Interior Lighting Blog

May 8, 2009

May 3, 2009

For the retail store, the top picture was taken on a table shelve. I noticed the stronger light was directed on the end of the table where most things would be displayed. Since the color is a dark color the lighter fabrics show more contrast. The second photo was also taken within a display space. The light was a lot stronger which allowed for me to see a lot more texture from the samples. You can also see more shadow which adds to texture too.

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RESIDENCE

[wood table]

[carpet]

For the residence, the swatches on the wood grain show more texture. Maybe this is because of the contrast of material. Against the carpet, there really isn't anything exciting, hardly any shadows and the lighting makes the fabrics almost smooth.

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LIBRARY

[table]

For the library, there was a lot of natural light. This photo was taken at a table close to a window. The outside light seemed to enhance the colors of the material swatches. You could still have a sense of the materials texture. The overcasting shadows were a bit annoying and if you stayed to read for a long time the shadows and light quality changed, making it a bit distracting.

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STORE

[shelve]

For the grocery store I went to Bestway, which isn't the most well lit place. There were fourescent lights along the aisles. With the material swatches, you couldn't really identify that they had a texture. The lack of light made the colors very dark.

LIGHT SERIES #2

A RETAIL STORE [pacsun]

The retail store pacsun obviously has a lot of different items to display which allows for various lighting. Throughout the store, there are several rows of track lighting. This works well because of the variety of objects to be displayed. There are also special lighting fixtures [filament lighting]=>see picture below. These fixtures allow the space to be more personalized and comfortable. The fixtures create a textural element to the space and also reflect a certain mood because of the fixtures characteristics. When you walk into the space, one of the 1st things you notice is an illuminated shelve that displays products. I think it works very well and is very appropriate. Above the check out area there are rectangular suspended light fixtures. I really like this fixture because it shows the importance of the area without using signage. The light is a yellow shade and directs the customers eye. Overall, I think that this space is extremely successful. I think the lighting techniques for display work well and do not take away from the product. Some fixtures create visual interest but still fit in with the theme and mood of pacsun. However, most of the light is contained within more effective if they incorperated lighting between shelving. All in all I feel this space is very effective and successful.

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A RESTAURANT: [shane's bbq shack]

For the restaurant, we went to Shane's bbq shack. The resaurant is not expensive and appeals to pretty much everybody. There are several forms of lighting. Overhead, in the ceiling are fairly small LEDs which don't produce that much light. On the walls, above the booth seating are strands of lights that look like christmas tree lights from the 70s. These lights add character to the space refering back to the idea of a shack. These lights don't really serve a purpose except for visual interest. The lights reflect the colors onto the wall, but not to the extent of being tacky. They add character to the space.

Shane's bbq shack contains both booth seating and table seating. Above each booth are suspended filament lighting fixtures. They are extremely bright and very hot. The light reflections define each individual space. Working in the restaurant business for over six years, i realize that these fixtures are extremely annoying. When serving, you always seem to hit your head on them. When eating, the lights are too bright and shine in your eyes. They're also very hot. I extremely dislike these fixtures. The booths are extremely overlit and overhead the tables there is no lighting and seems dark.

Where you place your order, there is track lighting directed onto the menu. As seen from the picture, this creates a lot of glare. I think different fixtures or lamps could be a lot more successful. From the picture, you can also tell that the sign is really the only thing lit up. Overall, I think that some of the lighting techniques are successful and others are not.

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A MUSEUM: [weatherspoon art]

For a museum, we decided to take yet another visit to weatherspoon art museum. For art museums, i feel it is important to have direct lighting that does not compete with the actual art. I thik the weatherspoon art museum has a very balanced lighting system. They have high ceilings and directed track lighting. The lights are not overwhelming and do not take away from the art and sculptures. The lighting is more condensed along the main walls. In the hallways, they have allowed for natural lighting which really illuminates the space. The space overall is very plain which works for it's specific purpose. Because of the ceiling height, the lights are at a further distance from the art which makes the diameter of the reflected light to be larger. If the lights were closer it would make the light seem like a harsh spot light. Overall, I feel that the lighting techniques in this space are very successful. The lighting adds to the space but does not take away from the art which is it's intended subject of focus. The lighting is soft and allows you to focus.

LIGHT SKETCH SERIES #4

FILMENT LIGHTING:

[a] residential=> reading space

[b] task lighting=> reading

[c] filiment lighting => floor lamp

[d] floor lamp with filament bulb

[e] this lamp creates an ambiance within the space and allows the user to complete the task of reading.

[f] this particular light creates a warmer space by enhancing the paint color and wood grain. It also allows you to see the details within the fabrics.

[g] i feel that illumination is very appropriate. i like the space

[h] to improve the space i would debate whether to incorperate lighting within the shelving unit.

ELECTRODELESS:

[a] growth => mocking sunlight

[b] task lighting

[c] electrodeless

[d] large lamps that absorb light and mock sunlight into concentrated spaces.

[e]this lighting allows the growth of plants and gives them sunlight.

[f] allows its inhabitants to live

[g] i think the ilumination level is very appropriate and does the tast effeciently.

[h]n/a

SOLID STATE:

[a] traffic tunnel

[b] task/accent lighting

[c] solid state lighting

[d] solid light contained within itself

[e] the lighting guides ou through the space and allows for visual interest.

[f] the lights create a sense of repitition through the space

[g] i think the illumination level is okay, however it could be a little brighter

[h]n/a

COLD CATHODE:

[a] commercial => food court

[b] this lighting is accent. it is used to create interest and mood.

[c] cold cathode =>linear

[d] linear bars

[e] these lights draw attention to the ceiling and provide a sense of signage.

[f] the colored lights reflect on eachother and create this purple glow in the space. the other materials do not stand out because of the intensity of the cold cathode.

[g] i feel that this space is overwhelming for a food court. i don't think that it's appropriate and is too over the top.

[h] i think the different colors could be reduced and not used in such excess.

HID:

[a] studio=>learning environment

[b] task lighting

[c] HID lamps

[d] pendant lighting

[e] the lights allow for easier visual identifications. they light the space well and are not distracting

[f] the lights create little glare. they absorb into materials

[g] i think the illumination level is very appropriate. it lights the space well and is not distracting.

[h] being in this space a lot, i don't have a problem with the lighting.

FLOURESCENT:

[a] classroom=> learning environment

[b] task lighting

[c] flourescent bulbs

[d] long bulbs

[e] the light source is fairly boring and dull and isn't lit very well.

[f] the lighting reflects off the surfaces and create glare.

[g] i think the illumination level is appropriate but the natural light produces more efficient light.

[h] for this environment, i would allow for more natural light.

Light Model #2 - STEVEN HOLL inspired

For light model #2, we chose to study the design of STEVEN HOLL. In many of his works, he makes several cutouts that create a pattern on the object they reflect onto. He intersects different planes that all have cut outs on them to create an image that reflects on a surface. We used this idea to create an active, lively space on the east side of the model. We studied the M.I.T dorms and drew inspiration from the square cutouts on the facade of the building and incorperated that into the intimate side of our model [the west side]. Most importantly, HOLL uses clean lines to create geometric shapes in his works.

Our Model:

February 9, 2009

Group Lighting Survey Summary [ digital lab ]

Kaliedoscope- Light Box

In this exercise, we created an interior space that would function as a night club. In this space we played with lighting to create a pattern and texture on the walls around the space. We placed a large diamond on top of a red transparent tube. We then used an LED light to shine from within the tube projecting through the diamond. We did this same thing with three other small diamonds and blue transparent tubes with tea lights. We varied the heights of all the tubes to see what this effect would have. We discovered that the light shining through the diamonds created a kaleidoscope type pattern along the walls, but mainly the ceiling. The blue and red tubes combine to make a magenta tint along the walls. We folded paper in the corner along the back wall with a tea light placed behind it to help create texture. The colors from the tube mixed with the tea light behind the paper mix to create an orange glow.