From cozy crafted luminaires to visually luminous light installations, today’s lighting is even brighter, innovative, and surprisingly artistic than ever before.
LED lights used to be the newest lighting a decade ago, but thanks to its sensible features, energy-efficient lighting has become the standard of lighting. Today, novel lighting designs have gone beyond sustainability, and just like fresh from a science-fiction movie, these awe-inspiring designs are prepared to cater to the needs of their future generations of users.
When we think of artificial lights, these can be simply dismissed as nothing more than devices that help us see in the dark, but in 2001, a discovery has been made by G.C Brainard concerning the effects of light on the human body. The study shows that the quality of light affects our biological clock, smartly termed as a circadian rhythm. Lights help regulate our melatonin and cortisone levels, and these are important in our physical and mental wellbeing.
With Biodynamic Lighting, we can now fine-tune the quality and amount of light being used in a particular setting. The linchpin of this device is primarily the ability to mimic natural light. Our eyes have receptors intended for detecting blue. The light quality shifts throughout the day, you can imagine the color spectrum starting from ultraviolet, then it gradually moves towards the reddish portion as the day goes. In fact, ultraviolet is most detectable at dawn.
Ideally, by the time the sun sets, our bodies should be ready for bed. Your typical artificial light does not adjust but rather it supplies a constant color temperature. But thanks to biodynamic lighting, the sun, and all its glory can be simulated indoors.
Personalized lighting is a rising trend among homeowners, and there are many means to obtain this new style of lighting. Anyone equipped with a 3D printer and the knowledge to operate such a device can easily print out a custom design that will allow them to light up their homes in a decorative manner.
Fortunately, there are also dedicated services online that allow users to upload their 3D models, and the service will print the model. The beauty of using such services is that the models are printed by qualified staff and that they have the proper equipment for the job. On the side of the client, there is no need to fumble around with 3D printer settings to get the right result. Since these are electronic devices, there’s no need to mess with the electronics. This is very useful for people who don’t know anything about electronics or don’t want to mess around with high voltage.
Finally, this concept allows for the use of decorative luminaries, from something modern to something more sophisticated. The design allows for a more expressive approach when it comes to lighting up the home of place of work.
With improvements in the manufacturing process and the availability of advanced equipment, impossible designs can now be created. Even with intricate designs such as feather-like luminaires that almost floats seamlessly through the air are now popular centerpieces in many luxury establishments.
The main gist of this is an artistic expression. Since lights are placed at the center of a room or location, it makes sense for it to double as a decorative piece meant to evoke a certain theme or message or idea for friends and family to talk about during social gatherings.
WIFI is becoming ubiquitous in homes and commercial settings that the simple LED bulb eventually got baptized by wireless technology. Like any other smart device, it is expected to be capable of doing multiple tasks such as turning on appliances in the room when it detects the presence of a person entering or the ability of a user to turn the lights on and off remotely via an accompanying smartphone app.
Some smartly controlled lights are also capable of sensing the humidity of the room and make the appropriate adjustments by taking control of heating and cooling devices. In a way, it acts as an electronic butler.
Here’s something cool. Do you fancy the ability to decorate your walls with lights? Layout artistic patterns on the wall by combining hexagon-shaped lighting modules to create the designs you want. Create patterns that can serve as backgrounds for a video or photo shoot. The lights can be turned on or off by simply touching the surface. These are easy to install with almost no wiring needed for each module, as electric power is transmitted via magnetic contacts. Each piece is attached magnetically from the main body until the pattern is formed.
If you are gunning to light up your home or place of work in a stylish manner, there are now multiple ways to do it and it is guaranteed that it’s all worth every dollar spent.
Photo credit: Emerson College Student Dining Center
On the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Academy of Fine Arts, the famous Portuguese architect Alvaro Siza’s work and the Museum of International Design of China. Siza has always been famous for the fascination of building lighting, so after we get the project, the first thing we do is to understand the background and master as much as possible.
Siza’s works are simple to the extreme but full of texture, so from that time on, our focus is on how to fully respect the characteristics of the building and reject all artificial forms of interference. Focus on the linear and indirect light strips for direct lighting and the light slots for indirect lighting, as well as the intelligent control of the lighting.
Lighting, in general, has a profound effect in spaces, invoking emotions to its spectators and helping architecture and interior design achieve its true purpose.
For the external lighting of heritage buildings, illumination aims for a lasting impression from its viewers. In night illumination as well as daylight, lighting highlights the architectural aspects of the structure, exposing details through casting light and shadow. This dramatic play of lights will need a strategic lighting engineering and architectural design solutions.
Night illumination in Heritage Buildings
Outdoors require less light intensity compared to indoors, emphasizing a theatrical appeal, and less focused on task illumination.
Before designing, considerations should be kept in mind. These involve aesthetics, mood lighting, technical, economic, and conservation aspects. UNESCO guidelines and recommendations should also be put into an account.
UNESCO Guidelines and Concerns
UNESCO recommends that monuments should not be illuminated from the bottom up except for historic buildings. Lights should be intercepted by the building façade to prevent light from straying away. Use luminous flux reducers that have an automated or self-timing mechanism that can switch off automatically during the day.
Lighting intensities and mechanisms should be studied as not to disrupt biodiversity and nightscape, especially in natural and rural areas.
Other smart lighting solutions are intelligent lighting systems, adaptive lighting, wireless sensor fusion, and smart solar-powered LED lighting systems.
To achieve aesthetically-pleasing lighting, luminaires equipped with white light sources such as metal halide, compact fluorescent, or LED is recommended. These luminaires have excellent color rendering properties that allow the color to be seen naturally, setting a more comfortable visual environment. During the night our eye adapts to the sensitive blue end spectrum, which means we see better with white light sources.
At night, eye sensitivity changes to the ‘dark-adapted eye,’ which is more sensitive to the blue end of the spectrum, meaning we can see better under white light sources.
Temperature sets an ambiance and impressions, 3000K temperature level is warm and creates a softer and comfortable setting, while the 4200K has a cooler temperature level, provides a crisper atmosphere.
Keeping the running costs down is one of the major concerns of the museum and heritage sectors. Most tungsten-halogen lighting is now replaced with LED lights to save on energy and replacement costs.
With technology and its efficient performance and long life span, provide consistent lighting effects and minimal maintenance worries.
As concerns in the effects of night illumination to surrounding nature, it is recommended to use flat-glass light distributions. This eliminates direct upward lighting, a major contributor to sky glow. Minimal column heights to reduce light over spilling.
Reflection, glare, and unwanted light can also be caused by the luminaire finish, positioning, and fixing methods during the daytime. Proper planning and design are needed to provide visual comfort from viewers and the surrounding nature.
Landscape and surrounding elements can also be utilized to mitigate the negative effects of night illumination. Plant trees on the site that can screen off and block away unwanted light to the surrounding environment.
One type of pollution we don’t hear often is light pollution, which has a damaging effect on the environment, especially for migratory birds and even insects.
To minimize the damaging effect of excessive lighting, there must be a collaborative effort to switch to advanced lighting technologies that are designed for efficiency and reducing light pollution. Applying this type of technology to heritage sites allows public visibility for heritage sites in the evening by practicing proper planning on how to light up a site in such a way that it can attract visitors.
All the while, proper design, and implementation must ensure that these new lighting technologies will not have much of an impact on the site in terms of aesthetics. By only installing the necessary number of light fixtures, in the right areas, energy savings are achieved. Thankfully, such advanced luminaires exist today.
An architect’s craft is more than just creating built environments, instead, these built spaces of interaction are venues for communication and inception of new ideas. Architecture has a great impact on how its occupants live and think. At the same time, a designed space affects its surroundings and the whole community as well.
Public spaces, places of commerce, transportation, and even our humble abodes influence people in the way they live, perceive and think. Built spaces are about people and by their people.
When people are put together, they can behave in many surprising ways. When placed in a space, people will tend to communicate and collaborate just as when observing people in a crowd. While designed spaces can never fully control people, they can encourage or discourage movement and behavior. The unpredictability of human interaction makes designing social spaces the most challenging work an architect can partake.
Architecture is known as the marriage of art and science, and, arguably an embodiment of different fields in humanities and social sciences.
Beginnings
The role of built spaces as an interactive space can be seen at the very onset of human civilizations. In 2011, a review by Wil Roebroeks and Paola Villa state that fire is used in Europe around 400,000 years ago as ancient humans expanded into colder climates. For the cave dwellers, they gather around a firepit were eating, sleeping, making tools and, other daily activities take place.
Roman and Greek architecture are great examples of how architecture influences people in their interactions with society. Thermae, stoa, temples, and theaters are a few examples of communal spaces during ancient times.
Architecture and Social Interactions:
A Common Ground for the diverse building that is intended for public use can be a common ground for people with different philosophies or cultures to come together and express openly. It is a stage where people can openly express, work, and share ideas comfortably.
Public parks, for instance, are designed with the community in mind. Amenities such as picnic grounds, bike lanes, and cycling create activities that individuals and families can enjoy.
This is key to building vibrant neighborhoods and lively communities. With a community space where shops, groceries, residences, and others that bring different families together to a single communal space. A neighborhood with multiple nodes of destinations creates a layered multiplicity of experiences. This structure fosters connection and communication while creating culture from the daily routines that interplays within the community.
As architecture values human experiences, it creates spaces where social connections are created among different cultures. Museums, galleries, and monuments can provide a glimpse if not tell stories of the past for generations to see. Architecture educates us making us closer and understanding of different philosophies and cultures.
Probably the best example of how a place creates a new culture is our learning environments. Where a school houses students with different backgrounds congregate and build new social circles and networks.
Let’s not forget that architecture brings families together. Homes are designed in the context of their owners’ preferences and their ways of living. The residential building is the perfect example of how architecture can bring a balance between aesthetics and function. With a common space that both serves individual and communal needs of the family.
With the advent of technology, the concept of space may obscure as traditional social interactions through physical spaces are challenged by online and remote communication. But as social beings, our sense of belongingness and need for social connections to a personal level is still innate within us. And, there’s a sense of authenticity and deeper connection when it comes to the traditional social interaction compared to the online version.
As a conceived design can either unite or isolate us, the architecture will definitely stay as a powerful force that the society will have in the many years to come.
Selected by our esteemed jury of designers and leaders in the lighting, interior design, and architectural fields, the annual winners will receive the LIT trophy, extensive publicity showcasing their designs and products to an international audience, and more.
LIT Design Awards gives 5 winning titles per year:
Alfred R. Borden, from The Lighting Practice / Principal
Alfred Borden is a Principal and the founder of The Lighting Practice. With a background in theater lighting for a variety of theater groups, dance troupes, and rock bands, Al has more than 30 years of experience in architectural lighting design. He founded The Lighting Practice’s Philadelphia office in 1989 to create a place where like-minded designers could work in a collaborative environment dedicated to design excellence and client service.
In 2019, Alfred Borden received the “Lifetime Achievement Award” from LIT Design Awards.
Jason Wang, Asia Pacific Design Center (APDC) / Secretary-General
Mr. Jason Wang is the leading figure in the Chinese design arena who had devoted himself to the design industry as a curator up to 2009. Wang is the Secretary-General of Asia Pacific Design Center (APDC) as well as the Secretary-General of the Organizing Committee for the APDC Asia Pacific Interior Design Awards for Elite.
In 2010, Mr. Jason Wang established the Asia Pacific Design Center (APDC) in Hong Kong, China. He also initiated the Asia Pacific Interior Design Awards for Elite with the theme ‘Celebrating Creativity’, which has become one of the most important design awards in the Chinese community.
John Bullock, The Light Review / Publisher and editor
John Bullock was born to be a lighting designer. “Don’t blame me; it wasn’t my fault.” He was qualified in ‘Illumination Engineering’ in the early 1970s, working in electrical building services before joining a lighting manufacturer. By the end of 1984 John was working as an independent lighting designer, one of the new generation of UK lighters
These days, John divides his time between providing high-end residential design within an hour of his home in Dorset and managing The Light Review which he established in 2019. If The Light Review is about anything it’s about Good Lighting – whatever that means to you.
The interplay of natural lights in an interior space creates mood, enhances materials, and energizes a place. It is indeed a design element like no other.
Indoor places with beautiful plays of light create an alluring ambiance and ensues a lively feeling to its occupants. This correlation of positivity and natural light has been a fascination for both the architecture and the scientific field. Evidence of this undeniable connection is seen in case studies of places on hospice, work, education, and even our humble abode love the natural lighting.
How Natural Lighting Keeps Us Healthy?
We’ve provided a list of major reasons how daylight can affect our health:
But why does natural light keep us healthy? Aside from helping us to get healthy doses of Vitamin D, natural light syncs on our Circadian rhythm, our built-in body clock. Designing workplaces, for instance, require natural light and ventilation to seep through the workspaces. Without the glare and unwanted heat, a properly designed work area with the consideration of natural lighting creates a lively and inspiring space for employees.
Natural light is one design consideration when preventing the negative effects of Sick Building Syndrome. SBS is where workers experience headaches and respiratory problems, which are contributed by poor ventilation and working conditions. Though SBS mainly focuses on natural ventilation, studies show that natural lighting can help in preventing Sick Building Syndrome in buildings.
There’s a reason why kitchens are best oriented on the east and west directions. For most places, the east area is the perfect spot for your breakfast nook as well as the kitchen area because you get the healthy sunlight while keeping it cool during the afternoon sun. Kitchens can also be placed along the west side, where it is the hottest spot during the afternoon, provided that you have a longer roof overhang to prevent glare and heat build-up.
When kitchens are oriented on the hottest areas, it prevents mold and mildew build-up. Bathrooms and other damp spaces should also have ample daylighting as it serves as it kills bacteria and fungi naturally.
Like other benefits of sunlight, science backs up how the natural light improves our mood and kicks off the so-called winter blues. According to an Australian study, serotonin (known as happy chemicals) levels are higher during sunny days compared to cloudy ones. Serotonin not only stabilizes your mood, but it also helps to heal wounds, stimulate nausea, and maintain bone health.
The brain dedicates more space to our visual senses compared to all other senses combined. As our visual perception signals our memory and decisions, it also affects our emotions that can affect our state of wellbeing.
Light can bring out the rich color and texture of materials better than artificial lights. With visually stimulating views, we feel relaxed and optimistic, which can greatly improve our overall wellbeing.
Probably the most obvious benefit of sunlight is that it provides energy and warmth to our bodies. Not only on its physical form, but natural light can also bring a sense of warmness or coziness in an interior. Understandably a room with light seeping through windows is more inviting and creates a sense of liveliness than a dark room.
For many years we simulate natural light in our architectural elements such as white painted walls and ceilings or luminaires with different color tones. We also allow natural light through our windows, skylights, light tubes, and clerestories to reach the nooks and corners of our interior spaces. Indeed, natural light has a great impact on our daily lives, and we continue to plan, assemble, and create spaces that can capture the benefits of the free but depleting energy source.
My academic life was focused on Design, first starting with Product design as a Bachelor, Interior Architecture Design for Master then Lighting Design for my Ph.D. at Edinburgh Napier University. My researches were about “place, space, and sense of place” and their relationship with Lighting on historic sites. I am working to find the best way to combine research with practice to Develop Lighting Principles for Social Environments. Behind Best Design is research! Some topics I am working on are: What lighting characteristics and site aspects must be considered for lighting historic sites? What is the role of people in lighting a historic site? How light can be used in the process of place-making?
While my second research topic is about the philosophy of light in human history by focusing on Islamic philosophy such as Al-Ghazali and Suhrawardi. I am trying to find the connection between their idea of light in philosophy and the real world in terms of Lighting Design.
In parallel to my academic life, I decided to implement some of my lighting concepts, which lead me to win some international awards such as LIT lighting design awards, LAMP award, [d]arc awards, creative conscience awards, and Saint Petersburg light festival.
My approach to light is more than electric and psychology, I consider light as an important element of social life. I believe that social life is not only about people’s living in urban spaces with lighted skyscraper facades. In the Middle East and especially in Iran, many people live in under-developed villages, their residents also have the right to enjoy light to enhance their social life. I attempt to engage them, therefore, my research method becomes ethnographic, where I study people’s culture and daily life.
Anna Tomschik is a 30-year old architect specialized in lighting. In the last few years, she has been working in various design studios in Vienna, London, and Stockholm. Her portfolio spans from architectural lighting design for interior and exterior projects to daylight design, as well as product design. Anna enjoys the variety of working on different scales from large-sized and complex projects to small installations.
She believes in sustainable design solutions and minimalistic design with unique character. Anna gets inspiration from traveling, nature phenomena, and meeting new people. Her favorite activities are climbing, hiking, practicing yoga, and doing road trips.
How did you first discover your passion for Lighting Product Design?
I have always loved to design objects and spaces in a functional way. Being trained as an architect, I became interested in the emotional component that can be implemented into luminaires. To me lighting products are small-sized objects that have the power to fill a whole space with an emotion.
What do you think are the main strengths of the lighting product Henyx, and why do you think it deserved to win?
Henyx tells a story. It incorporates the light qualities of sunlight and moonlight. A simple concept that people can relate to.
What does LIT Design Awards mean to you, and how has it helped your career?
I felt honored to hear that my design is appreciated by many people. It has helped me to gain exposure as a designer. After I received the award, I have been working as a lighting designer in London and Stockholm, focusing on architectural lighting design, daylight as well as on product design.
I am still looking for a manufacturer to produce Henyx on a larger scale. Would be glad to receive any help or recommendations on that end.
Where do you get motivation and inspiration from in your work?
Daylight and natural light phenomena are my main inspiration when designing with man-made light. I am aware that nothing competes with the beauty of nature. Therefore – rather than seeking to replicate natural light – I am trying to interpret it in my own way.
What are you working on now? Can you share some glimpse of your next Lighting Product or inspirations?
I am working with the architectural lighting design for three new subway stations located in Stockholm – all very different concepts – a collaboration between art and design with complete darkness as a canvas. Furthermore, I am working on several outdoor projects in the Stockholm area. As Sweden can get long and dark winter nights it is even more important to contribute with pleasant lighting to public spaces.
When it comes to food and drinking establishments, proper lighting is paramount. Lights from both natural and artificial lighting, when properly planned can create an inviting atmosphere. Strategic illumination can set the mood of interior space. This further boosts the occupants’ sensory experiences and provides the desired ambiance.
Aside from creating an atmosphere, lighting is critical when to efficiency, productivity, and safety of the staff and employees.
Your lighting should never be an afterthought. Without proper lighting, it can break the overall look of your restaurant or bar, however beautiful or stunning your other design elements may be.
We’ve listed here the 4 Important Lighting Types for your Bar or Restaurant.
Importance: Safe circulation of space, foundational layer of lighting
Ambient lights are placed to provide general lighting to your establishment, helping your customers and employees to maneuver easily and safely through space. These lights serve as the base lighting when it comes to the layering of your lighting. For ambient illumination, these are usually overhead luminaires, recessed lights, chandeliers, track lighting, or pendant lights.
Importance: Highlight important areas or features, creates overall contrast
Creating visual interest and makes a lively and dynamic atmosphere. You can highlight décor elements such as paintings, feature walls, or any other artwork. This lighting level is also perfect in accenting points in your operation, such as menu boards, advertisements, or open kitchen areas. Emergency lights should also be highlighted using focal luminaires like troffers or recessed lights.
For a dramatic effect, your focal lighting should be 3x brighter than your ambient lights. Sconces or pendant lights, adjustable track lights, torchiere lights, and cove lights are a few focal lights that can be incorporated.
Importance: Safety of kitchen staff, ensures the efficiency of employees
If you have excellent task lighting, you’ll expect employees to complete the task accurately. Task lights are generally placed in the kitchen, reception, or counters. Kitchen areas should be well lit, as safety is a priority. With proper lighting, kitchen staff should able to see clearly all the kitchen utensils and ingredients being used.
Task lights include both fixed and adjustable luminaires. Adjustable task lights include gooseneck, balanced-arm lamp, and track lights. Fixed task lights on-the-other-hand include pendant lights and downlights.
Importance: Natural anti-bacterial properties, creates a lively mood, saves on energy costs
Regardless of what restaurant or bar business you have, natural light from the sun is beneficial, and it should go hand-in-hand with your artificial lighting. Natural illumination should be maximized, but glare and heat retention should be avoided. Surface materials can also affect your overall lighting, so be sure to include all design considerations when planning.
To control natural lighting, blinds and draperies can be installed as well as smart windows that can self-tint during the day when the sun is at its highest.
Just like in a theater stage, layers of light create, enhances, and highlight key elements. Regardless of what type of restaurant, lighting is critical. It’s not enough in having beautiful luminaires, all your lights should work harmoniously, and it helps to have controllable features on your lighting system. This makes it easier to adjust the degree of brightness and color.
Around 50% of the energy consumption of bars and restaurants comes from lighting alone. You can choose LED or sensory lights to cut off costs. Along with a properly planned lighting system, you can ensure that your costumers and staff are getting the optimum benefits of natural and artificial illumination.