Complete Guide to Architectural Lighting

There are many types of lighting out there, each serving a unique purpose in various spaces. One of the least talked about types of lighting is architectural lighting. LED architectural lights are growing in popularity, thanks to their energy-saving qualities, and below, we will explore just what makes this type of lighting so important.

 

What Is Architectural Lighting?

Architectural lighting design blends lighting technology and artistic flair, using the existing architecture of a building as a part of the design. It puts focus on strategically placing fixtures to illuminate the building and physical structures.

There are several goals to be achieved through the use of architectural lighting. The main goal is the aesthetic enhancement of the building. Architectural outdoor lighting can enhance the exterior of a building to make it stand out. It is often used for landmarks, homes, modern office buildings and museums.

The functionality of architectural lighting also cannot be ignored. It also offers quality illumination for different activities inside a building, providing plenty of ambient lighting and task lighting. Certain placements of architectural lighting can also be used as accent lighting.

 

What Are the Important Elements of Architectural Lighting?

Architectural lighting has its own features that make it stand out from other types of lighting design, as mentioned. Within these fields, there are three main goals of architectural lighting: aesthetics, efficiency and function:

 

  • AESTHETICS incorporates the visual impact that the light will have on the space and how it will be perceived by individuals. This involves applications such as LED mood lights and carefully placed lighting in retail environments, town centres, parks and entertainment districts. This also encompasses private office buildings that use creative lighting to make their brand more memorable and prominent.
  • EFFICIENCY refers to the use of LED lighting to limit the environmental impact of architectural lighting design. Architectural lighting works to ensure no light is wasted by installing fixtures that use minimum amounts of energy to have the maximum impact on a space. Sometimes, this means taking advantage of reflective surfaces to spread the light out more.
  • FUNCTION relates to the actual way the lights work and serve their main purpose: illumination by way of wall lights, ceiling lighting and beyond.

building with led wall washer architectural lighting on the exterior

Popular Types of Internal Architectural Lighting

There are many different types of indoor architectural lighting that can be employed to make a space truly unique. Some of the most popular types are as follows:

 

  • Centrepiece lights
  • High output wall lights
  • Large, sculptural wall lights
  • Interior wall washing lights
  • Giant, focal point-worthy chandeliers, pendant lights and other architectural downlights
  • Cove lighting
  • Valance lighting
  • Architectural track lighting in retail environments
  • Mood lighting

 

Popular Types of Outdoor Architectural Lighting

As with interior architectural lighting, there are just as many types of architectural outdoor lighting options. These include but are not limited to:

 

  • Architectural landscape lighting
  • Garden mood lighting
  • Outdoor architectural lamps
  • Soffit lighting around the underside edges of a building
  • Exterior floodlights
  • Bollard lighting
  • Recessed wall lights
  • Exterior commercial wall lights

 

Hotel and Commercial Architectural Lighting Ideas and Guidance

Architectural lighting can be quite important in business settings, such as hotels and commercial spaces. In commercial spaces, the main idea is to keep in mind to incorporate the three types of lighting into your space: ambient, task and accent lighting:

 

  • AMBIENT LIGHTING is the general lighting that shines across a larger expanse of space. With proper ambient lighting, you can create a warm and inviting space that employees will enjoy working in.
  • TASK LIGHTING is the lighting needed to perform tasks comfortably. This often includes wall lights, overhead lights, lamps and spotlights.
  • ACCENT LIGHTING refers to light that highlights certain areas of an office, such as art or other features that you want to draw attention to.

By layering these lights in your hotel space, you can prevent it from looking too monotonous or even clinical. Good lighting like this may also have the potential to positively impact an employee’s mood and even their productivity.

When it comes to hotels, in particular, few things are more important than lighting. Light does far more than just provide illumination. It creates an atmosphere in settings where mood really counts. The right lighting in a hotel can impact a guest’s mood and their ability to relax and go to sleep. Below are a few tips when choosing your architectural hotel lighting:

 

  • MATCH YOUR LIGHTS TO THE DESIGN CONCEPT. Use lighting that fits in with the overarching aesthetic of the space to ensure they fit in well. Lights that stand out have their place, but there is a difference between contrast lighting and lights that simply do not belong and therefore clash.
  • TAKE ADVANTAGE OF NATURAL LIGHT. Hotel interiors look more spacious and open when natural light is allowed to take centre stage. When possible, place heavy reliance on natural lighting to enhance the interior of a space and encourage a lighter mood.
  • LOBBY LIGHTING IS CRUCIAL. One of the first impressions a guest will have of a hotel is the lobby, so use it well. You can use architectural task lighting above the reception desk to not only draw attention to the area but make it easier for employees to see and work. You can also use it to provide subtle visual cues to lead guests to where they need to go instead of just unattractive signage.
  • LAYER THE LIGHTS. There are three main types of lighting that any space should have when possible:
  • Ambient lighting
  • Task lighting
  • Accent lighting

This is also true about hotels. Ensure all areas have plenty of lighting and the best type of atmosphere by layering lights, including ceiling lights, wall lights, spotlights, step lighting and beyond:

 

  • MAKE A STATEMENT. Architectural lighting, at its most basic, is supposed to be an aesthetically pleasing source of light. Use this opportunity to install dramatic light fixtures that will draw the eye to various locations in the hotel. You could also simply choose lighting that is decorative in and of itself and create a focal point with it.
  • MAXIMIZE EFFICIENCY. LED lighting has been growing in popularity, thanks to its energy-efficient nature. In a hotel that has many rooms running lights at all hours of the day and night, energy efficiency is a big deal. Without it, your electric bills are likely to skyrocket.

 

Why Use LEDs for Architectural Lighting Installs

There are many reasons why people are turning to LED lighting for their homes and businesses. As mentioned before, one of the most important reasons is their energy-efficient nature. LED lights use far less power to create more light than a halogen bulb; halogen bulbs output more heat than they do light. This can drive up energy bills and cause unnecessary heating of spaces to occur.

Besides this main draw, there are other reasons you should consider LED lighting for your architectural lighting:

 

  • COLOUR QUALITY. One of the biggest perks of LED lighting is the ability to choose colour temperature. Colour temperature refers to a light’s warm or cool qualities. In retail and commercial environments, cool lighting tends to be better. This is because it gives a more accurate depiction of the colours of the items on display, and it may help perk up and energize employees as they work.
  • TOTAL CONTROL. In the case of dimmable LED lights, you can control the brightness level of the lights at any given time. This makes them perfect for mood lighting and can have a serious visual impact on the space.
  • DESIGN FLEXIBILITY. With the popularity of LED lights surging, lighting designers have begun to primarily shift their focus to creating lights with LED bulbs. This has opened up a world of opportunity for creative lighting fixtures, from everything from modern to traditional.
  • LONG-LASTING LIFE. LED lights tend to last a minimum of 20,000 hours, compared to the 1,000 or so hours that incandescent bulbs last. This limits the amount of maintenance needed for the lights and the number of times you will have to replace them over the years. As such, you can expect to save money here not having to constantly replace your lighting.
  • A SAFER CHOICE. Because LED lights do not give off as much heat as their halogen counterparts, they are safer to touch. LED lights tend to remain cool to the touch and can be directly handled while on without burning your hands like traditional bulbs often do.

 

The Link Between Architectural Lighting Design and Sustainability

Sustainable architectural lighting solutions are commonplace and are among the biggest draws towards this lighting trend. Sustainable lighting is important to homeowners and business owners alike who are interested in lowering their carbon footprint.

The energy efficient technology of LED lights is often employed in architectural exterior lighting for this reason. LEDs use far less energy than traditional light sources and provide even more light in most cases. Architectural lights that use LEDs simultaneously reduce the amount of energy consumed every day, while also providing ample illumination for the building.

To take the energy-saving benefits of architectural LED lighting one step further, you can add your architectural fixtures to your smart lighting system. By setting them on a timer, you ensure that you are only using the lights when necessary. You can also make the most out of the natural lighting that the building gets throughout the day to optimise your sustainable lighting practices.

 

Different Types of Architectural Lighting Effects Explained 

Modern architectural lighting comes in many different forms and provides you with a variety of ways to light your building’s exterior. Get inspired with some of the light fixtures listed below.

 

Wall Grazing

Wall grazing lighting involves fixtures that sit close to a wall’s surface. The proximity of the light to the wall provides an angle that allows its patterns, textures and other architectural details to stand out. This style of lighting is commonly used for highlighting stone walls, facades and intricate wall surfaces.

 

Wall Washing 

Wall washer lights cast a wide beam of light across a wall’s surface. The result is a smooth wash of light that accentuates walls and provides indirect ambient lighting across larger areas of space. They are commonly used to emphasise different elements of architectural design without creating any distracting shadows.

 

Moonlighting

Moonlighting is a process that aims to recreate the effect of gentle moonlight being diffused in an area. To achieve this, fixtures are placed above the structure you want to illuminate, like in the overhangs of buildings, to create a soft and natural flow.

 

Shadowing

Casting intentional shadows can create drama and visual interest in your outdoor architectural lighting. By positioning light sources at the right angle, you can create unique shadows that contrast the light sources.

 

Uplighting 

Uplighting is a technique that shines light directly up a space. This illuminates your architectural elements from the bottom up. It is especially good for showing off vertical elements like trees, sculptures and columns to lend a sense of height.

 

Downlighting

Downlighting shines light from the top to bottom, the opposite of uplighting. The light directed downwards provides lighting to outdoor areas like seating zones and pathways.

 

Spotlighting

Spotlighting uses concentrated beams of light to accentuate certain areas or objects. The result is the creation of a focal point, enhancing the visual interest of the area.

 

Cove Lighting

Cove lighting is installed in niches and recesses to generate indirect ambient lighting. These fixtures are usually recessed or otherwise hidden away within the architecture, so the light more easily bounces off the walls and ceiling.

 

Guidance on Designing Interior Architectural Lighting

When designing architectural lighting indoors, there are a few questions you should be asking yourself:

 

  • What is the purpose of the lighting design? Do you want to create a purely aesthetic design or is functionality just as important?
  • How large is the room, and what is its shape?
  • How high is the ceiling?
  • What level of illumination do you want to include?
  • Do you want any dimmers or other lighting controls?

Architectural lighting indoors can be achieved with any combination of the aforementioned fixtures. Depending on the rooms you want to install it in, certain lights will be better than others.

For instance, bar lights and other linear architectural lighting work best as task lighting. Install them under cabinets in kitchens or on interior ceiling overhangs in rooms with tall ceilings for best results.

Interior wall washing lights or wall grazing lights are a perfect choice for any accent walls in a space, especially if they are brick or have a textured surface. Take up any extra room on the walls above a fireplace between it and the mantel with wall washing lights as well.

Taking natural lighting into account is key for interior architectural lighting. If you have windows and skylights, make the most of them by letting as much natural light into your home as possible during the day. Artificial lighting will make up for the absence of it at night.

hotel lobby with architectural lighting

Guidance on Designing Exterior Architectural Lighting

Architectural area lighting outdoors follows the same basic principles as indoor architectural lighting. You can incorporate all of the same fixtures in a way specifically meant to accentuate outdoor architectural features.

Layered lighting is an important thing to keep in mind when you are lighting outdoor spaces. This means including ambient, task and accent lighting.

Ambient lighting provides the overall illumination in an outdoor space. This general lighting can come from cove lighting, soffit lighting or even bright wall washers. Wall grazing lights can supplement the ambient lighting while also accenting the texture of the wall.

Where accent lighting is concerned, you can use uplighters to draw attention to trees, columns and other such features. Spotlighting is also a good design style to incorporate for accent lighting. Spotlights provide focused illumination on whatever you want to highlight, naturally drawing the eye there first.

Task lighting is important by entryways, pathways and in seating areas. Spike lights, bollard lights and ground spotlights are a fine option for pathway lighting. When it comes to seating areas, wall washing lights or overhead pendants can add style and illumination at the same time.

Outdoor architectural lighting also allows for unique facade lighting. Use this opportunity to light up the entire front of a store or business to make it stand out on the street at night.

 

Why is Colour Temperature Important For Architectural Lighting?

Colour temperature is a metric measured in units Kelvin that allows us to define a light’s warmth or coolness. It exists on a scale between 1,000 and 10,000, with cooler colour temperatures at the top and warmer ones at the bottom. Architectural lighting manufacturers will include the colour temperatures on their labels or websites so you can have an idea of what you are getting before you make a purchase.

Colour temperatures of all kinds have their place in various settings and are inappropriate for use in others. When it comes to architectural lighting, the kind of design style you are going for will influence the colour temperature you want to use.

Architectural lighting companies make lights in a variety of colour temperatures, giving you plenty of options for the implementation of your architectural lighting ideas. Both warm and cool lights serve a unique purpose, especially where outdoor lighting is concerned.

Lighting can influence everything from the mood and personality of a space to the mood of the people inhabiting it. Cooler temperatures tend to work better for businesses, since you want to inspire an alert and wakeful state of mind. Warmer lights are best for residential spaces or anywhere where relaxation is key.

Appropriate colour temperatures also help with visual comfort. By choosing the right colour temperature for the space you are lighting, you can reduce eye strain and fatigue. This is especially important in areas that are task-oriented.

If you are creating outdoor lighting schemes with visibility and safety in mind, cooler lights from 6,000k and up are generally better. These provide a crisper, brighter look which is especially good for security cameras. Cooler lights are better at highlighting cool-toned materials such as glass or metal.

Conversely, if you just want to highlight your outdoor space and create a warm and welcoming glow, warm white lighting is sure to work best. Warm lights work in harmony with warmer-toned materials such as wood and brick.

LED colour temperature guide

Current Architectural Lighting Trends 

Trends are ever changing, but in lighting, they tend to hang around for longer periods of time. There are a few trends in lighting that have been growing in popularity and maintaining their appeal throughout the years.

One such trend is smart lighting. Smart lighting allows you to easily control the times of day the lights are on or off. It also permits you to dim the lights as needed when you want to create an atmosphere or mood. This way, you can create more dynamic, visually interesting light.

Artistic lighting is ever popular as well. Such lighting allows you to make your fixtures as much of a part of the décor as the décor itself. Bold, oversized fixtures with eye-catching colours and shapes can transform a space and really add to the architectural elements in the area.

Mixing metals can bring texture and personality to any interior space. Architectural lighting with brass, stainless steel, copper and matte black finishes combined adds depth and personality to a space.

Minimalist, integrated lighting remains a popular lighting trend. This lighting is often recessed, providing a low-profile look while offering ample illumination in modern spaces. This year, minimalist bathrooms are especially in style.

Organic lighting that brings in natural elements is on the rise. Incorporating nature into your architectural lighting through woven fibers, wood or rattan will create a tranquil look and feel in your home or business.

 

Why Natural Light Is Important for an Architectural Lighting Scheme 

Natural light does most of the heavy lifting during the day. With large windows and skylights allowing in sunlight, you can conserve energy while ensuring a room is well lit all the same.

If you have windows of a unique shape or placement, sunlight coming through them can provide a one-of-a-kind focal point while maintaining both functionality and comfort. The same can be said for lights filtering through glass panels and other such materials, as they can scatter or create patterns in the room.

If you want to give your room an airier look that emphasises the modern spaciousness of the area, natural lighting can also do just that. Natural light has a way of opening up smaller rooms and giving them the appearance of being larger in size.

Natural lighting can also generally improve the mood of the space and those in it. Exposure to natural light has been shown to boost mood, which can lend itself to a better overall opinion of the space being occupied. This is especially true in the colder months when days are shorter and Seasonal Affective Disorder is on the rise.

 

Five Ideas for Architectural Lighting

 

Below are five ways to get creative with your LED architectural lighting:

 

  1. 595×595 LED Sky Panel Ceiling Architectural Lighting Feature

LED Sky panel 595 x 595 architectural LED lighting feature for ceilings

Natural lighting can have a massive impact on a person’s mood, but not every building lends itself to that sort of light. The 595×595 LED Sky Panel Ceiling Architectural Lighting Feature makes up where those areas lack. It provides the same colour temperature as natural light as it shines through panels meant to look like a skylight. You can install them on the ceiling of small, dark rooms to brighten them up instantly and add a unique focal point.

 

  1. LSP228 16 Watt Slim Style LED Track Light

LSP228 16 watt track light fixtures

With the LSP228 16 Watt Slim Style LED Track Light, you can draw attention to certain features in a space. This light is particularly useful in retail environments where you want to highlight a product. The light head is subtle with its small size and black and white finish options, so it won’t distract from what it is shining on. It rests on a track with a moveable capability that lets you point the light exactly where you want it and is perfect for installations requiring multiple light heads.

 

  1. LDC728 30 Watt 3000 Lumen Recessed Anti Glare LED Downlight

LDC728 30 watt anti glare linear recessed downlight

The LDC728 30 Watt 3000 Lumen Recessed Anti Glare LED Downlight is a one-of-a-kind downlighter that provides all of the illumination with none of the glare. This is due to the way the bulbs are tucked deep inside the light fixture and shine a light straight downward. The result is a pool of light beneath it that appears to come out of nowhere, giving the space greater artistic appeal.

 

  1. LWA377 5 Watt White Interior LED Wall Light

LWA377 white modern interior LED wall light

For a light that makes a statement on its own, the LWA377 5 Watt White Interior LED Wall Light is perfect. The sconce is decorative in its own right with a folded sheet style that sends light directed upward and back onto the wall. It causes a slight glow around it that enhances its already attractive appearance and is perfect for hallways, lobbies and beyond.

 

  1. LWA454 6 Watt Wall Wash LED Outdoor Wall Light

LWA454 6 watt LED wall wash outdoor wall light

The LWA454 6 Watt Wall Wash LED Outdoor Wall Light is a quick way to add stylish architectural lighting to your outdoor space. The rectangular fitting shines light straight down and washes the illumination over the wall. It is available in a white or black finish to ensure it works well on any exterior wall regardless of the colour or decor.

Architectural lighting can play a massive role in the overall appearance of your home, hotel or commercial space. Above, we have explored various lighting options towards this effect as well as how to implement them.

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