As a lighting designer, originally from the UK theatre, film and television lighting industry and having been working on prestigious architectural lighting projects globally since 1994. I firmly believe that the limiter to creativity does not have to be the budget, the limiters to creativity are the ideas, if we have a tight budget then we have to have better ideas. However we do this, whether by taking a less is more approachable, getting big bangs for our buck or by choosing our battles, selecting the areas where there can be no compromise.
Working on projects in India I have come across some of my toughest challenges budget-wise, but at the same time I have found Indian clients some of the most reasonable, approachable and intelligent that I have encountered globally when it comes to discussing key design budget elements of a project and find that they are accessible to being educated with regards to areas of no compromise and establishing a value to the design decisions.
I feel that both clients and architects are more confused than ever with the array of LED lighting products on offer, from very high end US and European products to dubious quality products from Asia and everything in between (disclaimer: the author knows of quality products from Asia and by no means believes that every product manufactured in Asia is dubious). When do we use which product with honesty and fairness to both client and projects?
Dramatic effect in nature. Arches National Park, Utah USA
Image- Per Fasmer
We have to be courageous and have integrity as lighting designers for there are some battles that we cannot lose. When lighting facades or exterior projects we have to control the junction temperature of the LED diodes or we will have swift failure, especially in low or high extreme ambient temperatures; failure to do so will result in product failures and a façade that resembles a mouth full of gapped teeth.
This is definitely an area where clients need protecting from themselves and where I feel as designers we should undertake any value engineering services ourselves so that we make informed design decisions that are best for the client in the long term. I understand the need to save money, this is very much the case in The Middle East market currently as oil revenue falls and likewise project budgets, but design crucial decisions must be taken by people qualified to make the technical and budget decisions required.
All this said, whether we are on tight budgets or not we have a duty as designers to deliver both technical and artistic excellence and that is where I would like to concentrate this article as an inspiration to us all.
So let’s explore some little known yet creative projects, both internally and externally, that touch and inspire and at the same time do not break the bank.
Just outside Bergen in Norway an aluminium factory wanted to make a statement with a light art piece that highlighted their capabilities as aluminium suppliers and fabricators.
An aluminium framework was erected and a sail fabric inner stretched within the frame, the effect is amazing for the cost of a few RGB colour changing floodlights. I am sure that you will agree that this iconic artwork is a welcome addition to the local nightscape.
Artic Cathedral Tromso illuminated in the colours of the French flag
Image- David Lambert
It is obvious but worth pointing out on this Norwegian project that high quality luminaires are essential as we are dealing with ambient temperatures of minus thirty degree Celsius and often extreme weather conditions.
As lighting and in today’s world visual designer’s we should look for inspiration around every corner. Nature is a huge inspiration for me as is art and light art, combine the two as on this rock arch in Utah and we have motivation and the duty to look at buildings as simply and as sculpturally as this installation.
Artic Cathedral Tromso illuminated in the colours of the French flag
Image- David Lambert
When lighting building façades, we have several factors to consider, how the building looks from afar, LED engines that are space enabled so that they can act as a security guard in museums and galleries ready to activate screens and protection if the clients get too close to expensive exhibits or that can transmit commentary direct to mobile devices with information of the artworks themselves.
Lazarides Gallery
Image- Lazarides
It is our responsibility as designers to stay up to date with available technology and its appropriate usage, but at the same time to realise that the days of sticking a light under every tree are gone.
We do not have to limit our creative ideas to the outside of buildings as there is plenty of scope for creativity within the internal space. Hospitality projects, retail projects and nowadays even commercial and residential projects, especially in communal spaces, are more dramatic or atmospheric giving free reign to the imagination.
Window display Harvey Nicholls, London.
Image- David Gilbey
It is a given the sense of drama within museum and gallery spaces, coming from the theatre this has given me immense professional enjoyment and satisfaction working on such projects, seeing such theatre creep into retail and hospitality projects is a joy. Department store windows displays are becoming an art form in themselves and sometimes invitations to fantasy worlds.
The diminishing size of the light source enabled by LED technology allows us to seamlessly incorporate lighting into the architecture or to make lighting a statement piece within the architecture.
Drama aplenty at The Paramount Hotel Riyadh
Image- UMAYA Lighting
The large LED feature light inside Snohetta’s Olso Opera House reads as a moonlight figure within the space and is both moody and evocative.
The Paramount Hotel in Riyadh Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is somewhat surprising for such a conservative market, but it highlights the demand of an assortment of hotel styles and formats globally. This funky, modern boutique style has theatre aplenty with a vertical media screen, film set like lights, illuminated slots and the sand dune feature lighting.
The individual bedrooms at The Paramount reflect the style of this boutique hotel and serve as an example of how rooms can be both comfortable and exciting at the same time.
At the entrance lobby of The Rotunda Building in Birmingham, UK. The custom LEDs incorporated in aluminium poles provide a marvelous sculptural element that delineates the space and accentuates the high ceiling within the lobby. A relatively inexpensive idea that makes a real architectural impact.
This article deliberately uses very strong visual images and is designed to be both inspiring and thought provoking. We have the technology these days to be unendingly creative but we have an extra responsibility to harness our creativity so that we respect the neighborhood and neighboring buildings, we must respect our clients budgets but at the same time we must employ our ideas to get the very best value for money and most importantly we must balance the artistry and the technical.
Great design and responsible, whole project and strategic thinking will allow us to conform to every green building code and energy initiative and at the same time deliver beauty for the world to admire.
David Gilbey
Associate Lighting Designer
UMAYA Lighting Design
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