, and how the varying brightness and colours of daylight will affect the space.

Brand/design concept

What is the theme, the look and feel you are aiming for? How can light be used to enhance that? Which lighting/architectural technique or which colour of light is most appropriate?

Function

Start the plan with light in the right place so that the space can function effectively – this could be as simple as allowing for task lighting for a desk or as complicated as designing an entire artist’s studio with variable light according to the latitude and longitude of their galleries – then build up layers from there to create a more complete space.

Layers

Use more than one technique so that a lit picture can emerge that can be changed at different times of the day to make the space feel different according to personal preference or practical needs

Balance brightness; control glare

For much of the time the natural world looks right even though there are many different levels of brightness. For this technique to work with artificial light it is essential ensure that the brightness does not cause glare. This is effectively worked through using a 3D model and lighting design software such as AGI32.

Overlay the ceiling and floor plans

It seems obvious, but it is easy to get carried away with a ceiling design theme without considering how it relates to the floor plan beneath. So overlay the two or build it in 3D.

Detail, detail, detail

If the estate agent’s mantra is location, location, location, then the interior lighting designer’s should be to ensure that the details work. Check the size of the product, how it is fixed, how it can be integrated with the structure, and how it can be maintained – whether it is a set of illuminated shelves or a backlit ceiling – all require impeccable detailing.

Control

Natural light varies enormously from time of day to time of year – to make us human beings feel more comfortable, artificial light should be able to vary too. Controls – whether linked to a group of switches or dimmers or a state of the art remote control device – are an essential tool in achieving this.

Light is an inexpensive finish

In comparison to other finishes, altering the lighting effects are usually the most cost-effective way to make a space feel different. So do not overlight. Have an eye on the final lit ‘picture’.

 

 

Lighting for retail

Retail lighting has to accomplish a great deal but its chief function should be increase profitability. A well-designed retail lighting scheme is built around the brand, the market, the site, the product and – crucially – the customer. As bricks and mortar retailers look for better ways to bring buyers in-store, lighting’s role in creating an atmosphere and enabling customers to make choices has come to the fore.

Retail environments provide the lighting designer with a variety of challenges. They include balancing general lighting with the need to focus attention on specific items or areas, and creating sparkle and excitement but avoiding glare. From changing room to cash desk, a well-designed scheme will change browsers to buyers, bring customers back and also cut costs by using energy efficiently.

 

Design-led exterior lighting

Exterior lighting has a number of functions. It enables us to move from A to B at night. It can also be used to enhance architecture, to make public places safer and more attractive, improve way-finding and to provide task lighting. This does not mean that more lighting is better lighting. Allowing for some shadow and variation of light levels is an important part of creating an holistic night time experience. And a  balanced lighting scheme will also avoid invasive light spill and other forms of light pollution.

 

Developing exterior lighting usually flows through several stages:-

 

Understanding the project, concept and client brief

The reasons why exterior lighting is being enhanced or instigated often provides a framework for developing ideas. Sometimes the need is purely commercial, such as adding signage and feature lighting to make a building more noticeable; sometimes the priority is to enhance a work of art – or a building/space that is perceived as a work of art.

Understanding the site

It is essential to understand the existing conditions and limitations of a site in order  co-ordinate exterior lighting with buildings and hard and soft infrastructure. This usually involves a site survey and access to any “as installed” information. In the case of listed or prominent buildings, planning applications may be necessary and for this it is vital to understand how to comply with the relevant guidelines.

Developing ideas

A master plan is created, taking into account the client’s brief, product/business brand and site conditions.

The plan will include techniques for the following:

Ease of way-finding–vehicular and pedestrian – putting the right amount of glare-free light in the right place.

Minimising light pollution – considering the environmental impact on existing wildlife and surrounding built environment.

Emphasis on and highlighting of architecture and/or landscape features.

Signs; location and integration with exterior lighting scheme

Balancing of light in different areas.

Control – hours of operation.

Different lighting scenes according to the time of year and hours of operation of the space.

Modelling and testing out ideas

Once all these different aspects have been agreed in principle it may be necessary to prove the effects using 3D modelling or actual lighting tests.

Bringing the scheme to fruition

Finally, once the building or environment is completed we can supervise the aiming, focussing and creation of lighting scenes so that a new night time vista can emerge.