Lights in Architecture

How does LIGHT play its rolein form and space?....

"Architecture is the masterly, correct, and magnificent play of masses brought together in light. Our eyes are made to see forms in light; light and shade reveal these forms.“

~ Le Corbusier

Form is perceived differently depending on the light conditions within which the building is viewed.

Light is a necessity for sight and, in architecture, a utility. But light is also a powerful vehicle of expression.

Light moves, changes character, and comes and goes with its source, light has the power to give the inert mass of architecture a living quality of nature.

Designers and architects channels light through openings to spaces and holds it on the surfaces of his masses by changes of plane, making it enliven the forms by contrast with shadow.

Lights in ArchitecturePatterns of light and dark affect bothour perceptions of the world and ouremotional and physiologicalresponses, and thus they are essentialin gathering information about thephysical world.Good-quality lighting can support visualperformance and interpersonalcommunication and improve our feelings ofwell-being.Poor-quality lighting can be uncomfortableand confusing and can inhibit visualperformance.

The overall purpose of lighting is toserve the needs of people.The role of the lighting designer is tomatch and rank the needs of thepeople using the space with theeconomic and environmentalconsiderations and the architecturalobjectives, and then to translate theresults into a workable design andfunctional installation

Light plays a central role in the design of a visual environment.• The architecture, people and objects are all made visible by thelighting.• Light influences our well-being, the aesthetic effect and the mood ofa room or area.• It is light that first enables “what you see”.Our perception of architecture will be influenced by light:– Light defines zones and boundaries,– Light expands and accentuates rooms,– Light creates links and delineates one area from another,

– Light create impressions of a space

Designing with Light

Planning and ProcessThe basis for every lighting concept isan analysis of the project…– the tasks the lighting is expectedto fulfill,– the conditions and special featuresof a space or work surface.

A quantitative design concept can toa large extent follow the standards laiddown for a specific task.– standards will dictate how muchlight is needed,– the degree of glare limitation,– the source color and colorrendering.• When it comes to qualitativeplanning, it is necessary to gain asmuch information as possible aboutthe environment to be illuminated, howit is used, who will use it and the style of the architecture.

Light Patterns in Architecture… for clarity

Light Patterns in Architecture… for form

Light Patterns in Architecture… for form

Light Patterns in Architecture… for form

Light Patterns in Architecture… for function

vennesla library and cultural center

Light Patterns in Architecture… for function

Light Patterns in Architecture… for function

Forming Functional Zones

Large areas that on thewhole are evenlyilluminated can appearrather monotone if theyare not divided up.

room illuminated evenly

Types of Lighting

Types of Lighting

Types of Lighting

Types of Lighting

Forming Functional Zones - Exterior

Defining Spatial Borders - Horizontal

Defining Spatial Borders - Horizontal

Floor illuminationemphasizes objects andpedestrian surfaces.

floor lit with downlight fixtures – light walls

Defining Spatial Borders - Horizontal

Floor illuminationemphasizes objects andpedestrian surfaces.

floor lit with downlight fixtures – dark walls

Defining Spatial Borders - Horizontal

Indirect lighting of a ceilingcreates diffuse light in theroom with the lightingeffect being influenced bythe reflectance and colorof its surface.

ceiling uniformly lit with uplight wall fixtures –light walls

Defining Spatial Borders - Horizontal

Indirect lighting of a ceilingcreates diffuse light in theroom with the lightingeffect being influenced bythe reflectance and colorof its surface.

Defining Spatial Borders - Vertical

Vertical spatial borders are emphasizedby illuminating wall surfaces.• Uniform light distribution emphasizes thewall as a whole.• Bright walls create a high level of diffuselight in the room.• Vertical illumination is used to shape thevisual environment.• Room surfaces can be differentiatedusing different levels of illuminance toindicate their importance.• Uniform illumination of the surfacesemphasizes them as an architecturalfeature.

walls uniformly lit with wall fixtures

Vertical spatial borders are emphasizedby illuminating wall surfaces.• Uniform light distribution emphasizes thewall as a whole.• Bright walls create a high level of diffuselight in the room.• Vertical illumination is used to shape thevisual environment.• Room surfaces can be differentiatedusing different levels of illuminance toindicate their importance.• Uniform illumination of the surfacesemphasizes them as an architecturalfeature.

Defining Spatial Borders - Vertical

Defining Spatial Borders - Vertical

Grazing light gives the wall structure byadding patterns of light.• A decreasing level of brightness across awall is not as effective as uniform wallwashing at defining room surfaces.• Lighting effects using grazing lightemphasis the surface textures andbecome the dominant feature.

Emphasizing Architectural Features

The illumination of architectural detailsdraws attention away from the room asa whole towards individualcomponents.• Columns appear as silhouettes in frontof an illuminated wall.

walls lit with grazing fixtures

Emphasizing Architectural Features

Rooms can be given a visual structureby illuminating the architecturalfeatures.• Narrow-beam downlights emphasizingthe form of the columns.

columns lit with grazing fixtures

Emphasizing Architectural Features

Grazing light accentuates individualelements or areas and brings out theirform and surface texture.• Grazing light can cause highly threedimensionalfeatures to cast strongshadows.• By using different levels of illuminance,different parts of a room can be placedin a visual hierarchy.

Emphasizing Architectural Features

Grazing light accentuates individualelements or areas and brings out theirform and surface texture.• Grazing light can cause highly threedimensionalfeatures to cast strongshadows.• By using different levels of illuminance,different parts of a room can be placedin a visual hierarchy

Visual Clarity

For Ando, the Church of Light is an architecture of duality – the dual nature of [co]existence – solid/void, light/dark, stark/serene. The coexisting differences leave the church void of any, and all, ornament creating a pure, unadorned space. The intersection of light and solid raises the occupants awareness of the spiritual and secular within themselves.The cross on the east façade allows for light throughout the early morning and into the day, which has a dematerializing effect on the interior concrete walls transforming the dark volume into an illuminated box.

The zinc-coated aluminum strips forming a continuous plane curling itself all around the building mass,” according to the architects. Inside, the three-storey structure is flooded with

natural light via the expansive window, and glass partitions inside let the light freely flow from one area to the next. Rene van Zuuk.

Lighting without windows: The Pantheon in the 18th century, painted by Giovanni Paolo Panini.[14]

Walt Disney Concert Hall. Los Angeles, CA, USA

Chapel, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, by Euro Saarinen Associates, 1955

Impression of Spaciousness – the room appears larger or smaller

Impression of Pleasantness – the room appears friendly of sociable

Impression of Perceptual Clarity – the room appears public or private

Visual Clarity

Emotional Impact

Emotional Impact

Lighting Fixtures• decorative lights

• ceiling/wall mount

• suspended fixtures

• track lighting

• recessed lighting

• portable

• uplights

• downlights

• cove lights

Light Source• Fluorescent-High efficiency fluorescent, compact fluorescent

• Incandescent

• High Intensity Discharge Lamps-Metal Halide

• Fibre Optic

• LED (light emitting diode)

• Strip Lights-Neon light

Lighting Control•Lighting control components are electronic and electromagnetic dimmers, ballasts and transformers. Lighting control systems, including those for stage and entertainment, architectural applications, energy management and building control.

• On/Off switching

• Dimmer

• Sensor