Light IQ: We design, supply and install innovative and inspirational lighting schemes.

Tuesday, 16 October 2007

Light IQ are RIBA CPD Approved

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has accredited Light IQ to present CPD lectures and we have our first one up and running. The presentation covers the new legislation on mandatory energy efficiency within Lighting Design, Part L1A of the Building Regulations.

The seminar begins by breaking down the theory behind the new regulations, understanding how it can be implemented and in what type of environment. We then examine different lamp types, the advantages and disadvantages of using each type within certain scenarios, as well as looking at their physical properties with practical examples. Advice and inspiration on how to implement the regulations across a range of different projects will assist design professionals in benefiting their projects from energy efficient lighting without losing the end result.
This is a one hour presentation that covers the RIBA Core Curriculum. We are presenting this CPD to architects and interior designers from October 2007 onwards. If you and your colleagues would like to attend, please contact abby@lightiq.com.

RW.

Friday, 5 October 2007

When to involve a Lighting Designer.

I am often asked at which point a lighting designer should be involved with a project. The answer is always a resounding 'the earlier the better'. On so many projects we either get a call at the last minute from a panicked client stating that they can't stand the formulaic grid-style lighting that their architect has planned to install and could we possibly do something before the builders leave next week, or we get asked to install a lighting scheme on a totally finished project, leaving us with very little flexibility. To achieve a balanced and complimentary scheme, the illumination of a project should be considered inline with room layout, design of the interior and the building work itself. The best point at which to contact your lighting designer is even before the project has begun, as this will allow full integration of the theme of your home within the lighting scheme. Once contacted, your designer will be able to create the desired scheme for you, whether it be for one room of your home, or for the entire interior and exterior.
If your only option is to call upon a lighting designer at the last minute, there is still a reasonable amount of flexibility that can be adopted to provide you with the illuminations that you desire. Clever high-lighting and low-lighting can be implemented to focus attention to and away from, certain aspects of your home. Certain types of fittings are also easier to install, such as surface mounted wall lights and pendants thereby reducing the amount of disruption to your newly built or refurbished home. A great deal of adaptability can normally be applied in the garden, where a designer would take established features (such as an old oak tree or flowerbeds) and suitably light them to create a dramatic effect. Cabling needn't be buried either which will help reduce the amount of time taken to install the scheme.
The possibilities within lighting depend on each individual project and designers should avoid the 'one size fits all' approach in order to produce an appropriate scheme that and compliments and blends well with the design of the project. Although it is preferable to involve a lighting designer at the very beginning of your project, no matter how far along the project a good designer should be able to create an inspirational and innovative scheme to suit you.

RW.

An Insider's Guide: How a Designer Lights Their Home.

The most important aspect to consider when purchasing your new home is how to maximise the amount of daylight. The purity of natural light cannot be beaten however you must be able to control it and avoid bleaching floorboards and artwork. One benefit of this top floor flat is the availability of natural light that floods through the high sash windows. Drama comes after dusk when the simplicity of the architecture is accentuated through artificial light sources.
The overall scheme has been kept very simple; the majority of the lights in the house have been installed in the north facing kitchen as it is the darkest rooms in the house. The Louis Poulsen pendant provides general light in the kitchen and a decorative focal point when viewed from the adjoining sitting room. Discreet downlighting provides good task light to the workspace and a focal point on the floor-to-ceiling storage units. White kitchen furniture and worktop were used to maximise the reflective potential of the light.

The sitting room by contrast only has two downlights that have been used specifically to highlight the fire place and coffee table, strengthening the idea of these as the main focal points of the room. Again, the large white rug helps to lift and maximise the sensation of daylight. Ambient lighting relies upon freestanding floor and table lamps which provide the necessary warmth and welcome required after a long day. Both these rooms can be controlled either as one or independently, through switches or remote controls.
When space is tight as it often is in the home office, the use of a lever-arch wall mounted desk lamp can be a fantastic space saver in the midst of clutter. The placement of computer screens away from windows reduces the light contrast when viewing the screen, which ultimately reduces the feeling of eye stain and the increase of tension.
The feature lighting in the hallway allows the eye to be naturally drawn to the up-lit curved stairwell leading to the roof garden and to the end of the corridor leading to the master bedroom and sitting room.
Lighting the roof garden has been kept very simple, primarily to ensure that the views of London are not dampened. The feature wall has been up-lit to provide reflective light to the dining table whilst subtle low level lighting accentuates individual plants such as the palm. It is the strong architectural nature of these plants that provides the drama with the use of shadows. Coloured lenses can be added to most low voltage fittings to add a sense of fun decoration for parties, however as a permanent feature, can become tedious after a while.

With the principle that 'less is more' when designing the lighting for your home and garden, it is important to acknowledge where the light is actually required, as opposed to adopting a blanket approach.

RW.

Thursday, 4 October 2007

Day One.

After the inspirational idea of featuring a blog on our website in order to provide a space for me to put down my thoughts or provide some fabulous lighting tips, we have now launched this interactive area of the site where you will be able to ask Light IQ questions, read my daily, weekly or monthly musings and even (as soon as it's ready) use our energy calculator that will allow you to approximately calculate the amount of energy consumed by each of our different lamp types, thereby enabling you to create the level of energy efficiency that you desire within your home!
The trouble with blogs (as I have discovered...) is that they do not write themselves (!) therefore I will not be prescribing a specific time for these anecdotes, rather reacting on impulse as my thoughts dictate. I will be aiming to provide you with some tips on lighting scheme designs for your own home, featuring my favourite products, providing reviews for the latest lighting exhibition, designer or product and highlighting some relevant regulations that may affect your home improvements. In the meantime, we now have an interactive chat function that will allow you to talk directly and immediately to us, to raise any questions or queries you may have, or even recommend a product or lighting scheme you would like me to review in a future blog. Please use this site as you will, but remember to pop back and see us from time to time.

Until my next deliberation.

RW.

A Designer's Deliberations