Architect Milind Pai explaining the types of lighting, lighting fixtures and many key parameters for lighting in design emphasized on lighting's ability to influence the aesthetics of a given space.
He also talked in detail about the evolution of lighting and how sustainability, wellness and energy efficiency are the current buzzwords and the way architects and designers are with time adopting the changes.
Architect Milind Pai through the presentation demonstrated the impact of lighting in residential, commercial, hospitality, institutional, retail and health facilities and also the type of lighting most suitable for each function.
Architect Pai while talking about the circadian rhythm concept said, "Circadian rhythm affects the human body and mind and when w e design our lighting, technical expertise to determine how human eye perceives the light becomes essential. Correlated Color temperature (CCT) is becoming an important consideration in most working environments and in selecting the correct and appropriate lighting solutions. While most designers have their favourite lighting setting for correct rendition of interior spaces. We have partnered with one of the lighting manufacturers to supply us fixtures with Correlated Colour Temperature (CCT) 3500 K as it enhances most colours equally."
LIGHTING AND VARIOUS ENVIRONMENTS
Having the colour light temperatures as close to natural daylight as possible, is important to eliminate fatigue. In a retail environment, light colour plays a big part in influencing the perception of products. In residential setting warm yellow colours are ideal for a relaxed living room, whereas bright and crisp blue lighting may be preferred in a bathroom or kitchen. Architect Pai elaborated.
SMART LIGHTING CONTROLS
Talking about the importance of automation architect Pai said, "Smart lighting automation is now getting commonplace in residential projects. With better understanding of lighting, availability of products at reasonable costs and to enhance energy efficiency, homeowners are increasingly gravitating towards smart lighting products. In the current scenario touch less operations offered by the smart lighting controls are becoming popular. Moreover, building systems have now moved to IoT and all the building systems, sensors and appliances can now talk to each other and can be operated remotely through mobile phones or voice control interfaces.
The fields of lighting and architecture are constantly evolving and lighting industry too needs to keep pace with the changes to address the evolving needs. As Sudeshna Mukhopadhay, Vice President, Havells India Ltd expressed, “As a solution provider, it is important for us to understand the architect’s specific needs so as to create specific solutions as well as develop products as per market needs. Designers are now using dynamic rather than static model of lighting design that is sensor based and can adjust user preference, time of the day and weather conditions while maintaining minimum electricity consumption. The manufacturers too are collaborating with the architects to develop products that can be closer to the future necessities.”
On the health aspect of lighting design, both the speaker concurred that given employees spend maximum time indoors it is essential the artificial lighting matches the human circadian cycle. “The seamless transition from outdoors to indoors with respect to lighting to avoid sudden change is an area of improvement,” said Ar Milind Pai.
Sudeshna Mukhopadhay concurred that the fields of both design and lighting are continuously evolving and require ongoing research and development as per new emerging trends.
LIGHTING DESIGN IS HALF SCIENCE AND HALF ART I.E. A COMBINATION OF SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES AND STANDARDS ALONG WITH AESTHETIC AND CULTURAL FACTORS APPLIED IN AN ARTFUL MANNER.
