BRINGING BUILDINGS TO LIFE
A city is known by its buildings, its skyline and its cityscape. Another important aspect that adds to its charm is the nightlife. And for this, the illumination of buildings plays a critical part in defining the night identity of the city and its experience. Building’s exterior lighting while serving its functional purpose of safety & security offers interesting imagery, raising the profile of the area. In current times, apart from the aesthetic design sensibility, lighting solutions also need to be economically and environmentally sustainable. The designers keeping all these factors in mind are increasingly using energy efficient lighting fixtures and intelligent lighting controls and systems. From uniform façade illumination to dynamic exterior lighting, the lighting designers share their perspective on how to accentuate the form, materials and interesting features of a building while taking care to prevent unnecessary light pollution. Shubhada Gole, Founder, Principal Designer, Gaush Lighting Designers, Mumbai shared, “The main purpose of facade lighting is to accentuate the architectural features of the building structure. It can also provide an artistic/culture based look and feel to the structure so overall it looks magnificent. Facade lighting can also enhance the skyline beautifully.” Dimple Nagda, Lighting Designer, Brainwave Designs, Mumbai elaborated, “Blending in with its urban context or standing out to draw attention, a façade tells a building’s story. Facades exert influence on achieving superior aesthetics, symbolic and cultural meanings, representing concepts such as elegance, modernity, and technological advancement, and this is where facade lighting comes into play. Illuminating facades with lights can transform a lifeless building into a real eye-catcher as it highlights the architecture and puts emphasis on key building features. The uniform illumination of facades serves to emphasize landmarks and gives them a calm presence in the urban space. The purpose of facade lighting can be both aesthetic and practical. From an aesthetic perspective, facade lighting can enhance the visual appeal of a building or structure by highlighting its architectural features and creating an attractive night-time appearance and give visitors a reason for coming back. From a practical perspective, Facade lighting can improve the safety and security of a building by providing adequate illumination around its perimeter. It can also help to guide people towards entrances and exits, making it easier to navigate in low-light conditions.” Abhiram R, Lighting Design Consultant, Apta Lighting Design Studio from Dehradun said, “The purpose of facade lighting is to enhance the visual appeal and aesthetics of a building's exterior. It involves strategically illuminating the facade or outer surface of a structure to highlight its architectural features, create a visually striking presence, and enhance its overall appearance, especially during night-time. Facade lighting can also be used to convey a specific mood or message, improve the building's visibility, and contribute to the surrounding environment's ambiance. Facade lighting can contribute to reducing light pollution when implemented with proper design and techniques. By using well-directed and controlled lighting fixtures, it helps to minimize unnecessary light spill and glare that can disturb the surrounding environment or impact the night sky.” Dakshi Singh, Lighting Designer, Lightbook Lighting Design from New Delhi added, “Facade lighting serves multiple purposes in lighting design. Its primary objective is to enhance the aesthetic appeal and architectural features of a building's exterior, creating a visually striking and inviting facade. It also plays a crucial role in improving safety and security by illuminating entrances, pathways, and potential hazards. Furthermore, facade lighting allows for effective communication of a building's identity, brand, or message, enabling storytelling and creating memorable experiences. Overall, it is a powerful tool that combines artistic expression with functional illumination to transform buildings into visually captivating landmarks.” Apoorva Goswami, Lighting Designer, Lighting Ergonomics from Pune concurred, “Façade is the first impression of a building and “First impression is irretrievable”. Façade lighting is one of the domains of lighting design industry and it plays a critical role in highlighting the architectural forms and structure of the building envelop. A well-meaning Lighting emphasis on building’s façade can positively influence the contextual dimension of the building in its urban setting. Lighting has the magical powers to distinguish one building type from the other. For example, a Commercial Mall would need a magnetic quality to attract its customers, whereas a Hospital building would need different qualities to convey its message to outside world, all with the help of well thought out Lighting treatment.” DESIGNING ARCHITECTURAL LIGHTING The best way to approach facade lighting depends on the specific design objectives, architectural characteristics, and desired visual effects. Some effective techniques for achieving stunning facade lighting are - accentuate architectural features, uniform illumination, dynamic lighting, layering techniques, silhouetting and backlighting, interactive lighting, thoughtful light placement, control and automation along with energy efficiency, sustainability and longevity. Abhiram R explained, “Designing and implementing architectural/facade lighting can pose several challenges and problems. Some of the common issues include: Technical Complexity: Architectural lighting design requires a deep understanding of lighting fixtures, control systems, electrical wiring, and photometric calculations. Energy Efficiency: Achieving a balance between visual impact and energy efficiency is a challenge. Designers need to consider energy-saving measures, such as using LED fixtures, optimizing lighting levels, and employing smart control systems to minimize energy consumption. Light Pollution and Glare: Improperly designed or misaligned lighting fixtures can lead to light pollution and glare issues. Maintenance and Accessibility: Architectural lighting installations often require regular maintenance and access for repairs or bulb replacements. Coordination with Other Systems: Architectural lighting systems often need to integrate with other building systems, such as automation, security, or audio-visual systems. Environmental Factors: Outdoor architectural lighting is exposed to various environmental conditions such as rain, wind, temperature variations, and UV radiation. Lighting fixtures need to be durable and weather-resistant to withstand these factors and maintain their performance over time. Addressing these challenges requires a collaborative approach involving architects, lighting designers, electrical engineers, and other relevant stakeholders.” According to Apoorva Goswami, “The biggest problem is the speed at which the client makes the decision. Façade Lighting related decisions (concepts, drawings, details and selection of luminaires) need to happen early on in the project. Many façade lighting features never get built because it is too late for any conduiting and installing luminaires on finished architectural surfaces. The second big issue is the challenges in developing details that are workable and practical. Lighting Designers need to be creative, confident, and proactive in coordinating lighting details that are integral to the building envelope.” Dakshi Singh expressed, “Designing and implementing architectural facade lighting can present several challenges. One common issue is achieving the desired aesthetic while ensuring energy efficiency and sustainability. Balancing the lighting design with the building's architecture can be complex, requiring careful consideration of angles, fixture placement, and light distribution. Additionally, choosing the right lighting technology and controlling glare and light pollution can be challenging. As per my experience, practical concerns, such as wiring, access for maintenance, and weather resistance, must also be addressed. Lastly, coordinating with architects, electrical engineers, and other stakeholders throughout the design and implementation process is crucial to ensure a successful outcome.” As per Dimple Nagda, creating the perfect facade lighting design requires considering several factors. “It is essential to infuse the best practices to save resources and get the best lighting effects on projects during night time. Designing and implementing a high-quality architectural/facade lighting system can be expensive, and the cost must be weighed against the benefits of the system. Budget constraints can limit the choice of lighting technology and the scope of the lighting design. Inadequate design or excessive brightness can contribute to light pollution, which negatively affects the environment and disturbs ecosystems. If facade lighting is too bright or not properly shielded, it can create glare that can be uncomfortable and potentially dangerous for drivers and pedestrians. Implementing facade lighting can involve technical challenges related to the installation, control, and maintenance of the lighting fixtures. While all light sources and fixtures should be resistant to changing climatic conditions, they should be accessible for maintenance and repair. Improper installation angles or the inappropriate position of light sources, over-illuminated facades, and reflected light from the facade are just some examples.” Shubhada Gole said that though the facade lighting can be designed with the help of Photoshop renders, Google sketchup, 3D views etc., but the primary problem is the accurate selection and installation of lighting fixtures. Since the facade is an outdoor area, selection of right fixtures for the intended applications, choosing the correct IP Rated fixtures, then pulling the electrical circuits as per automation/non-automation, making arrangements for placements of remote drivers, and precise installation of fixtures - these are very crucial points to be considered. If any of these points are missed out during designing the facade lighting layouts & documents, then it can create teething problems during execution as well as in the long term.” ENHANCING THE EXTERIORS Modern facades require a lighting solution as per the varied styles and elements that are the highlights in any building. Facade lighting includes using multiple light sources, considering the building's architecture, using color, choosing energy-efficient lighting technology, controlling the light output, and considering maintenance. Abhiram R stated, “There is a wide range of light fixtures available for facade lighting, and the choice depends on the specific design objectives, architectural characteristics, and budget considerations. Some typical light fixtures commonly used in facade lighting are Wall Washers, Floodlights, Linear Fixtures, Spotlights, In-Ground Uplights, Step Lights, Bollard Lights, RGB Color-Changing Fixtures, Fiber Optic Lighting as well as Integrated Lighting Systems.” Dimple Nagda added, “The lighting should be designed to create a sense of depth and dimension, highlighting the different layers and textures of the facade. This can be achieved by using techniques such as uplighting, downlighting, and grazing. Some typical light fixtures used are: Floodlights: These fixtures emit a wide beam of light, illuminating large sections of the facade uniformly. Wall washers are commonly used to provide even lighting on smooth surfaces or to create a soft glow. Linear lights: Linear LED fixtures are commonly used for grazing or accent lighting, as they can be mounted along edges, lines, or recessed into architectural details, defining its shape and providing a visually appealing frame. Grazers: Fixtures placed close to the facade and directed upward can produce a grazing effect, accentuating the textures and three-dimensional aspects of the surface. This technique is especially effective with textured or patterned facades. Up lights: Uplights give the facade a rhythmic structure, installed on the ground or recessed, these fixtures illuminate the facade from below, emphasizing vertical elements and architectural details such as columns, trees, or other vertical elements. Projection lighting: Projectors can be used to display images, patterns, or logos onto the facade. This technique is often employed for branding or special event purposes. Color-changing RGB or RGBW fixtures with controllable color and intensity allows for dynamic lighting effects and the creation of captivating displays. By programming different color schemes, transitions, or patterns, the building's facade can be transformed and adapted for various occasions or events.” Shubhada Gole agreed on the above ways of facade lighting and with on-going technology advancements and added that we are going to see many new ways of facade lighting in the future. “Linear wall grazers, Linear LED Profiles, projector spotlights and wall-washers, up & downlighters, marquee lights are some of the commonly used fixtures for architectural facade lighting. There are some projects where Projection Mapping is used where the whole building facade is lit up with programmable projector fixtures. Projection Mapping can also be done using LED Screens, LED Curtains on the facade structure. Finally it all depends on the theme or goal for facade lighting which is set by the client, architect and lighting designer on each project.” Dakshi Singh was of the view that to achieve effective facade lighting, several approaches can be employed. “As per my experience in the field the following ways are considered to be the most effective ones. One method is using uplighting to illuminate the architectural elements from below, creating a dramatic effect. Another approach is downlighting, where fixtures are mounted above the facade to cast light downward, emphasizing textures and details. Wall grazing is also common, involving fixtures placed near the surface to highlight the building's texture. Typically, facade lighting employs a range of fixtures such as floodlights, spotlights, linear LED strips, floor washers, and wall-mounted fixtures. LED technology is popular due to its energy efficiency and flexibility. RGB fixtures are often used to create dynamic color-changing effects, while warm white lights provide a timeless and elegant ambiance.” Apoorva Goswami added, “Lighting for the facade can be achieved through subtle accenting of architectural form and features, of building envelop during the night-time. Light sources will be integrated with the fabric of the building envelope, with the intention to light up the surfaces while concealing them from normal viewing. It enhances the night-time experience of the occupants, ensure safety and security while minimizing light pollution, trespass and energy consumption. Contemporary approach in façade lighting involves integrating a light source with the architectural features that typically gets repeated in a rhythmic pattern. To create this kind of experience, maintenance of the lighting fixture is required so that they can provide its best illumination and does not get effected by any foreign particles. Outdoor weatherproof light fixtures are used for façade lighting as the light source are placed at open spaces.” NOTEWORTHY PROJECTS Abhiram R shared, “We have successfully implemented facade lighting for the Paroppadi residence, exemplifying sustainable practices and incorporating design elements that reduce light pollution. In this project, we carefully selected fixtures made from environmentally friendly materials, ensuring a reduced carbon footprint. The fixtures were designed to minimize light spillage and focused the light precisely on the intended areas, avoiding unnecessary upward or outward lighting. By utilizing innovative techniques and precise beam control, we were able to create a captivating play of light and shadow, enhancing the architectural features of the building. The light source itself remains concealed, ensuring a seamless visual experience for viewers while allowing the captivating interplay between light and shadow to take centre stage.” Dakshi Singh gave an example, “In the residence with art deco architectural elements we have utilised the highlights of this building facade and designed the lighting by bifurcating the building elements into various layers simultaneously respecting the architect's concepts by projecting the feature elements. The idea is to achieve the rendered effects by the variety of architectural lighting products available in the market nowadays. We had the opportunity to create an elegant ambience with aesthetically appealing light fixtures by deploying the linear grazers, column uplighters, wall mounted decorative luminaires and general downlighting and creating a dramatic experience while using the intricate cornice details available with us.” Apoorva Goswami shared an instance of working on an institutional project in Mumbai. “The front elevation of the building was dominated with vibrant coloured fins. We have provided with different scenarios; daily based, after school activities and special occasions. Daily based scenario, will have a subtle glow that wash the façade uniformly, this element will provide a unified expression throughout the evening and later through the course of the night with dimmed intensity. After school activity scenario, will have spotlight element installed at the foot of the specific fins that will graze it in a more pronounced manner and appear as distinctive feature. Special occasion’s scenario, an additional layer of spotlight downlight is added in the top frame to expand and enhance the presence of fins. Spots are positioned in an alternate pattern to produce visual interest and help economize the overall solution. With a control system, certain light fixtures could be programmed ON or OFF or even softly animated to reveal festive themes.” The main purpose of facade lighting is to accentuate the architectural features of the building structure. SHUBHADA GOLE Blending in with its urban context or standing out to draw attention, a façade tells a building’s story. DIMPLE NAGDA The purpose of facade lighting is to enhance the visual appeal of a building's exterior. ABHIRAM R Facade lighting serves multiple purposes in lighting design. Its primary objective is to enhance the aesthetics. DAKSHI SINGH “Façade is the first impression of a building and “First impression is irretrievable.” APOORVA GOSWAMI
Tags : buildings architecture highlight dimensions materials lighting designers skyline cityscape safety security imagery profile Shubhada Gole Founder Principal Designer Gaush Lighting Designers Mumbai Dimple Nagda Lighting Designer Brainwave Designs Mumbai Abhiram R Lighting Design Consultant Apta Lighting Design Studio Dehradun Dakshi Singh Lighting Designer Lightbook Lighting Design New Delhi Apoorva Goswami Lighting Designer Lighting Ergonomics Pune