LED lighting has become a popular option for both indoor and outdoor lighting, and in turn has revolutionised the architectural industry. LED is actually an acronym that stands for light emitting diodes. Essentially, they are semi-conductors that take electrical current, disassemble it into individual photons and then reassemble the light at a different wavelength.
LED Lighting is extremely efficient, long lasting, and comes in various colours which can be manipulated to achieve desired effects. This is why they are useful in the architectural development; professionals can use them to add a certain edge to the building or design of the building, ultimately making the area more appealing.
Being exceptionally versatile, you can find LED lighting in the break room of your local office or see it outdoors on billboards, which will draw attention to a particular product or service. Its large popularity comes down to the fact that LEDs offer a safe alternative in places where incandescent or fluorescent lighting would be dangerous, too expensive, or impossible to install.
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LED lights have already shown stunning results when linked with architectural design. The lighting can enhance the outdoor experience of a building by drawing attention to certain features, through its ability to create individual colours for specific areas on demand.
Within, they can be used as accent pieces that bring focus to attributes of the room. Or alternatively, to provide ambient light that can enhance any space.
Providing architects with this timeless option makes their work more appealing to its audiences, due to its stylish features and inexpensive nature. Lighting can bring an emotional value to architecture. This brings to light the idea of Human Centric Lighting and how to perfectly implement it into architects’ work.
Human Centric Lighting, or HCL for short, stands for a planning approach that puts people and their requirements at the centre of lighting design. It addresses the visual, emotional, and biological effects of light.
Not to get too technical, but our eyes’ two photoreceptors (the way we respond to light) are cones and rods. In the beginning of the 21st century, scientists discovered another light-sensitive receptor type which adopts a role in the synchronisation of our day-night rhythm. All beings have an ‘inner clock’ called circadian rhythm, and humans are no exception.
Essentially it means we (at least should!) rise with sun and go to sleep when it sets, the right light at the right time can influence everything from how we sleep to how we feel and perform. Daylight stimulates us and influences our mood and activity level. As we spend a lot of our time indoors, the characteristics of artificial light become more and more significant. HCL solutions can compensate for the lack of daylight and contribute to the natural circadian rhythm of humans.
Read more: How LED lighting can be used to improve our moods and physical health
This links together the use of HCL with architecture. How architectural lighting considers the visual perception of architecture, the visual task the audience are completing, and the emotional and biological component that comes with it.
It’s a clever way to ensure audiences can appreciate the full works of the building, accentuated by LEDs. Despite the physical benefits, it contributes to promoting the well-being of users with their holistic lighting concepts. I’m not trying to suggest any sort of hypnotisation but, if the audience feels relaxed by the use of lighting in the building, they will associate their experience with positive memories. Ultimately, this is another win for the architects involved.
Lighting has always been a fundamental element in the conception of architectural spaces, as it is a capable of playing with volumes, disfiguring the perception of space, and even dramatizing the shapes of the materials, which enhances their aesthetic features massively.
LED lighting has also been used by architects to transform dull, unwelcoming work environments to fun and characteristic offices, that are exciting for employees to work in. A great example of this, worthy of telling, would be Germany’s Ludenscheid. Co-working spaces come in all shapes and styles these days, with modern loft offices being a popular choice for locating your business.
The industrial look that is common among these means we have to be flexible in the way we interact and design our offices, and with this comes lighting. Certain types of LED lighting are the perfect solution to the demand for adaptability for today’s offices, especially spaces with high ceilings.
Office lighting has to fulfil a variety of requirements; the model of the lighting functions enables designers to flexibly respond to a high diversity of architectural situations and work methods within an increasingly dynamic world of work.
At the start of each lighting project designers must consider three questions for each functional area. The first question is why do we illuminate, which architectural or functional significance does the room have as this will affect how the designer uses the LED lighting in the room. The second question that pops up is what can the light achieve, which office tasks will be supported via lighting to optimise the use of the room? And lastly, what is the ideal lighting solution, which individual lighting strategy and methods of lighting are suitable as the basis for lighting design?
As an office worker myself, and I’m sure I speak for many, I wish more designers considered these questions before finalising their project. The capabilities of LED lighting are exceedingly high if used correctly, and you can adapt your working environment to be even more comfortable and productive.
Numerous members of the International Association of Lighting Designers, (IALD) say that clients, admired by its work, frequently request LED lighting for their projects. Its difficult to say that this fascination was the same around fluorescents. The excitement comes from the sheer amount of LEDs’ benefits, their fun concept combined with their sustainability and energy savings are quite unmatchable.
Ready to take the step into the future of lighting? Contact Cube Lighting & Design here to see if you qualify for free LED lighting!
Want to keep reading? Check out our latest blog post here: How LEDs can treat illnesses and improve our lifestyle
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