Architectural Lighting in Commercial Sector
Lighting is a key element in architectural design. Light is the medium that makes visual perception possible. Artificial lighting during the hours of darkness make us feel safe. Light is the prime animator of interior space. Lighting a space is an important element in determining the beauty and comfort of the commercial building.
Day lighting is sometimes used as the main source of lighting during day time in buildings. This can save energy in place of using artificial lighting, which represents a major component of energy consumption in building. Light is an art element as well as a utilitarian element. Good lighting design has an elusive quality and increases efficiency, relieve eye strain, cut down accidents and help to set the mood of the room. Moreover, lighting is a form of decoration and creates an atmosphere of cheer in attractiveness in commercial sector. Light has a definite emotional effect. Light is stimulating, darkness is depressing. A sunny shiny day makes us sparkle, and a dark day makes us dull. On the other hand, light that is too brilliant exhausts us physically and aesthetically. The shadow element too is an important factor both indoors and outdoors.
Commercial lighting is lighting used for commercial spaces such as offices, stores, institutions, hospitals and government buildings, essentially those spaces that are, industrial or for manufacturing or not residential. Compared to other types of lighting, commercial lighting tends to have a higher initial cost, longer lifespan, better durability, higher maintenance and service costs and better energy saving options.
When selecting light fixtures in commercial lighting design, their characteristics, application and function must be considered. Commonly-used commercial lighting design fixtures include T5 and compact fluorescent lights, however, given the reduction in prices, LED light fixtures are starting to be preferred.
Lighting or illumination is the deliberate use of light to achieve a practical or aesthetic effect. Lighting includes the use of both artificial light sources like lamps and light fixtures as well as natural illumination by capturing day light. Brightness refers to how much light energy is reflected by a surface. The degree of brightness of an object in turn, depends on the surface. A shiny light colored surface will reflect more light than a dark, matte, or rough texture surface, even though both surfaces are lit with the same amount of illumination.
In commercial buildings, accomplishing a task or activity is generally the most important function. A lighting design company should create designs that reflect the type of activity performed in the building to ensure that people working in the space are comfortable and that the lux level requirements and energy efficiency standards are suitable.
Significance of lighting in commercial sector:
Lighting plays a vital role in the way people experience and understand architecture. Whether buildings and structures are lit naturally or artificially, lighting is the medium that allows us to see and appreciate the beauty in the buildings.
To create a successful balance between lighting and architecture, it’s important to remember three key aspects of architectural lighting: Aesthetic, Function, and efficiency. Aesthetic is where designers and architects focus on the emotional impact the balance of lighting and architecture. This aspect is especially important for retail locations; exterior lighting should draw the consumer in, and the interior lighting should awe them as they walk through the doors in addition to showing off product.
The second aspect, function, cannot be overlooked. Lighting to look a certain way, make sure it serves its most important purpose to help see. Areas should be illuminated so occupants feel safe when navigating a room or entire building. They should be able to see the floor and walls around them, which should create a feeling of reassurance.
The final aspect is very important in today’s age of green building and sustainability movements. Its one thing to create a breathtaking lighting layout, but it’s another to create a breathtaking layout that is also incredibly energy efficient. This can be done by assuring the majority of the light is reaching its target and there is less wasted light. Reducing the amount of wasted light will make the building more efficient.
Types of lighting:
There are three basic types of lighting that work together to light commercial spaces: General, Task and Accent. A good lighting plan combines all three types to light an area, according to function and style.
Ambient/General lighting is the most common type of lighting. Ambient light is a soft glow that blankets space just enough for you to function without causing a harsh glare. The goal of ambient lighting is to provide even, overall light to a room. It can allow for entrance and egress, function within the room and also tasks (yet isn’t specific to these tasks). It can come from recessed ceiling lights, a pendant/chandelier or ceiling mounted lights as in a closet or Laundry Room. It usually provides a fairly even distribution of light around the room and is not usually your dramatic mood lighting.
Task lighting is otherwise known as office lighting. Task lighting is meant to help you see when doing projects in which you need a finer light, such as, reading, writing, working and many other things. Task lighting only works well when it is used as a contrasting light. This help to see more details as work and creating higher quality results. Many commercial sectors choose to use task lighting in offices it lights an area where a task is being performed. It is usually in addition to the other types of light in the room and rarely used alone. Adjustable recessed lights directly over a table or desk to work.
Accent lighting is a very concentrated light with the intention of drawing the eye to its focal point. Accent lighting is a way of adding style and drama in commercial sectors. This helps in illuminate the pieces in display, while shadowing dull areas .Accent lighting provides an accent light source to highlight art or an architectural feature, a piece of furniture, a sculpture or even a plant. This light source can come from an adjustable recessed light, a track light, a mono-point ceiling or wall mounted light, a wall sconce, a picture light, a table lamp, cove lighting, or in-the-floor up-lighting. Accent lighting has a more specific subject to light than the broader focused general lighting.
Architectural lighting design:
Architectural lighting design is a field within architecture, interior design and electrical engineering that is concerned with the design of lighting systems, including natural light, electric light, or both, to serve human needs.Decorative lights serve as accents within the space. The light they produce may be secondary to the appearance of the fixture, whose glowing surface draws the eye. Many are adjustable to accommodate varied tasks and individual preferences.
Architectural lighting is most often used as ambient lighting. The three most common forms of architectural lighting are Cove, Soffit and Valance. Apart from this three Cornice, Bracket, Recessed, Spot, Track Panel, Chandeliers and Pendants are used to under artificial lighting for various purpose. The types of architectural lighting are as follows:
Cove lighting:
Cove lighting is one of the basic lighting techniques, a type of uplighting that directs light to the ceiling plane from a cove on one or more sides of a room to provide overall diffuse illumination. It is also referred to as ambient luminescence. Cove lighting is typically mounted to or incorporated into a wall, but it can also be located within a ceiling coffer. The cove should only be used with white or near white ceilings. There should be a minimum of 12 inches from the shielding to the ceiling. The lower the cove is on the wall, the wider the light distribution will be across the ceiling.
Soffit lighting:
Two 30-watt or 40-watt fluorescent tubes (deluxe warm white) may be recessed in a soffit above kitchen sink or bathroom lavatory. The fixture may be shielded with frosted glass or plastic to make it similar to a recessed unit. The entire interior of the soffit should be painted flat white to reflect the light downward. Such an installation gives comfortable, diffused down light for easy seeing at sinks or along dressing counters in bathrooms. Incandescent lighting can also be used in a soffit. Two 75-watt inside frosted bulbs, spaced fifteen inches apart, can be mounted on the ceiling or front edge of soffit behind a face board.
Valance lighting:
A lighted valance makes a room appear more spacious and dramatizes colours and textures. Valance boards are open at top and bottom and are usually mounted above draperies. The light is directed up and is then reflected and spreads across the ceiling for general lighting. The down light accents the draperies. In the evening this light provides a substitute for the sunlight seen here during the day. Allow from 10" to 12" between the ceiling and top edge of the valance. Valance lighting fixtures can be wired for entrance switching, and dimmer-controlled fixtures may be installed to increase or decrease the level of the lighting.
Cornice lighting:
Cornice lighting, generally mounted at the junction of the wall and the ceiling, is closed at top and extends the full length of the wall. Cornice light may be used with or without draperies. Cornices direct light downward to enliven wall textures, murals, scenic wallpaper, picture arrangements, art objects, or draperies. Lighted cornices are effective in low-ceilinged rooms where they give an illusion of height. The face boards may be painted, wall-papered, or covered with fabric. Since lighted cornices do not supply upward light, it is well to use open-top lamps in the same room so that some light does reach the ceiling.
Bracket lighting:
A lighted bracket is similar to a lighted valance except that it is located on a wall instead of over windows. A bracket above a sofa can provide both general and local lighting. Brackets can be mounted at suitable levels for lighting work counters, snack bars, hallways, pictures and wall hangings, and for reading in bed. The bottom edge of the bracket face board should be placed 30" above the top of mattress for reading in bed. For general lighting, the bottom edge of the bracket should be at least 65" from the floor. These are usually built to look compatible with door and/or window height. For local lighting, the bottom edge of the bracket should be about 55 inches from the floor. Eye levels of persons both sitting and standing must be considered to prevent direct view of the light source.
Recessed lighting:
There are many varieties of recessed lighting that can be used in the home. This form of lighting can be used to create unusual lighting effects, spotlight decorative features such as wall hangings or textured walls, or provide specific lighting for task areas or general lighting for a room. In the form of lighting the fixture is recessed into the ceiling. The direction of the light is downward, giving little opportunity for the light to be diffused or reflected around the room. Since little light is reflected to the ceiling, this method should be accompanied by fixtures suspended from the ceiling or by open-top lamps around the room.
Spot lighting:
Spot lighting is lighting directed towards and used to draw attention to a product or display. Spot lighting draws the customer's eye to the centre of the display. Clever use of spot lighting will attract customers to high-value items. These lights are often used for wall washing. Recessed can lights are great for accenting. If it is placed at the base of wall to illuminate a beautiful brick texture.
Track lighting:
Mounted or suspended from the ceiling, track lighting consists of a linear housing containing several heads that can be positioned anywhere along a track; the direction of the heads is adjustable also. Track lighting is often used for task or accent lighting. Track lights are great for the same reason, except they can typically cover a little more space. These lights are great for offices with rows of desks.
LED Panel lights:
These are a type of lighting fixture designed to replace conventional fluorescent ceiling lights. The frame is one of the more important led panel light parts as it is designed to prevent light leakage. The layers inside include LED chips, a light guide plate and a diffuser. Single colour 5 mm, etc - the very traditional LED package, Surface mount LEDs, Bi-colour and multicolour LEDs - the types of LEDs contain several individual LEDs that are turned on by different voltages, etc., Flashing LEDs - with a small time integrated into the package and Alphanumeric LED displays are some of the features of panel lights.
Chandeliers and Pendants:
This light fixtures work fantastic with taller ceilings. The chandeliers and pendants are placed lower in areas people will not be walking near. They are also very classic pieces that work well in foyers, over the tub in the bathroom. Suspended from the ceiling, a pendant light directs from ceiling its light down, typically over a table or kitchen island. A pendant can enhance the decorative style of a room. Pendants can provide ambient or task lighting. Chandeliers direct their light upward, typically over a table. They can enhance the decorative style of a room. Chandeliers provide ambient lighting.
Lighting in interiors has entered the threshold of the 21st century where life is not comfortable without light. Huge demand forecasted for all types of lighting products, specially LED and CFLs, driven by increasing awareness. In the realm of the busy life, Commercial sector seeks architectural lighting where the entire infrastructure gets attracted by the clients. This enhances the beauty of the commercial building and increase in sales.
By,
Roshni.P.B
Department of Interior Design and Décor.
