Lighting is crucial in how humans experience nearly all things in life. It is especially important in architecture. Without light there is no visual form. Without light, if we were all in the dark, we would be creating a tactile architecture, not an architecture of form.
Light also creates a mood or ambiance. Too little light in certain places (such as a secluded alley) can make people uncomfortable or scared. Bright lighting can make people feel energized and productive.
Lighting is also crucial in how people experience architecture. This fact is perhaps what compelled Frank Lloyd Wright to say, “More and more, so it seems to me, light is the beautifier of the building.” Light helps people connect emotionally with the buildings or spaces. The right lighting can create an experience that visitors will never forget.
Understanding how to incorporate light into architecture is more complicated than it appears. There are several aspects to architectural lighting:
- Function: Every building has a purpose, and the lighting should help users experience the building the way it is meant to be experienced. For instance, an educational building might have a lot of natural light to help individuals feel connected to nature, to be able to read and to feel inspired. On the other hand, art galleries usually have dim lights, except for spotlights on the actual pieces of art. Ultraviolet in sunlight destroys paintings and causes many works of art to fade over time. Focused lighting on the artwork helps visitors relax and focus on the details of the artwork.
- Energy: It’s impossible to discuss the role of lighting in architecture without addressing energy issues. With the increased focus on sustainability that we see globally, it is up to architects to incorporate novel solutions that both leverage natural light as much as possible and incorporate efficient lighting solutions when it is not possible. The advent of LED lighting over incandescent and florescent lighting shows how energy efficient lighting saves electrical power and money.
- Aesthetic Appeal: Perhaps the most significant aspect of lighting in architecture is aesthetics. This area is where the architect can genuinely focus on the emotion they want to inspire and create a strategy to use light as a source of inspiration. With the right aesthetic appeal, you can inspire visitors to want to return to a location or to follow a specific path through a building or space.
Balancing these three features when incorporating light into architecture can help you achieve your goal of creating an appealing, functional, and efficient space. Experienced architects in Westchester County NY can help bring the right light into your remodel to achieve that sought after balance.
The Role of Natural Light
The right balance of lighting can be achieved in many ways, but it has been demonstrated that humans prefer natural light to artificial light whenever possible. It makes individuals feel warm, comfortable, and invigorated. Areas with high amounts of natural light can even invoke feelings of overall wellness. This is why windows have been incorporated into hospital patient rooms, it literally helps patients become healthier, earlier.
Natural light has functional advantages. It can make a room feel more spacious and reduce the amount of artificial light needed for the space. Light sensors can be installed in rooms to increase or decrease the electric lighting as the amount of sunlight increases or decreases during the day. This makes the building more energy-efficient and reduces the costs of electric power. Natural light is also good for vision, allowing people to see objects clearly. Buy Cialis online https://peteruncagedmd.com/generic-cialis-20-mg-online/
The challenge with natural light is that architects cannot control it, and it changes throughout the day and from day-to-day. But depending upon the building’s location, certain elements can be added to the design to maximize the impact of natural light. For instance, skylights that include different angles can reduce unwanted or excessive light from entering the building, making people uncomfortable. Additionally, staggering the levels of the building also allows light to reach all levels.
Architectural lighting plays a central role in architecture. It is integral to the design of the building. There are many ways to achieve the right balance of lighting for any space, whether incorporating natural or artificial lighting elements. The key to doing this well is understanding how the light shows with the architectural design. It can evoke strong emotional feelings. Jeffrey Jordan Architect understands how to incorporate light to design functional buildings inspired by nature. This firm is the premier architectural firm serving Westchester County, New York.
Located in the Greater New York area, Jeffrey Jordan Architect specializes in the design of high-end projects such as luxury apartment and townhouse renovations, schools, churches, temples, and offices.