{"id":2424,"date":"2022-10-05T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-10-05T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.alconlighting.com\/blog\/?p=2424"},"modified":"2023-04-12T12:47:55","modified_gmt":"2023-04-12T19:47:55","slug":"what-are-architectural-lighting-fixtures","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.alconlighting.com\/blog\/lighting-design\/what-are-architectural-lighting-fixtures\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Architectural Lighting?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Architectural lighting design serves and enhances certain architectural elements to foster, establish or emphasize a building\u2019s aesthetic, history and purpose\u2014its ethos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Architectural lighting can be similar but is not exactly the same as lighting design<\/a>. The former\u2019s focus is on architecture. The latter’s consideration is often ergonomic or functional \u2014 any aspect that improves one\u2019s ability to live, work, function, relax or play \u2014 to make sure light is optimally used and distributed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Architectural lighting is the intersection of art (architecture), design and technology (lighting). Other fields of endeavor also come into play, such as physics, engineering and the psychological and physiological effects of light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The significance of lighting in architecture<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n

 Architecture is an expression of values.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n\u2013 Norman Foster, Architect<\/em><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Lighting can influence a person\u2019s mood and their connection to a space. Whether history, identity or values, the features of a building can tell a story. Architectural lighting can work to bring the story to life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Common applications of architectural lighting<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Architectural lights are products that can be customized with various options. These products can also be referred to as specification-grade lights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LED lighting<\/a> technological progress and versatility affords architects and lighting designers the ability to achieve more creative designs. This enables the designer to highlight architectural features without visually revealing the fixture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of the most common applications of architectural lighting are cove lighting, uplighting, linear recessed, surface and suspension lighting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Cove
LED cove lights are used in this space to highlight the design element on the wall.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Cove lighting<\/a>\u2014which can be mounted to a ceiling or wall\u2014casts a soft glow to highlight certain design features such as the wall design pictured above in this yoga and meditation studio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Linear
Linear ceiling surface lights used in this AARMY fitness center popup in Los Angeles to set the mood for spin classes.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A recent case study<\/a> features a West Hollywood, California, fitness studio which used linear LED surface lighting to create the impression of traveling through the galaxy at the speed of light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Uplighting
Using LED uplighting to highlight architectural ceiling features like exposed beams.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Uplighting<\/a>, a form of indirect lighting, is often used to showcase notable structural ceiling features such as the steel beams pictured above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Final Thought on Architectural Lighting<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Finally, begin to contemplate what story your building may be telling and, in particular, which elements you may want to emphasize and bring to life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Architectural lighting functions to accentuate and showcase architecture. Architecture and lighting ought never to be aesthetically at odds. They strengthen one another and must work as two parts of an integrated, whole human experience.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The term Architectural Lighting encompasses three main factors. The first is the building\u2019s aesthetic, which is crucial for any commercial, especially retail, environment. The second consideration is ergonomic or functional \u2014 any aspect which improves one\u2019s ability to live, work, function, relax or play \u2014 to make the space easier to use. The third aspect involves the efficiency of energy, ensuring that light is properly, which is to say economically or optimally, used and distributed. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8465,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[349,180],"tags":[751,753,755,752],"thb-sponsors":[],"ppma_author":[773],"yoast_head":"\nWhat is Architectural Lighting and How Is It Unique? - Insights<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn what architectural lighting is and how it differs in form and function from other lighting design methods, blending art and technology.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.alconlighting.com\/blog\/lighting-design\/what-are-architectural-lighting-fixtures\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What Makes Architectural Lighting Unique?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"This unique approach to lighting design is an intersection of art and technology.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.alconlighting.com\/blog\/lighting-design\/what-are-architectural-lighting-fixtures\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Insights\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2022-10-05T17:00:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-04-12T19:47:55+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.alconlighting.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/fit=contain,format=webp,width=1430\/https:\/\/www.alconlighting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Linear-Surface-Lights-in-Fitness-Center.jpeg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1430\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"572\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"David Hakimi\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"The Role of Lighting in Architecture\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"Architectural lighting is lighting design with specialized focus. 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