Phone:
+44(0)1935 812447
Mobile:
+44(0)7970 025924
Email:
jb@jb-ld.co.uk
20-11-2011
A friend asked me for a quick statement on lighting strategies for retail malls. I said:
Lighting design is about people, not about buildings. It's about the way that people relate to their environment, and how well that environment reflects back the needs of those within it. Lighting is NOT just about the ability to see. Of course,illumination levels are important for us to be able to see what we're doing, but there is a vital element often missed -beyond that simple mechanical function.
This is the interpretive act of understanding our surroundings and its this element that helps determine the level of success that may be achieved in the relationship between any environment and the individual.
Lighting design proposals for shopping malls need to be developed on the principle that every visitor comes to the Mall to be entertained. From the moment that the visitor leaves the highway and arrives at the Mall, the entire visual scene should be created with the principle of entertainment behind it. It doesn't necessarily follow that the car parks should be filled with dancing elephants and fireeaters not every day, at least but its vital to create a sense of anticipation at the point of arrival and to sustain that sense of something exciting going on throughout the visit.
If this smacks a bit too much of Disney World, it's probably because the Disney Imagineers were the first people to properly touch on the innate sense of wonder that is inside every person, available to be exploited with the full commercial zeal of the corporation.
from Wikipedia: Imagineering is responsible for designing and building Disney theme parks, resorts, cruise ships, and other entertainment venues at all levels of project development. Imagineers possess a broad range of skills and talents, and thusover 140 different job titles fall under the banner of Imagineering, including illustrators, architects, engineers, lightingdesigners, show writers, graphic designers, and many more
So Mall lighting design sees with the eyes of the visitor whether a newcomer who's heard about this fantastic new Mall, or the returning visitor who's bought into the excitement and can't wait to get back for more. That's the main puff for Mall lighting design.
Now, in a bit more detail, everything should be considered as being a series of visual / lighting layers:
* the base layer is the background lighting that gets people around makes moving around the Mall a pleasant, unthreatening activity
* the next layer builds out of the first, because this is where the light is actually coming from: lighting in and on the architecture (internal and external) that celebrates the features of the Mall, its features, Courts, Squares and Gardens.
* the upper layer (and now we start to see layers within layers) defines the activity of each space; along the retail streets, this has to be the shopfronts the window displays the promotional paraphernalia - the heartbeat of the Mall - in the Courts, Squares and Gardens, which serve as the meeting places (the Piazze) of the Mall, this layer will include lighting for decorative features (fountains, etc) and theatre lighting for special events the circus that gives the Mall its speciial ambience and unique identity... it's all about fun. No one ever went to a shopping mall to be miserable.
This does not mean that everything is singing and dancing because that just induces nausea. There has to be a sense of order, as in a painting: the building is the frame as ornate or plain as the work demands; the discipline of the work is established in the background and mid-ground; the FUN comes in the focus of the work because that's what the work is all about. The background in the Mona Lisa isn't often talked about but its VERY important. The focus for a Mall, and therefore the focus for the lighting, is to bring visitors to the reason for their being there in asattractive and sensual a way as possible
(sensual: arousing or exciting the senses or appetites)
The tools that we have available for creating this environment are all well-proven and we have no need to stray into the realms of the unlikely.
* All lighting sources will be high-efficiency, low-energy as defined by Codes of Practice.
* All lighting will be controlled via the in-house lighting control system, ensuring that energy is only used as it is requiredand as it best serves the needs of the Mall.
* All lighting will serve more than one purpose: it will be a promotional tool as well as a source of illumination.
And let me say again: No one ever went to a shopping mall to be miserable.
A (very) basic guide to ethical specification
Lighting design: it's a client thing
Calculating obtrusive light: whose job is it?
When there's nothing in the catalogue
When is a chandelier not a pendant? When its a lantern!
When clients learn too much . . .
One of our details is missing
Where will light fittings come from?
The end of the light bulb?
Always something new . . . again
Always something new . . .
Combining old and new
On being in the dark . . .
Riffing The Internet of Things
PUBLISHED ARTICLES
John Bullock writes a regular column for lighting magazines. You can find all of the archived pieces here.
BLOGS - LIGHTING DESIGN
John Bullock writes about all things and anything concerning architectural lighting design; new technologies and old lamps; anything,really.
HOME LIGHTING CONSULTANT
John Bullock designs innovative lighting designs for people's homes. By working closely with clients he is able to deliver solutions that meet - and exceed - their expectations.
BLOGS - CPD RIBA CORE PROGRAMME 2015
John Bullock will be presenting a seminar on latest lighting design and technologies as part of the RIBA CPD Core programme 2015
BLOGS - SUSTAINABILITY
John Bullock believes that the UK lighting industry needs to embrace a sustainable way of delivering good quality product through good design, fabrication and end-of-life management.
BLOGS - LIGHTING HEALTH AND WELLBEING
Lighting has a vital role to play in our health and wellbeing.
CONDUIT (6) - Lighting for Winter Gardens
CONDUIT 5: Home Lighting - LED Lighting (2)
FX Magazine: Lighting Focus - Sustainability (Issue 258)
CONDUIT 4: Home Lighting - LED Lighting (1)
Can Smart Lighting Save The Planet?
CONDUIT 3: Home Lighting - The Bathroom
Can Lighting Save Us From Ourselves . . . NO!
CONDUIT 2: Home Lighting - The Dining Room
Read More
John Bullock Lighting Design
4 Miller Way
Sherborne
Dorset
DT9 3SG
England
Website designed by Alacrify