Light Screens

German based company GKD Metal Fabrics and ag4 have developed Media Mesh-- a large mesh of LEDs woven into stainless steel cables, intended to light up the facades of buildings with images.

Fibre optic options

Fibre optic technology provides innovative design solutions with a striking lighting aesthetic.  Carefully hidden metal halides, LEDs and halogen lamps light cables from within to create a display of otherworldly fixtures.

A sleek selection

These images and descriptions are from an Azure Magazine article featuring a diverse collection of lighting fixtures.

Halide at home

Prescolite is bringing ceramic metal halide track lighting to residential lighting design.

Glow out

Photoluminescent materials react to the environment and provide stunning effects.  Here we've got an example of florescent yarn, glowing in artist Eunsook Lee's installation work.

Light Cycles

The Bay Area's Civil Twilight's new LED streetlight design uses lunar resonant technology to respond to ambient moonlight, brightening from 0.0 to 1.0 lux over the course of the month as the moon goes from full to new.

A refreshing drop of L'Ale

The L'Ale florescent pendant by Ivalo Lighting is a elegant take on the industrial standard.  Like the "Sven" LED fixture, the L'Ale is a good example of modern styling coupled with energy efficient lamp technology.

Getting intimate with LEDs

German designer Sven Adolph describes the inner workings of this general purpose LED lighting fixture.  Manufactured by Lucesco Lighting, the "Sven" combines classic modern Danish style with 40 LEDs.  Still a far cry from the softly projected light of incandescent lamps, LEDs are moving into our lives with thanks to the constant improvements in light-emitting semiconductors.  I can't wait for the Noguchi style LED lanterns!

Linking lights

The increasing flexibility of lighting fixtures allows for some truly customized lighting designs.  These connecting fixtures by USE lighting work with either incandescent or compact florescent lamps.

Sculptural lighting fixtures

This is a great article highlighting Susan Hakkarainen of Ivalo Lighting and her decision to commission architects to design lights for a specific purpose, focusing on how lighting fixtures relate aesthetically to a space and how the user interacts with light.

Lighting analysis: Sink Alcove

This sink alcove struck me as the kind of nicely lit space I'd like to render.  Here we have three incandescent bulbs mounted behind a translucent plastic shade.  The color index is 2700 and my is it inviting!  Is it warm here or is it just me?

Lighting analysis: Nasher Art Museum

This is the Nasher Art Museuem at Duke University, designed by Freelon Architecture.  The central atrium is as light and airy as a greenhouse, with an industrial glass ceiling and polished tiled floor.  Natural light and a neutral palette serve to differentiate this "wayfinding hub" from the surrounding galleries, where the lighting is warmer and artificial.  Inside the galleries, flexible halogen track lighting highlights the artwork while recessed lighting (lamps unknown) provides architectural depth and intrigue to the ceiling planes.

Lighting analysis: Lantern

Lantern breaks just about every imagined rule regarding lighting-- and yet it stands as one of my favorite late night spots for eclectic asian munchies, sensual surroundings and exotic cocktails.  If you've ever fantasized about spending any amount of time in a black lacquered bento box, then by all means this is your place.  The ceiling, walls and flooring are coated in a thick layer of high gloss black paint and the layout is cozy and boxy, resulting in the intimate clustering of tables and people-- not unlike a perfectly composed bento box.  The lighting consists of soft incandescent lit silk lanterns overhead, recessed fluorescent light in the mirrored liquor display, and a recessed LED strip behind the booth seating for a  glowing chair rail.  The result is a very dark pandoras box where lanterns glow like floating orbs, and corners are left undefined.  I'm not convinced that this "play of brilliants" lighting would be easy to work in, nor would I want to be in this dark windowless environment during the day-- but on social nights, when the theatrics are high, Lantern delivers.

Lighting investigation

To illustrate the effect lighting has on our perception of color, texture and acuity, the fabric samples below were subjected to the following light conditions:

-The accent halogen lighting was a ceiling mounted three lamp track in a dining space.  This provides some non-uniform soft directional lighting that is a bit too spotty.  I would prefer a dimming option paired with wall sconces for uplighting around the table.

-The task florescent lighting was a compact bulb used in an upright reading light in a living room.  The illuminance here is insufficient due to the tall height of the fixture (in relation to the seat below) and the lamp's dark shade.  Improvements would include a lower fixture and lighter lamp shade.

-The task LED lighting was a three bulb headlamp used for camping.  Although the LED lamps provide enough light for general wayfinding, I believe they are not appropriate for fine tasks such as reading or cooking.  It's a shame that the LEDs operate for a long time at a dimmed capacity.  Not sure if the technology is up to scratch.

-The accent incandescent lighting was a wall sconce in a foyer.  I find this luminance to be inviting and appropriate for a foyer.

Take a look at the fabric samples below.  Each patchwork represents one piece of fabric under 4 lighting conditions.

From top to bottom:

- White cheesecloth

- Blue linen

- Red silk

- Green felt

The Light Drop

Created by Brazilian designer Rafael Morgan, The Light Drop is supposed to make people think about how we are dealing with our natural resources, in this particular case, the water, which is the main source of energy for every living organism.

Crystal StarLED

The Crystal StarLED is a combination precision cut crystal and innovative LED technology.  The result is a decorative lighting system that is attractive, economical and user-friendly.  For more information and images, visit the Crystal Lighting Center's website.

SystemX

This lighting system known as SystemX is comprised of interlocking florescent light fixtures that can be arrange in a a number of ways to create a unique lighting setup that can cover an entire ceiling.

Lighting analysis: Moshi Moshi

This is Moshi Moshi Sushi in Brighton, England.  During my year working here as a sushi chef, I often thought about Moshi Moshi's unique take on lighting as I observed the patterns of light while the days and seasons passed. The restaurant is a single story building set at the center of a plaza surrounded by taller buildings, which create some daylighting challenges due to the 360 degrees of shadow cast by the surrounding structures throughout the day.  To take advantage of what little light did reach the restaurant, Moshi Moshi's ceiling was punctured with a large cross shaped skylight and two of the exterior walls were made with shoji screens.  The interior surfacing was dramatic with a deep red ceiling, grooved black flooring, polished black bar counter, dark gray walls and stainless table tops.  Unfortunately these surfaces either absorbed or reflected the light and the result was a rather dark environment with a lot of specular glare.  Moshi Moshi's lighting fixtures were exclusively halogen pendants, hung at low levels to increase the sense of intimacy.  The effect was a play of brilliants-- bright points of light throughout the space, which I found particularly inadequate as task lighting at the sushi bar.  Perhaps if Moshi Moshi had utilized a larger variety of lights within the same family of luminaires, the restaurant's various spaces and their unique functions (the chefing surfaces, bartender's counter, host stand, tables, sushi belt etc.) could have been appropriately lit.  Here, I would recommend, some ceramic metal halide track lighting and recessed florescent lighting to create a brighter space without sacrificing the intimate ambiance that Moshi Moshi is known for.  I would also change the surfacing of the bar counter and table tops to reduce glare with honed matt surfacing in lighter natural tones.

The Durham Bus Station: September 5th, 7 pm.

This ticketing corner of the station is an accessible and rather dynamic space to stand in.  It's flanked by  north facing windows, which scale the building's two storey exterior to create an atrium flooded with natural light.  This grandeur is counterbalanced by a lowered ceiling, which shelters the informational areas to create a more intimate environment warmed by soft recessed lighting.  Spacial transitioning from low to high ceiling levels is aided by recessed lighting and large sconces.  My paintings below illustrate the cool color tones of the northern light, which in early September is still relatively bright.  Reflective surfacing on the floor, paired with large glass curtain walls brings the outdoors in.  From top to bottom, paintings took place at: 6pm, 11pm and 12pm.

Lighting investigation

This is the new DATA bus station in Durham, designed by the Freelon Group.  I'll be observing the lighting during different times of the day throughout the semester to get a sense for the function, quality and interplay of the station's natural and electrical light under varied conditions.  Who knows, maybe I'll even catch a bus.