Where to use - Urban Lighting
Floodlighting of buildings and facades
The purpose of architectural floodlighting is to show the beauty of a structure or add a something by showing a structure in a new way.
Lighting levels should be in harmony with the surrounding area. In darker areas comparatively little light can be used to good effect, but in brighter areas higher light levels will be required.
It is often better for light to flow across a structure from one general direction for the main floodlights. This direction should not be the same as the most common viewing direction otherwise no shadows will be visible and the scene will appear flat and uninteresting.
Take care to avoid a "floating" appearance, caused by the base of the structure being under lit, or detail at high level seeming disconnected from the rest. Care should also be taken that the floodlighting equipment does not appear in silhouette against the lit scene, spoiling the overall effect.
Positioning floodlights in a close offset position will tend to enhance the textures of the materials of the structure whereas floodlights at a distance will tend to reduce the visibility of textures.
Floodlighting a structure from above can mimic a "daylight" effect, whilst floodlighting from below will reverse the shadows and can often give a fresh and unique night time appearance.
Showing features in silhouette may enhance the lit appearance of a structure. Lighting behind features such as columns will show the form of the structure and display the columns in silhouette against the lit structure.
It is important to try to minimise waste light that spills light onto the surroundings or upwards into the sky. Close offset lighting will reduce waste light by minimising light lost through scatter in the air.
To minimise obtrusive light additional attachments can be used on the floodlight such as louvres or visors to shape the floodlight beam and help it match the shape of the structure. Where possible niches and overhangs should be used to contain obtrusive light.
Lighting levels should be in harmony with the surrounding area. In darker areas comparatively little light can be used to good effect, but in brighter areas higher light levels will be required.
It is often better for light to flow across a structure from one general direction for the main floodlights. This direction should not be the same as the most common viewing direction otherwise no shadows will be visible and the scene will appear flat and uninteresting.
Take care to avoid a "floating" appearance, caused by the base of the structure being under lit, or detail at high level seeming disconnected from the rest. Care should also be taken that the floodlighting equipment does not appear in silhouette against the lit scene, spoiling the overall effect.
Positioning floodlights in a close offset position will tend to enhance the textures of the materials of the structure whereas floodlights at a distance will tend to reduce the visibility of textures.
Floodlighting a structure from above can mimic a "daylight" effect, whilst floodlighting from below will reverse the shadows and can often give a fresh and unique night time appearance.
Showing features in silhouette may enhance the lit appearance of a structure. Lighting behind features such as columns will show the form of the structure and display the columns in silhouette against the lit structure.
It is important to try to minimise waste light that spills light onto the surroundings or upwards into the sky. Close offset lighting will reduce waste light by minimising light lost through scatter in the air.
To minimise obtrusive light additional attachments can be used on the floodlight such as louvres or visors to shape the floodlight beam and help it match the shape of the structure. Where possible niches and overhangs should be used to contain obtrusive light.
