Think of how sunbeams streaming through the soaring ceiling of Union Station’s Great Hall can give your upcoming train ride an added sense of adventure. Or how a beautifully lit pool on a rooftop terrace adds sophistication to your evening. Or even how the right (or wrong) type of light will impact your productivity at work. Whether it be a cozy breakfast nook in a private residence, an office space, a grand entrance to a museum, or a welcoming lobby at a hotel, illumination plays a fundamental role in two key aspects of architecture: aesthetic and ergonomic. In this blog, we’re going to explore some of the ways that illumination impacts our interactions with architecture.
DEFINING ILLUMINATION
The literal definition of illumination is the act of supplying an object or space with light. Figuratively, we also understand the term to mean “spiritual or intellectual enlightenment” or even inspiration. When it comes to experiencing and appreciating architecture, these two definitions both apply. As we enter a space, the presence (or absence) and quality of light plays an integral role in how we perceive its size, feel, and functionality.
THE IMPACT OF LIGHT
The impact of light on the aesthetics of a space may feel obvious, but there are a number of different ways illumination affects our experience that we might not immediately recognize. The volume of light, particularly natural light, will really set the mood of a room.
Light flooding in through expansive floor-to-ceiling windows can make a space feel warm and welcoming, even a large or imposing structure.
Low light, perhaps accompanied by candles or a roaring fireplace, can also generate a warm, cozy, welcoming mood, on a more intimate scale.
Colorful, more modern LED lighting can make a space feel contemporary or cutting edge. For the Radisson Blue Aqua Hotel in Chicago, we created a blue glow in the seams between geometric corten metal panels with LED fixtures to give the reception area a compelling, contemporary look.
On the other hand, illumination can also maintain a more traditional feel of a landmark structure, even while meeting modern standards and codes, as we did for the Blackstone Hotel in Chicago. Even with a more modernized design scheme, the aim was to maintain the Beaux-Arts feel of this historic building, including keeping original fixtures.
STRIKING THE RIGHT BALANCE
Innovative lighting techniques can also help strike a balance between a traditional feel and a desire to convey a modern sensibility, as seen in the result of our work on the Northern Trust headquarters in Chicago. We used backlighting to create a plane of light across the dramatic glass canopy, which extended from the exterior through into the lobby. The effect created a contemporary feel while still conveying the stability and strength associated with this Chicago institution for over a century.
In order to make the renovated lobby of the Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel a destination in and of itself, we used illumination to highlight photography pieces and other works of art that evoke Chicago’s architectural and artistic traditions. We also incorporated a more dynamic lighting scheme throughout the hotel, with pockets of softer or brighter light, as well as backlighting to help underscore new design features throughout the hotel. The ultimate effect was integrated illumination that directed the eye and gave the spaces a chic, contemporary feel in a way that did not feel obtrusive. Effective illumination should do its job without the public actually noticing the work, just appreciating the result.
SIZING A SPACE
Illumination can dramatically impact our perception of the size of a space, adding height or depth to interiors or exteriors. At the Chervon Group Headquarters in Nanjing, China, we found an ideal opportunity to use uplighting on the floating roof in order to make the space feel taller. We balanced this more dramatic sense of height with a warm glow inside that helped the interior retain an intimate, personal feel.
IMPROVING FUNCTIONALITY
In addition to amplifying the aesthetic aspect of architecture, illumination can improve the ergonomic aspect. Some ergonomic needs are purely functional: bright lighting is desirable in a parking garage, for example, to create a sense of safety. In many other cases, however, functional and aesthetic come together when designing an ergonomic lighting scheme, particularly when it comes to the use of natural light.
Daylighting involves “the use of natural light, be it brilliant sunlight or muted overcast light, to support the visual demands of building occupants.” This type of illumination can range from natural light as the primary light source to simply the presence of a window or two. Whatever the degree, however, natural light has been found to not only greatly enhance the aesthetic appeal of architecture, but also to benefit the health of those who use the space.
Research suggests that the presence of natural light can lead to improved retail sales, improved student learning outcomes, and boosts in employee productivity and satisfaction. The use of daylight does need to be balanced against less desirable effects, however, such as glares or heat, but when incorporated effectively it is beneficial in numerous ways. At the Kohler Creative Communications Center in Wisconsin we balanced the natural light from expansive windows with daylight responsive controls and dimming to tune the lighting to optimal levels.
LIGHTING THE WAY
Beyond natural light, illumination can also provide a sense of unification, helping direct visitors to key locations, tie the components of an exhibit together, or make emergency services more immediately identifiable. Lighting schemes can help guide people through the space efficiently, in addition to highlighting key architectural features, as we saw with the Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel above.
Even when what we think we see when taking in architecture is form, texture, or size, the foundation of everything we see—and more importantly, how we see it—rests with light. Illumination enhances what we see, how we perceive a space, and helps shape the mood created by a structure.
At CharterSills, we believe that when lighting is designed correctly, it can add dimension to the simplest of spaces. Lighting can turn an ordinary space into a work of art. Whatever design challenges clients present, CharterSills responds with a solution that exceeds their expectations. Contact us today at (312) 759-5909 or by email at info@chartersills.com.