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15-04-2011
I�ve been asked if LEDs have made any difference to the illumination of buildings (that's on the outside - not on the inside!)
So here�s a brief rundown of how we got to where we are �..
The History of Lighting Buildings � an important bit of background:
Up to about 30 years ago, the only building illumination that you were likely to see would be from huge dustbins of fittings behind wire cages on cathedral greens. What changed was a fantastic breakthrough in lamp technology � the miniaturisation of the high-pressure discharge lamp (that�s the metal halide lamp, or HQI, to you and me). By shrinking the electrical lamp size from an unwieldy 250W to a delicate 70W it meant that lighting fixtures could also be made much smaller. (Here's a thought: take a look at Willy Meyer+Sohn's website to get some idea of how lamp technnology has driven the development of lightinf fixtures shape and performance)
(Now, there was a parallel development in the use of tungsten halogen lamps, but the relatively poor lamp life was always a problem � it was the metal halide (HQI) wot did it.
And as soon as we had these new lamps to play with, designers started playing around with the idea of fixing lighting directly to the building fabric, and the close-off-set principle was established. I remember it well.
(An aside: if you dare go out after dark and look at how most commercial buildings have been lit, you�ll see that the fixtures have been positioned in locations where they CAN go, rather than where they SHOULD go. This is pragmatic design at its worst. And see below)
And for a few years, that was the only New Thing. Manufacturers started to play around with reflector shapes so light was used more effectively, but it was basically the simple act of bolting floodlight/spotlights onto building facades to push light around in fairly interesting ways. But the lamps were still the wrong shape to be really creative, being tubular, with a contact at each end (search for �hqi-ts 70w� and see the image under �shopping results and you�ll see what I mean). So the lamp guys did it again and produced a single-ended lamp that clever reflectors could be built around - and at last we had an efficient source perfectly set up for beam manipulation (again, search for �hqi-t 70w� and see the image under �shopping results).
And its at this point that fittings such as iGuzzini�s KRISS was introduced to the market � and very funky it was, too. And this was followed by lots of other ways of getting light out of a box on a wall. The only thing that couldn�t be affected was that old thing about light travelling in straight lines. If only we knew what was about to happen ��.
Modern building forms are influenced by the way that there�re put together, so the steel frame that�s concealed behind most facades determines what�s solid (a wall) and what�s transparent (a window). As a consequence you tend to find vertical lines of brickwork betwixt the windows and horizontal spandrels or something running t�other way.
No one seemed interested in illuminating the horizontal plane of a modern building � go on, take a look outside if you don�t believe me.
But if you have lots of these vertical solid sections then these types of light fittings were the obvious choice, especially to the unimaginative.
And then there came the LED:
If you have a tiny light source that can be made into al sorts of shapes, from a ribbon of light to a tiny light button, then you can change the shape of light on a building. The building form can be exploited in whichever plane you fancy, and you can even make the entire building light up � if you have the budget. (try the search for �building light images � and be amazed)
Originally, LEDs didn�t have the power to project their light in the way that a conventional spotlight does, so the idea of using LEDs as a kind of illuminated mosaic tile was a genuinely new approach to lighting. Perversely, as LEDs have become more powerful, we�ve started to fall back into those bad old ways of lighting � using projected light to create our lighted scenes (yawn) � where sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn�t.
LEDs work best when they can be woven into the fabric and patterning of a building � not when they are just bolted on to the fa�ade like an afterthought.
Now whether we should be burning energy in this flamboyant fahion is open to debate, especially at a time when energy costs are spiralling and local authorities are being forced to consider reductions in their street lighting provision. There�s probably sufficient justification right there for a follow-up piece to this one.
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
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John Bullock Lighting Design
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