Lighting in Residential Areas
The lighting in residential areas is a subject that is sometimes overlooked, but it is very important to take into account not only for aesthetic and functional reasons, but also for reasons of efficiency.
Consideration should be given in full and the project lighting inside and outside should be perceived as a whole, a single piece within the architectural project.
With the use of adequate lighting, you can get very interesting effects and environments: accentuate certain finishes materials, emphasize the different textures and volumes, details characteristic of the architecture and not least, the power to provide a greater sense of spaciousness.
In residential projects we can distinguish five types of lighting to be taken into account in the interior of a space. Contributing to this same: nuances, point-of-care and a very specific functionality that respond to the needs of the user: the comfort, the capacity of the vision and guidance, among others.
Some of the Landscape Lighting Techniques Worth Mentioning are:
The Lighting of the Environment
Designates the illumination of an specific area, illuminated the entire volume. This lighting can be created using recessed downlights (or surface) or wall sconces. The most effective is to multiply and diversify the points of light by placing several luminaries within a specified path, for example, a uniform distribution of the same at a high level above 8 feet being defined as anything ordered and structured. This type of design makes it easy to change the lighting distribution among the various features of your landscape, without being affected by the location of the luminaries. Always knowing that the purpose of all this is also to obtain comfort and energy savings, since it does not always need the same amount of light in all the various paths in your lawn.
Another point to be taken into account in the design from the use of applets is to bear in mind that the indirect lighting always helps to project more light and in so doing indirectly create an effect of naturalness is ideal, because the light is not concentrated at a single point, but it is projected to the entire space. In addition, you can install luminaires that are adjustable in intensity, which will allow the user to define the amount of light you need for the task to be performed or to feel comfortable within the stay.
Draw Attention to a Particular Place Through Use of Lighting
A particular place or object would be the spotlight that draws attention to: reading areas, dining table, statues, water fountains, etc. This is a complementary light directed toward a specific point of the stay and that leaves other Twilight, highlighting a table or highlighting any other object in an area. In this way brings a greater dynamism to the perception of space and the more specific tasks, such as reading a book. To achieve this we can use luminaires stand, table, projectors installed on rail, wall sconces aimed, among others. These solutions provide greater flexibility in the design and configuration by the user, as most can be moved, or guide once installed.
The Decorative Lighting
Light to contemplate, play of brilliants, which has already established by changing the way that conceived the perception of the lighting.
Luminaires whose main function is to dress a space providing that characteristic touch to the design and functionality can be all or nothing, just as its name suggests. Luminaires that are usually installed on the patio family table, but we can also consider them in spaces of high altitudes or integrate them within the design as an element or part that create the wow or point of interest, helping us to define our own style.
The Functional Lighting
This is the one that adapts to the activities that we do on a daily basis in our backyard or front yard, such as those carried out in the: patio, gazebo, BBQ area, swimming pool, fire pit, or family gathering area. Despite being a purely useful light, which gives us security and functionality, it also allows us to see what we do. Without forgetting that the functionality is not at odds with decoration.
The Kinetic Lighting
Finally, what is known as kinetic lighting – light in motion. As examples we will put the light provided by the candles, or even the fire in the fireplace. This is usually a weaker light and of a hue much warmer than the rest, color temperature of 1500K-2000K. It is a warmer light, which transmits sensations very different to the rest, through emotions.
As we have seen in the interior lighting, outdoor lighting can also be classified into different concepts, giving rise to a global compact project, which will focus from a comment more practical than pragmatic
Functional and Aesthetic Lighting
From an aesthetic point of view, the lighting helps us to define the outside of the garden, facades, fountains, and statues. We have to determine in a selective manner the elements to highlight. To be perceived as a compact design and studied, less is more, also in lighting.
When selecting the points of light, think about respecting the style of the house and in the garden. Stainless steel and design for a modern home, aluminum and classical forms to a rustic house, are details to keep in mind. Color temperatures depending on the materials, textures and finishes that we are illuminating. Without forgetting that the exterior lights must be integrated harmoniously in your garden both day and night.
We must illuminate priority areas of step to prevent possible accidents or setbacks. In the most common places we should consider the possibility of automatic, using presence detectors.
Access Lighting to the Garden from the House
General access is what we see with the naked eye so it is important to take it into consideration. Thus, it is recommended that:
- Place a downlighter on both sides of a door when the dimensions of space are not very large.
If on the contrary you want to highlight a great access, choose an area to illuminate in both directions, being able to turn light on minute details of the facade.
If the entrance is located under a ledge high enough you can even place a suspended decorative touch to provide a more and fill space, without forgetting that we can always combine them with other types of luminaries as recessed floor or wall to highlight a dark path.
Lighting Busy Areas
It is important to illuminate the corridors of the garden when you want to guide and facilitate the movement around busy intersections. However, you do not need to mark with an excessively bright light, unless it is an area that presents a difficulty or a major obstacle.
For the illumination of these areas it is recommended the use of Beacons, Lampposts or even a design based on lines of light that accompany the architecture where the architect harmonizes the design of the ladder to the maximum detail by using the Corten steel in both the riser of the ladder as in the luminaire.
Lighting of the Backyard Terrace
This is the ideal resting place for dinner and receive guests, it is important to use warm lighting, with the use for example appliques wall and diffusers, which provide us with the vision to avoid glare. You can also use lamps and bollards. Place them around the terrace so that the ring-fenced has a sense of exclusivity but do not see the rest of the garden.
Important to keep in mind always to illuminate a terrace that you have to get to minimum levels of light that allow us to distinguish the expressions of the people around us or even if we have a dining area, allow us to carry out this function.
At the conclusion of the analysis we can establish that one of the most important things to keep in mind when thinking, laying out or designing the lighting inside a house, is taken into consideration to people who live in it, so that they can carry out their lifestyles, feel comfortable and identified.
Not to mention what was mentioned previously, the fact that a light concept for residential is conditioned by the habitat that surrounds it, we will be forced to make a compact project. A project that is adapted to the architecture, to the environment and does not pollute the environment with diffused lighting. One way to blend new advances with new technology and architecture to create a sustainable solution is to introduce Solar Lighting as a way to utilize the natural resources our planet offers and help preserve a natural habitat that coexists with all the elements surrounding your environment. With the help of the lighting division of Rich Landscape, we shall be able to make relying with the different manufacturers we work with.
