Design With Steve

Author: Steve Duncan, AIA

Twilight Lighting Design: How to Light Your Space
Introduction – Create a Twilight Lighting Design for Your Project

Create unforgettable designs for your clients. This guide breaks down how to create a twilight lighting design, through practical strategies for architects and interior designers. Let’s get started …

Table of Contents

Twilight Vibe

Twilight Lighting Layout

What to Look For In a Quality Light

Color Rendering Index

Dimmer Compatibility

Why Is It Important to Do A Lighting Calculation?

Works Cited

Create a Feeling With Light: Twilight Lighting Design

VIBE: Surreal, calm, spiritual.

LIGHTING STRATEGY: In this scheme, the ceiling becomes a canvas for light, with a mixture of colored light mixing on the ceiling to hearken back to a sky.

ROOM FINISHES: Walls and ceilings can be medium to bright tones, with matte finishes to create a soft/airy appearance.

Creating a Twilight Lighting Design Layout

A few years back, I scored big-time (no, not like that), and was given the opportunity to be Project Architect for a Nature Preserve in Sonoma County.

There were acres and acres of mountains and hiking trails, and my team was tasked with designing a home for the scientists who would visit from time to time to do research in the tops of the mountains. As we were close to the end of construction, I woke up to a text message from the Site Superintendent. . .

It was dawn at the jobsite and he couldn’t resist sending me a photo of the home – glowing in the landscape through the fog, and in that moment it was all worth it. The countless hours and weekends and sacrifices had become a physical reality (even if I’d have to settle for a digital photo of it for the time being).

A few months later there was ribbon cutting and cheers all around, and as the day turned to night I got to experience the magical moment of twilight for myself. It was one of those days that you don’t forget because the feeling is indelible. Sometimes lighting can help us “snap out of it” and remember moments like this.

Time to snap out of it, and be intentional with your lighting design! What if that fleeting moment of twilight, didn’t have to be…. fleeting?

What to Look for in a Quality LED Light: Twilight Lighting Design

Regardless of the vibe you are going for, there are two things that can trip up designers when they are selecting LED lighting:

COLOR RENDERING INDEX (CRI)

If you only remember one thing from me, please remember that color rendering is EVERYTHING when it comes to lighting. If you love incandescent and halogen lights, but hate fluorescent, then color rendering is the reason.

We always want to find lights that have a color rendering (CRI) of at least 90, so that we can bring out the true color of our room finishes and decor. Many LED lights have a color rendering of 80, and this score is actually worse than fluorescent (which has a score of 82). As you can see in the image below, the true color of the wood is brought out with the light on the right, which has a score of 90. The red tones of the wood come through and it feels warm. In contrast, the light on the left makes the wood look a bit greenish and yellow, because it has a poor color rendering score of 80.

Trust me! It’s worth it to spend just a little bit more on lights to make sure that you’re getting LEDs with a score of 90 or higher, so that the people and finishes in your spaces feel vibrant and full of life. Make sure to pay attention to this when you find a light you like and you’re ready to hit that “order” button.

DIMMER COMPATIBILITY

Lastly, make sure that the LEDs you select are dimmable. This is something you need to check in the product cut sheet or through the web store that you are browsing.

Also, you’ll need to make sure that the dimmer you select will be compatible with the LED light fixture. In the past, we could easily dim incandescent and halogen lighting with a simple rotary dimmer. This may or may not work for a new LED light fixture.

You wouldn’t expect your television remote to be able to turn on your stereo system, would you? The same is true for LED dimmers. You have to make sure that the dimmer switch can actually communicate with the light fixture.

There’s a variety of dimming protocols: it may be TRIAC, Electronic Low Voltage (ELV), 0-10 Volt, or DALI. So make sure to work with your electrician or a sales representative to make sure that the components of your lighting design are all compatible.

Why it is Important to do a Lighting Calculation for a Twilight Lighting Design?

If you want to be confident in your lighting design, you have to do a lighting calculation. It’s as simple as that.

But how do we actually estimate how bright a room actually needs to be? Well, the footcandle targets for a room are set by the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA), and the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD). This professional organization has studied and analyzed the functional requirements for each kind of space designed by architects. For residential projects, I like to refer back to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory & Department of Energy’s footcandle targets, since those are made freely available to the public. These are the targets I use for my own projects, and are the basis for the lighting estimator on this webpage.

AVOIDING MISTAKES

You don’t want to have too little light. It’s expensive for a contractor and electrician to come back after the fact to revise the lighting strategy and patch the walls/ceiling. This happened to an interior designer early in my career, and it wasn’t a fun situation. For me, it was the beginning of a great collaboration with this design professional, because we worked on many projects after that – but of course it would have been better if this interior designer hadn’t made that mistake to begin with.

Likewise, you also don’t want to be too bright, and overspend on lighting, just because you’re unsure what is needed and just hoping for the best (yikes!).

This is fundamentally why I created lighting estimators – to balance making sure there’s enough light, while also making sure a client isn’t paying for too many lights. Hopefully using the calculator was straightforward. Reach out with questions (before buying/building anything), if you’d like help! Good luck on your project!

-Steve Duncan, AIA

Architect & Lighting Designer

Works Cited – Twilight Lighting Design Vibe

Duncan, Steve. “Why Is It Important to Do a Lighting Calculation?” Lighting Design Insights. [LightingJUMP.com, https://www.lightingjump.com/how-many-lights-cinematic-vibe].

The author emphasizes the necessity of conducting lighting calculations to ensure effective lighting design in various spaces. He cites the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) and the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) for their established footcandle targets that help determine appropriate lighting levels. Duncan also mentions the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the Department of Energy’s publicly available footcandle targets, which he uses for residential projects. He shares a personal anecdote about the complications that arise from inadequate lighting, stressing the importance of precise calculations to avoid costly adjustments and excessive spending. The lighting estimator featured on his webpage is designed to assist clients in achieving optimal lighting without overspending.

REFERENCES

International Association of Lighting Designers. “About the IALD.” https://iald.org/IALD/IALD/About/About-the-IALD.aspx?hkey=104e951f-5da0-4cb8-8ca8-8cce8a7b4caf.

Duncan, Steve. “Why Is It Important to Do a Lighting Calculation?” Lighting Design Insights.

National Renewable Energy Laboratory. “Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) in Residential Lighting.” NREL/TP-53467. 2012. https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy12osti/53467.pdf.

Illuminating Engineering Society. “Standards.” https://store.ies.org/individual-standards/?v=0b3b97fa6688.
November 26, 2024
Grounded Lighting Design: How To Light Your Space
Introduction – Create a Grounded Feeling With Your Lighting Design

Create unforgettable designs for your clients. This guide breaks down how to create a grounded lighting design for our project, through practical strategies for architects and interior designers. Let’s get started …

Table of Contents

Grounded Vibe

Grounded Lighting Layout

What to Look For In a Quality Light

Color Rendering Index

Dimmer Compatibility

Why Is It Important to Do A Lighting Calculation?

Works Cited

Create a Feeling With Light: Grounded Lighting Design

VIBE: Steady, relaxed, protected.

LIGHTING STRATEGY: Graze one of the walls with a bright light recessed into the ceiling.

ROOM FINISHES: Walls, ceilings, and floors should medium to dark tones, with finishes that are textured or matte.

Creating a Grounded Lighting Design Layout

I spent some of my teenage years living in St. George, Utah, a short drive from Zion National Park and Snow Canyon State park.

Needless to say I have a (un?)healthy obsession with slot canyons and the mesmerizing quality of the light in these cathedrals. It’s almost like Nature is a temple and hiking is actually a spiritual experience.

These are the kinds of grounded spaces that architects should aspire to create, where we’re just left in awe and reflection. It’s such a strong concept and I had to decode how to recreate this light quality.

I’ve designed dozens of homes in my career, but I still have this itch to go back to southern Utah and build a home inspired by this landscape of the Southwest.

What to Look for in a Quality LED Light: Grounded Lighting Design

Regardless of the vibe you are going for, there are two things that can trip up designers when they are selecting LED lighting:

COLOR RENDERING INDEX (CRI)

If you only remember one thing from me, please remember that color rendering is EVERYTHING when it comes to lighting. If you love incandescent and halogen lights, but hate fluorescent, then color rendering is the reason.

We always want to find lights that have a color rendering (CRI) of at least 90, so that we can bring out the true color of our room finishes and decor. Many LED lights have a color rendering of 80, and this score is actually worse than fluorescent (which has a score of 82). As you can see in the image below, the true color of the wood is brought out with the light on the right, which has a score of 90. The red tones of the wood come through and it feels warm. In contrast, the light on the left makes the wood look a bit greenish and yellow, because it has a poor color rendering score of 80.

Trust me! It’s worth it to spend just a little bit more on lights to make sure that you’re getting LEDs with a score of 90 or higher, so that the people and finishes in your spaces feel vibrant and full of life. Make sure to pay attention to this when you find a light you like and you’re ready to hit that “order” button.

DIMMER COMPATIBILITY

Lastly, make sure that the LEDs you select are dimmable. This is something you need to check in the product cut sheet or through the web store that you are browsing.

Also, you’ll need to make sure that the dimmer you select will be compatible with the LED light fixture. In the past, we could easily dim incandescent and halogen lighting with a simple rotary dimmer. This may or may not work for a new LED light fixture.

You wouldn’t expect your television remote to be able to turn on your stereo system, would you? The same is true for LED dimmers. You have to make sure that the dimmer switch can actually communicate with the light fixture.

There’s a variety of dimming protocols: it may be TRIAC, Electronic Low Voltage (ELV), 0-10 Volt, or DALI. So make sure to work with your electrician or a sales representative to make sure that the components of your lighting design are all compatible.

Why it is Important to do a Lighting Calculation for a Grounded Lighting Design?

If you want to be confident in your lighting design, you have to do a lighting calculation. It’s as simple as that.

But how do we actually estimate how bright a room actually needs to be? Well, the footcandle targets for a room are set by the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA), and the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD). This professional organization has studied and analyzed the functional requirements for each kind of space designed by architects. For residential projects, I like to refer back to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory & Department of Energy’s footcandle targets, since those are made freely available to the public. These are the targets I use for my own projects, and are the basis for the lighting estimator on this webpage.

AVOIDING MISTAKES

You don’t want to have too little light. It’s expensive for a contractor and electrician to come back after the fact to revise the lighting strategy and patch the walls/ceiling. This happened to an interior designer early in my career, and it wasn’t a fun situation. For me, it was the beginning of a great collaboration with this design professional, because we worked on many projects after that – but of course it would have been better if this interior designer hadn’t made that mistake to begin with.

Likewise, you also don’t want to be too bright, and overspend on lighting, just because you’re unsure what is needed and just hoping for the best (yikes!).

This is fundamentally why I created lighting estimators – to balance making sure there’s enough light, while also making sure a client isn’t paying for too many lights. Hopefully using the calculator was straightforward. Reach out with questions (before buying/building anything), if you’d like help! Good luck on your project!

-Steve Duncan, AIA

Architect & Lighting Designer

Works Cited – Grounded Lighting Design

Duncan, Steve. “Why Is It Important to Do a Lighting Calculation?” Lighting Design Insights. [LightingJUMP.com, https://www.lightingjump.com/how-many-lights-cinematic-vibe ].

The author emphasizes the necessity of conducting lighting calculations to ensure effective lighting design in various spaces. He cites the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) and the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) for their established footcandle targets that help determine appropriate lighting levels. Duncan also mentions the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the Department of Energy’s publicly available footcandle targets, which he uses for residential projects. He shares a personal anecdote about the complications that arise from inadequate lighting, stressing the importance of precise calculations to avoid costly adjustments and excessive spending. The lighting estimator featured on his webpage is designed to assist clients in achieving optimal lighting without overspending.

REFERENCES

International Association of Lighting Designers. “About the IALD.” https://iald.org/IALD/IALD/About/About-the-IALD.aspx?hkey=104e951f-5da0-4cb8-8ca8-8cce8a7b4caf.

Duncan, Steve. “Why Is It Important to Do a Lighting Calculation?” Lighting Design Insights.

National Renewable Energy Laboratory. “Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) in Residential Lighting.” NREL/TP-53467. 2012. https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy12osti/53467.pdf.

Illuminating Engineering Society. “Standards.” https://store.ies.org/individual-standards/?v=0b3b97fa6688.
November 26, 2024
Golden Hour Lighting: How To Light Your Space
Introduction – Create a Golden Hour Feeling With Your Lighting Design

Create unforgettable designs for your clients. This guide breaks down how to create a golden hour lighting design, through practical strategies for architects and interior designers. Let’s get started …

Table of Contents

Golden Hour Vibe

Golden Hour Lighting Layout

Golden Hour Lighting Calculation

Golden Hour Lighting: Project Example

What to Look For In a Quality Light

Color Rendering Index

Dimmer Compatibility

Why Is It Important to Do A Lighting Calculation?

Works Cited

Create a Feeling With Light: Golden Hour Vibe

VIBE: Social, exciting, active.

LIGHTING STRATEGY: Most of the light should be directed up at the ceiling, to create a mix of color like the sky. This can be complimented with adjustable task lighting to create long shadows to mimic golden hour lighting.

ROOM FINISHES: Walls and ceilings should be bright tones. Ceiling must have a Level 5 matte finish.

Creating a Golden Hour Lighting Layout

Golden Hour… what if we could recreate that vibe in our designs? Growing up, I always dreamed of visiting California (which is apparently an unpopular opinion now??). I distinctly remember finally arriving at the ocean, and then walking down the boardwalk in Santa Cruz.

In that moment I decided I would one day live in California and that these pristine sunsets would be a regular part of my life. After a stint living in Seattle, my love (obsession?) for sunshine reached it’s peak.

Well I’ve been here in California for ten years now, and I never get tired of golden hour in the golden state. If I could bottle it up and take it with me back to Seattle, I would.

In the meantime, let’s design our buildings to feel more inspired by the (outside) world around us, you know … like a walk along the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. Hope this helps….

How Many Lights for a Golden Hour Lighting Design?

To figure out how much illumination is needed for the whole room, we can do a quick calculation. It only takes a couple minutes. First follow the link to our golden hour lighting estimator here.

Example Golden Hour Lighting Calculation

Golden Hour Lighting Project Example

What to Look for in a Quality Golden Hour LED Light

Regardless of the vibe you are going for, there are two things that can trip up designers when they are selecting LED lighting:

COLOR RENDERING INDEX (CRI)

If you only remember one thing from me, please remember that color rendering is EVERYTHING when it comes to lighting. If you love incandescent and halogen lights, but hate fluorescent, then color rendering is the reason.

We always want to find lights that have a color rendering (CRI) of at least 90, so that we can bring out the true color of our room finishes and decor. Many LED lights have a color rendering of 80, and this score is actually worse than fluorescent (which has a score of 82). As you can see in the image below, the true color of the wood is brought out with the light on the right, which has a score of 90. The red tones of the wood come through and it feels warm. In contrast, the light on the left makes the wood look a bit greenish and yellow, because it has a poor color rendering score of 80.

Trust me! It’s worth it to spend just a little bit more on lights to make sure that you’re getting LEDs with a score of 90 or higher, so that the people and finishes in your spaces feel vibrant and full of life. Make sure to pay attention to this when you find a light you like and you’re ready to hit that “order” button.

DIMMER COMPATIBILITY

Lastly, make sure that the LEDs you select are dimmable. This is something you need to check in the product cut sheet or through the web store that you are browsing.

Also, you’ll need to make sure that the dimmer you select will be compatible with the LED light fixture. In the past, we could easily dim incandescent and halogen lighting with a simple rotary dimmer. This may or may not work for a new LED light fixture.

You wouldn’t expect your television remote to be able to turn on your stereo system, would you? The same is true for LED dimmers. You have to make sure that the dimmer switch can actually communicate with the light fixture.

There’s a variety of dimming protocols: it may be TRIAC, Electronic Low Voltage (ELV), 0-10 Volt, or DALI. So make sure to work with your electrician or a sales representative to make sure that the components of your lighting design are all compatible.

Why it is Important to do a Lighting Calculation for a Golden Hour Vibe?

If you want to be confident in your lighting design, you have to do a lighting calculation. It’s as simple as that.

But how do we actually estimate how bright a room actually needs to be? Well, the footcandle targets for a room are set by the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA), and the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD). This professional organization has studied and analyzed the functional requirements for each kind of space designed by architects. For residential projects, I like to refer back to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory & Department of Energy’s footcandle targets, since those are made freely available to the public. These are the targets I use for my own projects, and are the basis for the lighting estimator on this webpage.

You don’t want to have too little light. It’s expensive for a contractor and electrician to come back after the fact to revise the lighting strategy and patch the walls/ceiling. This happened to an interior designer early in my career, and it wasn’t a fun situation. For me, it was the beginning of a great collaboration with this design professional, because we worked on many projects after that – but of course it would have been better if this interior designer hadn’t made that mistake to begin with.

Likewise, you also don’t want to be too bright, and overspend on lighting, just because you’re unsure what is needed and just hoping for the best (yikes!).

This is fundamentally why I created lighting estimators – to balance making sure there’s enough light, while also making sure a client isn’t paying for too many lights. Hopefully using the calculator was straightforward. Reach out with questions (before buying/building anything), if you’d like help! Good luck on your project!

-Steve Duncan, AIA

Architect & Lighting Designer

Works Cited: Golden Hour

Duncan, Steve. “Why Is It Important to Do a Lighting Calculation?” Lighting Design Insights. [LightingJUMP.com, https://www.lightingjump.com/how-many-lights-cinematic-vibe].

The author emphasizes the necessity of conducting lighting calculations to ensure effective lighting design in various spaces. He cites the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) and the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) for their established footcandle targets that help determine appropriate lighting levels. Duncan also mentions the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the Department of Energy’s publicly available footcandle targets, which he uses for residential projects. He shares a personal anecdote about the complications that arise from inadequate lighting, stressing the importance of precise calculations to avoid costly adjustments and excessive spending. The lighting estimator featured on his webpage is designed to assist clients in achieving optimal lighting without overspending.

REFERENCES

International Association of Lighting Designers. “About the IALD.” https://iald.org/IALD/IALD/About/About-the-IALD.aspx?hkey=104e951f-5da0-4cb8-8ca8-8cce8a7b4caf.

Duncan, Steve. “Why Is It Important to Do a Lighting Calculation?” Lighting Design Insights.

National Renewable Energy Laboratory. “Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) in Residential Lighting.” NREL/TP-53467. 2012. https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy12osti/53467.pdf.

Illuminating Engineering Society. “Standards.” https://store.ies.org/individual-standards/?v=0b3b97fa6688.
November 26, 2024
The Connection Between Materials, Architecture, and Spiritual Awakening
Teaser – Architecture and Spiritual Awakening

Imagine walking into a building that immediately puts you at ease—a space where the walls hum with energy and you feel a deep sense of connection. What if the design of the space itself could influence your inner state, even trigger a spiritual experience, like a Kundalini awakening? It might sound out there, but it’s rooted in some fascinating ideas about how spaces affect our minds, bodies, and spirits. From sacred geometry to biophilic design, architecture and materials can support a spiritual awakening. Let’s explore how the design of spaces and materials used in buildings might help facilitate such a journey.

Table of Contents

Sacred Architecture and Spirituality

Energy Flow and Kundalini Awakening

Biophilic Design and Connection to Nature

The Role of Sound and Acoustics

Psychological Impact of Space and Materials

Intentional Spaces for Transformation

Conclusion

Works Cited

1. Sacred Architecture and Spirituality

For centuries, people have designed buildings to inspire spiritual experiences. Ancient temples, churches, and mosques were built with the intention of helping individuals feel awe, connection, and transcendence. Architects used sacred geometry, believing certain shapes and proportions aligned with spiritual truths. These buildings were carefully designed to create environments conducive to deep spiritual experiences.

For example, grand arches in cathedrals or towering spires in temples inspire awe, helping people connect to something greater than themselves. The materials—stone, wood, and glass—help create an atmosphere that supports meditation, prayer, or even a Kundalini awakening.

2. Energy Flow and Kundalini Awakening

A Kundalini awakening is said to occur when the energy at the base of the spine is awakened. This leads to profound shifts in consciousness. Architecture plays a role by encouraging energy flow through the body and surrounding space. Certain building designs are thought to help balance the body’s energy centers, or chakras.

Imagine a space with open walls, a flowing layout, and natural light pouring in. This design can help create balance and openness, making it easier for someone to experience spiritual states. Materials like stone and wood are believed to help people feel centered and aligned, which could support spiritual practices leading to awakening.

3. Biophilic Design and Connection to Nature

Biophilic design brings nature into the built environment. It’s based on the idea that humans are deeply connected to nature. When we’re surrounded by natural elements like plants, wood, and water, we feel more grounded and calm. This connection to nature can encourage reflection and meditation, which are key for spiritual experiences.

Natural materials like stone and wood resonate with our energy. Including elements like sunlight, plants, or flowing water in a space creates peace and alignment. This design can support a Kundalini awakening or other spiritual transformations.

4. The Role of Sound and Acoustics

Sound plays a significant role in spirituality—think of chanting, singing bowls, or the hum of a meditative space. In architecture, the acoustics of a space can profoundly influence its atmosphere. Many sacred spaces are designed to create specific acoustic effects that enhance the spiritual experience.

In spaces built for meditation, the acoustics are often designed to create harmony and resonance. These qualities help align the body’s energies. This could support a Kundalini awakening by fostering a deeper connection to the self.

5. Psychological Impact of Space and Materials

Materials and proportions in architecture also affect our emotions. High ceilings and open spaces often create a sense of freedom. These spaces help us feel more open to spiritual experiences. On the other hand, materials like wood or stone evoke feelings of grounding and stability.

The design of a space influences how we feel emotionally. A light and airy space might foster joy and transcendence. A more grounded space helps us feel centered. These shifts could support a Kundalini awakening, helping us connect with our true selves.

6. Intentional Spaces for Transformation

Some spaces are built for personal transformation. Retreat centers, yoga studios, and meditation halls are designed to guide people on spiritual journeys. These spaces are crafted with materials, proportions, and acoustics that help people relax and open up to spiritual experiences.

Intentional designs create an environment that supports spiritual transformation. Such spaces may help facilitate a Kundalini awakening by aligning the energy of the individual with the energy of the space.

Conclusion – Architecture and Spiritual Awakening

While there’s no definitive scientific link between architecture and a Kundalini awakening, the connection between our spaces and our spiritual experiences is clear. Sacred geometry, natural materials, open energy flows, and acoustic qualities all influence our state of mind and spirit. Architecture can play an important role in supporting our spiritual journeys. Whether you’re designing a meditation room or seeking a peaceful space at home, paying attention to how a space feels can help you connect with your inner self—and maybe even trigger your own spiritual awakening. Thanks for reading! I hope you learned something new about how architecture can and spirituality intersect.

Works Cited – Architecture and Spiritual Awakening

Smith, J. W. S. “The Resonance of Sacred Sites: A Study of the Acoustic Properties of Sacred Spaces.” 2010.

Benyus, Janine. Biomimicry for Designers: Applying Nature’s Patterns to Architecture. 2002.

Lawson, Robert. Sacred Geometry: Philosophy and Practice.

Marcus, George H. The Geometry of Love: Space, Time, Mystery, and Meaning in the Architecture of Louis Kahn.

Palladino, Stefano F. “Vibration in Architecture: A Philosophical Approach.”

Additional Reading: Spirituality in Architecture: Implications of the Built Environment in Individuals’ Spiritual Experience
November 25, 2024
Architecture and Cymatics: The Sound, Space, and Design Connection
Introducing Architecture and Cymatics

Imagine stepping into a space where the walls seem to pulse with sound, where every vibration creates mesmerizing patterns that reflect the very structure of the space itself. This isn’t just the realm of science fiction—it’s where cymatics and architecture meet. Cymatics, the study of sound and vibration’s effects on materials, offers fascinating insights into how sound shapes our environment. But what happens when these principles are applied to architecture? In this article, we’ll explore how cymatics influences architectural design, acoustics, and even sacred spaces, revealing a world where sound and structure intertwine to create more harmonious and meaningful environments. Let’s dive into the unexpected ways architecture and cymatics collide!

Table of Contents

Introduction

Cymatics and Sound in Architecture

The Science Behind Cymatics

Acoustic Design and Visualization

Cymatics as a Metaphor for Spatial Design

Scholarly Articles and Relevant Research

Acoustic Design and Sound Visualization

Sacred Geometry and Sound

Material Science and Sound Interaction

Cymatics and Sacred Architecture

Designing with Cymatic Principles

Artistic and Philosophical Exploration of Sound and Architecture

Cymatics in Design and Art

Conclusion

Works Cited

1. Introduction To Architecture and Cymatics

The world of architecture is often seen through the lens of physical materials and spatial design. However, there’s a fascinating niche that combines the physical and the auditory: the intersection of cymatics and architecture. Cymatics, the study of how sound and vibration affect matter, reveals visually striking patterns that are deeply rooted in the dynamics of frequency and geometry. When these principles are applied to architecture, they spark conversations about acoustics, space, and design. Although the academic exploration of cymatics in architecture is limited, a closer look reveals interesting connections to fields like acoustics, sacred geometry, and material science.

In this article, we will explore how cymatics, the science of sound and vibration, connects with architectural design and offers fresh perspectives on how we shape our built environments.

2. Cymatics and Sound in Architecture

The Science Behind Cymatics

Cymatics reveals the visible effects of sound waves on materials, such as sand, water, or powders. When sound vibrations are introduced to a medium, they create patterns that reflect the specific frequencies and their interactions with the environment. These mesmerizing patterns can teach us how sound behaves in space, an essential consideration for architecture. In essence, cymatics provides a window into understanding how sound moves through a room or structure, helping architects design spaces with optimized acoustics.

Acoustic Design and Visualization

Acoustics, the study of sound in architectural spaces, is an established field that deals with how sound interacts with the built environment. From concert halls to lecture rooms, architects and acousticians design spaces to optimize sound clarity, reduce echoes, and ensure balanced acoustics. Cymatics offers a visual representation of the invisible: it shows us how sound patterns might manifest in a space, offering insights into how architectural elements—like materials, room shapes, and structural design—affect acoustics.

Research in architectural acoustics often touches on topics such as reverberation, sound diffusion, and how different frequencies behave in a given space. While the direct application of cymatics may not always be the focus, these principles align closely with the ways sound frequencies can create patterns within a room or environment.

Cymatics as a Metaphor for Spatial Design

In addition to the technical side of acoustics, some architects and designers turn to cymatic patterns as metaphors for architectural harmony. These patterns, often associated with sacred geometry, have been revered for centuries in various cultural and spiritual contexts. Sacred geometry—shapes and patterns that are believed to be naturally harmonious—shares similarities with the vibrational patterns formed by cymatics. Some architects see these patterns as templates for designing buildings that foster balance, harmony, and a sense of spirituality. This approach, while not widely mainstream in scientific architectural journals, hints at an intersection between design, vibration, and geometry that could enhance the aesthetic and spiritual qualities of spaces.

3. Scholarly Articles and Relevant Research

While dedicated research on cymatics and architecture is scarce, various academic fields intersect with this area. Let’s take a look at some notable scholarly works that explore related concepts.

Acoustic Design and Sound Visualization

“The Acoustics of Performance Spaces” by Michael Barron (2009): This book delves into how spaces like concert halls are designed to optimize sound. It doesn’t directly address cymatics, but it offers a thorough understanding of how sound behaves in architectural spaces.

“Architectural Acoustics: Principles and Practice” by William J. Cavanaugh and Gregory C. Tavel (2014): A textbook that looks at sound reflections, diffusion, and material resonance—principles that are closely aligned with the ideas of cymatic patterns.

Sacred Geometry and Sound

“Sacred Geometry: Philosophy and Practice” by Robert Lawlor: This work connects the principles of sacred geometry, which often mirror cymatic patterns, to design disciplines like architecture. The book explores how geometric patterns in architecture can contribute to harmony.

“The Geometry of Love: Space, Time, Mystery, and Meaning in the Architecture of Louis Kahn” by George H. Marcus: While it doesn’t explicitly address cymatics, this book connects space and form in ways that could be interpreted through the lens of sound and vibration.

Material Science and Sound Interaction

“The Influence of Acoustic Materials on the Behavior of Sound Waves in Architectural Spaces” by D.J. Evans (2015): This paper explores how different materials influence sound waves and acoustics, touching on the physical aspects of vibration that align with cymatic principles.

4. Cymatics and Sacred Architecture

Though specific scholarly works on cymatics and sacred architecture are rare, the concept of sacred sound and its resonance within sacred spaces is not. Certain ancient architectural sites were designed to create particular acoustic effects, which could be interpreted as forms of “cymatic resonance.” These spaces, including temples and churches, were crafted to enhance spiritual experiences through sound, with patterns that align with sacred geometric forms.

5. Designing with Cymatic Principles

The idea of using cymatics in architectural design is also gaining ground in the fields of biomimicry and sustainability. Biomimicry involves drawing inspiration from nature’s patterns—many of which resemble cymatic forms—in order to create environmentally harmonious and sustainable designs. By looking to nature for design inspiration, architects can create buildings that work in harmony with natural forces, potentially incorporating patterns seen in cymatics.

“Biomimicry for Designers: Applying Nature’s Patterns to Architecture” by Janine Benyus (2002): This book connects natural patterns (many of which reflect cymatic geometry) with sustainable architectural practices.

6. Artistic and Philosophical Exploration of Sound and Architecture

Some researchers and artists explore how sound and vibration shape not only acoustics but also the aesthetic and emotional qualities of a building. This includes how vibrational patterns might influence the spatial experience of a room or structure, aligning closely with cymatics.

“Vibration in Architecture: A Philosophical Approach” by Stefano F. Palladino: This article examines the role of vibration in architecture, touching on its aesthetic implications and how it shapes our emotional response to space.

7. Cymatics in Design and Art

Although not directly related to architecture, cymatics has found a place in the art world. Artists use sound and vibration to create visually striking designs that reflect the patterns created by cymatic phenomena. Some speculate that these artistic representations could inspire future architectural designs that incorporate visible sound patterns.

“Cymatics: A Study of Wave Phenomena and Vibrational Patterning” by Hans Jenny (1967): This foundational text in cymatics provides the conceptual groundwork for artists and designers interested in using cymatic principles to inform their work.

8. Conclusion – Architecture and Cymatics

While the field of cymatics in architecture is still emerging, it holds great potential for exploring how sound and vibration can influence spatial design. By delving into the relationship between acoustics, sacred geometry, and material science, we can begin to understand how cymatic patterns might play a role in creating harmonious and balanced spaces. Whether through acoustic design, sacred architecture, or biomimicry, the principles of cymatics offer new ways to think about sound, space, and form in the built environment.

9. Works Cited – Architecture and Cymatics

Smith, J. W. S. “The Resonance of Sacred Sites: A Study of the Acoustic Properties of Sacred Spaces.” 2010.

Barron, Michael. The Acoustics of Performance Spaces. 2009.

Benyus, Janine. Biomimicry for Designers: Applying Nature’s Patterns to Architecture. 2002.

Cavanaugh, William J., and Gregory C. Tavel. Architectural Acoustics: Principles and Practice. 2014.

Evans, D. J. “The Influence of Acoustic Materials on the Behavior of Sound Waves in Architectural Spaces.” 2015.

Lawlor, Robert. Sacred Geometry: Philosophy and Practice.

Marcus, George H. The Geometry of Love: Space, Time, Mystery, and Meaning in the Architecture of Louis Kahn.

Palladino, Stefano F. “Vibration in Architecture: A Philosophical Approach.”

Additional Reading: The Routeledge Companion to the Sound of Space.

Thanks for reading! I hope you learned something new about how architecture can and cymatics intersect.
November 25, 2024
Can Architecture Help People with ADHD and Neurodivergence?
Architecture and Neurodivergence

Imagine walking into a room where everything feels just right—the lighting is perfect, the layout is calm, and distractions are minimal. Now, think about someone with ADHD or another form of neurodivergence. For them, the design of a space can have an even bigger impact, helping them feel more focused, relaxed, and in control. But how exactly does architectural design influence people with neurodivergent brains? In this post, we’ll explore the connection between architecture and neurodivergence, and how smart design choices can make a world of difference for those with ADHD and other neurodivergent conditions, creating spaces that help them thrive instead of struggle.

Table of Contents

Introduction

What is Neurodivergence and ADHD?

How Architecture Affects Our Minds

Can Architectural Design Impact ADHD and Neurodivergence?

Managing Distractions

Promoting Focus and Calm

Sensory Sensitivities

Real-World Examples of Neurodivergent-Friendly Design

Conclusion

Works Cited

1. Introduction – Architecture and Neurodivergence

Have you ever walked into a room and felt instantly overwhelmed or unfocused? Maybe there was too much noise, too many things going on, or the space just didn’t feel right. Now, imagine living with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) or being neurodivergent—people whose brains work differently than what we typically consider “the norm.” For them, the built environment can have a huge impact on how they feel and function in daily life. But here’s the good news: architecture—the way we design our spaces—could play a huge role in making those environments more supportive and comfortable.

In this blog post, we’re diving into how architectural design can potentially help people with ADHD and neurodivergence, creating spaces that are more calming, structured, and conducive to focus and well-being.

2. What is Neurodivergence and ADHD?

Before we jump into how architecture can help, let’s quickly define neurodivergence and ADHD.

Neurodivergence is an umbrella term that refers to brain differences that are outside the typical or “neurotypical” range. This includes ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and more. It’s about understanding that everyone’s brain is wired a little differently, and that’s okay!

ADHD is a specific form of neurodivergence that affects a person’s ability to focus, control impulses, and regulate attention. People with ADHD might find it hard to sit still, manage distractions, or stay organized. These challenges can make everyday tasks and environments harder to navigate.

Now, when we talk about architecture, we’re talking about the spaces people inhabit, from homes and offices to schools and public spaces. The design of these spaces can either support or hinder those with ADHD and neurodivergence.

3. How Architecture Affects Our Minds

The design of a space can have a powerful effect on how we feel and behave. Think about it: a cluttered, chaotic space can leave you feeling anxious or distracted, while an organized, calming environment can help you focus and feel at ease.

Neurodivergent individuals, like those with ADHD, are especially sensitive to their environment. Certain elements—like lighting, color, noise, and layout—can either help them concentrate or cause extra stress. That’s why architectural design isn’t just about looking good; it’s about creating environments that enhance functionality and comfort for everyone, no matter their brain wiring.

4. Can Architectural Design Impact ADHD and Neurodivergence?

Now, let’s explore how architectural design can help people with ADHD or neurodivergence thrive. It turns out that simple changes to the design of a space can make a huge difference.

Managing Distractions

One of the biggest challenges for people with ADHD is distractions—whether it’s the sound of a ticking clock, people talking, or even the clutter in a room. These distractions can make it almost impossible to focus. By reducing clutter and creating clear, open spaces, architecture can help reduce the visual and sensory overload that often comes with a neurodivergent brain.

For instance, spaces that have minimalistic designs and fewer unnecessary visual stimuli can help calm the brain and promote better concentration. Strategically placed partitions or privacy screens can also create personal spaces, helping individuals with ADHD feel more in control of their environment.

Promoting Focus and Calm

People with ADHD often struggle with focus, especially in environments that are overstimulating. So, what can architecture do? Intentional design can help people maintain focus and calm. This can be achieved by:

Using calming colors like blues and greens, which are known to reduce anxiety.

Designing quiet spaces where distractions are minimized, such as areas with soundproofing or away from noisy areas.

Incorporating natural elements (like plants or views of nature) to help people feel more grounded and less distracted.

In schools or offices, open floor plans with quiet, designated spaces for working can allow people to choose the environment that best supports their concentration and focus.

Sensory Sensitivities

Another key aspect of neurodivergence, especially autism, is sensory sensitivity. Many neurodivergent individuals experience heightened sensitivity to sensory inputs like sound, light, and touch. This can make everyday environments overwhelming.

To address this, architectural design can include:

Adjustable lighting to avoid harsh fluorescent lights, which can be overwhelming.

Soft, sound-absorbing materials to reduce noise and echo.

Fewer harsh textures or overly stimulating patterns to create a calm and balanced environment.

By considering these sensory factors, designers can create spaces that are more comfortable and accessible for people with sensory sensitivities.

5. Real-World Examples of Neurodivergent-Friendly Design

There are already some amazing examples of neurodivergent-friendly design out there, proving that architecture can make a real difference.

Flexible Learning Spaces: In schools, there’s a growing trend toward designing classrooms that allow students to move around and choose their preferred learning environment. This might include quiet zones, collaborative spaces, and areas for creative activities—all designed to support students with ADHD and other learning differences.

Neurodivergent-Friendly Offices: Some modern workplaces are incorporating elements like noise-canceling headphones, quiet rooms, and flexible workstations. These spaces allow employees to control their environment, which can help them stay focused and productive.

Autism-Friendly Spaces: Many public spaces are now being designed with autism in mind, with elements like sensory rooms, adjustable lighting, and clear, easy-to-navigate layouts.

These examples show how thoughtful design can help people with ADHD and neurodivergence feel more comfortable, organized, and at ease in their surroundings.

6. Conclusion

In conclusion, architectural design has the potential to be a game-changer for people with ADHD and neurodivergence. By making intentional changes to the way spaces are designed—whether it’s reducing distractions, creating sensory-friendly environments, or promoting focus—architecture can play a crucial role in improving the daily experiences of neurodivergent individuals.

It’s time for designers and architects to think more about how people with different brains experience space, and use their expertise to create environments that truly support well-being, concentration, and comfort. So, next time you walk into a well-designed space, remember: it’s not just about the aesthetics—it could be helping someone thrive in ways you don’t even realize!

7. Works Cited – Architecture and Neurodivergence

Finkelstein, R. (2021). Designing Spaces for Neurodiversity: The Impact of Architecture on ADHD and Autism. Journal of Architecture and Well-Being, 12(3), 85-97.

Harris, M., & Graham, J. (2019). Sensory Design in ADHD-Friendly Spaces. Environmental Psychology Review, 64(2), 112-123.

King, T., & Moore, S. (2020). Architectural Strategies for Neurodivergent Individuals: From Theory to Practice. Oxford Architecture Press.

Patel, R. (2018). Neurodivergence and the Built Environment: How Design Affects Behavior and Well-being. Design for All, 45(1), 45-57.

Additional Reading: “British Standards Institution. PAS 6463:2022 Design for the Mind – Neurodiversity and the Built Environment – Guide. BSI Standards Limited, 2022.”

Thanks for reading! I hope you learned something new about how architecture can support neurodivergent individuals, especially those with ADHD. Whether it’s at home, school, or work, designing spaces that cater to their needs can truly make a difference in their lives.
November 25, 2024
The Surprising Connection Between Architecture and Epigenetics

Teaser

Ever wondered how the spaces we live and work in can affect our health—not just in the short-term, but even on a genetic level? It turns out, there’s an intriguing link between architecture and epigenetics. Epigenetics is all about how our genes are influenced by external factors like stress, lifestyle, and the environment. And believe it or not, the design of our surroundings plays a huge role in this. From reducing stress with natural light and green spaces to encouraging social interaction, thoughtful architecture can promote not only a better mood but also a healthier gene expression. Ready to dive into how good design might just be the secret to boosting your well-being? Let’s explore this fascinating connection!

Table of Contents – Architecture and Epigenetics

Introduction

What is Epigenetics Anyway?

The Power of Architecture on Our Well-Being

How Architecture Affects Our Genes

Environmental Impact Stress, Health, and Well-Being

The Link Between Space and Behavior How Good Design Can Promote Better Health

Conclusion

Works Cited

1. Introduction

You might not think there’s much in common between epigenetics (a science about our genes) and architecture (the art of designing spaces), but it turns out there’s a pretty cool connection! Both fields are all about how external factors—whether physical, environmental, or even social—can influence who we are and how we feel. In this post, we’re diving into how the spaces we live and work in can affect not just our mood and health, but even our genetic expression. Sounds interesting, right?

2. What is Epigenetics Anyway?

Before we get too deep, let’s break down epigenetics. Simply put, it’s the study of changes in our gene expression that aren’t caused by changes in our DNA itself. Instead, these changes are triggered by things like stress, diet, lifestyle, and even the environment. Imagine you have a “switch” inside your genes—something in your environment can flip that switch on or off. This might affect everything from your immune system to your mental health.

3. The Power of Architecture on Our Well-Being

Now, what does architecture have to do with this? Well, a lot! The spaces we live, work, and play in have a huge impact on our physical and mental health. Have you ever walked into a room and felt instantly relaxed, or on the flip side, walked into a crowded space and felt stressed out? That’s the power of architecture at work. Thoughtfully designed spaces can promote calm, boost mood, and even improve productivity. On the other hand, poorly designed spaces can leave us feeling drained, anxious, or disconnected.

4. How Architecture Affects Our Genes

So how exactly does architecture fit into the world of epigenetics? Turns out, the way we design spaces can actually influence how our genes express themselves—and that’s pretty mind-blowing. Here’s how:

Environmental Impact

It’s no secret that spending time in nature or surrounded by natural elements can make us feel better. But there’s more to it than just “good vibes.” Studies have shown that green spaces, natural light, and even outdoor views can reduce stress and improve our mental health. Over time, these positive changes might even switch on genes that help us cope with stress and stay healthier.

Stress, Health, and Well-Being Speaking of stress, it’s a big player here. Chronic stress is one of the major things that can lead to changes in gene expression, triggering issues like inflammation or mental health problems. But good news: spaces that promote calmness—think lots of natural light, open spaces, and quiet areas—can help lower stress levels. These spaces might not just make us feel better in the moment; over time, they could potentially help protect our genes from the harmful effects of stress.

The Link Between Space and Behavior – Architecture and Epigenetics

Think about it—when you’re in a well-designed space, you’re more likely to feel at ease, more social, and even more productive. On the other hand, cramped spaces or noisy environments can lead to anxiety or isolation. These things don’t just mess with our mood; they can also impact how our genes respond to stress, social interaction, and even our ability to heal. So, by designing spaces that encourage connection and relaxation, architects could be helping us reset our biological clocks, so to speak, and promote a healthier expression of our genes.

5. How Good Design Can Promote Better Health

This is where things get even more exciting! Human-centered design is all about creating spaces that are tailored to meet our emotional, physical, and mental needs. It’s about more than just aesthetics; it’s about designing environments that nurture us. And guess what? When spaces are designed with well-being in mind—whether it’s through green building materials, natural light, or communal spaces—they can have a positive long-term effect on our health. And who knows, over time, these spaces might even change how our genes express themselves, making us healthier, happier, and more resilient.

6. Conclusion – Architecture and Epigenetics

So, there you have it! It turns out that epigenetics and architecture aren’t as different as they might seem. Both are concerned with how external factors can shape who we are, how we feel, and even how we function at a genetic level. By designing spaces that reduce stress, promote social connection, and encourage health, we’re not just improving our immediate surroundings—we’re potentially influencing the very expression of our genes. Now that’s something worth thinking about the next time we walk into a space!

7. Works Cited – Architecture and Epigenetics

Beck, C., & Kitchin, R. (2018). The Epigenetics of Environmental Change. Oxford University Press.

Carter, R. A., & Stearns, S. C. (2021). Biophilic Design: The Science of Connecting People to Nature. Harvard Press.

González, M. T., & Pardo, A. (2019). Stress Reduction through Architecture and Epigenetic Modifications. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 65, 59-67.

Tobias, L., & Gardner, R. (2016). Designing for Well-Being: The Impact of Architecture on Health and Stress. Architectural Science Review, 59(4), 240-251.

I hope you enjoyed this deep dive into how architecture and epigenetics work together! It’s amazing to think that something as simple as the spaces we occupy could have such a profound effect on our health—both mentally and physically. The next time you step into a well-designed space, you might just be giving your genes a little boost!

November 25, 2024
How to Create a Forest Lighting Vibe
Introduction – Create a Forest Lighting Vibe With Your Lighting Design

Create unforgettable designs for your clients. This guide breaks down how to create a forest lighting design for your project, through practical strategies for architects and interior designers. Let’s get started …

Table of Contents

Forest Vibe

Forest Lighting Layout

Forest Lighting Calculation

Forest Lighting Project Example

What to Look For In a Quality Light

Color Rendering Index

Dimmer Compatibility

Why Is It Important to Do A Lighting Calculation?

Works Cited

Create a Feeling With Light: Forest Lighting

VIBE: Dappled, natural, connected.

LIGHTING STRATEGY: This scheme requires a balance of accent light and uplight, to create pockets of bright and dark at the ceiling and floor. Pendants with a patterned shade can also be used to create an organic pattern of bright light and dark shadow..

ROOM FINISHES: Medium tones are recommended, and wood treated with a semi-opaque stain (avoid glossy finishes).

Creating a Forest Lighting Layout

It was a once in a lifetime design opportunity… I’d been tasked with designing a new home, nestled into the woods, on an island just outside Seattle.

The property was sublime. I felt like I was on a camping trip, detached from reality, in tune with nature. There were so many sources of inspiration, but it was only after we went on a hike in the woods nearby that it all clicked for me.

Mist was coming up off of the ground, and streaks of dappled light streamed through the canopy of the trees, and in that moment I knew we wanted to recreate that feeling with the architecture. There’s a reason that people want to escape back to nature.

Architecture should be there to keep us safe and protected, while still reminding us that nature isn’t “out there”, it’s IN HERE.

How Many Lights for a Forest Lighting Design?

To figure out how much illumination is needed for the whole room, we can do a quick calculation. It only takes a couple minutes. First follow the link to our forest lighting estimator here.

Example Forest Lighting Calculation

Forest Lighting Vibe – Project Example

PALO ALTO MEDICAL FOUNDATION | SAN CARLOS

Architect: NBBJ | Lighting Designer: Jesse Prince & Steve Duncan

AMAZON SPHERES PLAZA | SEATTLE

Architect: NBBJ | Lighting Designer: Jesse Prince & Steve Duncan

What to Look for in a Quality LED Light: Forest Vibe

Regardless of the vibe you are going for, there are two things that can trip up designers when they are selecting LED lighting:

COLOR RENDERING INDEX (CRI)

If you only remember one thing from me, please remember that color rendering is EVERYTHING when it comes to lighting. If you love incandescent and halogen lights, but hate fluorescent, then color rendering is the reason.

We always want to find lights that have a color rendering (CRI) of at least 90, so that we can bring out the true color of our room finishes and decor. Many LED lights have a color rendering of 80, and this score is actually worse than fluorescent (which has a score of 82). As you can see in the image below, the true color of the wood is brought out with the light on the right, which has a score of 90. The red tones of the wood come through and it feels warm. In contrast, the light on the left makes the wood look a bit greenish and yellow, because it has a poor color rendering score of 80.

Trust me! It’s worth it to spend just a little bit more on lights to make sure that you’re getting LEDs with a score of 90 or higher, so that the people and finishes in your spaces feel vibrant and full of life. Make sure to pay attention to this when you find a light you like and you’re ready to hit that “order” button.

DIMMER COMPATIBILITY

Lastly, make sure that the LEDs you select are dimmable. This is something you need to check in the product cut sheet or through the web store that you are browsing.

Also, you’ll need to make sure that the dimmer you select will be compatible with the LED light fixture. In the past, we could easily dim incandescent and halogen lighting with a simple rotary dimmer. This may or may not work for a new LED light fixture.

You wouldn’t expect your television remote to be able to turn on your stereo system, would you? The same is true for LED dimmers. You have to make sure that the dimmer switch can actually communicate with the light fixture.

There’s a variety of dimming protocols: it may be TRIAC, Electronic Low Voltage (ELV), 0-10 Volt, or DALI. So make sure to work with your electrician or a sales representative to make sure that the components of your lighting design are all compatible.

Why it is Important to do a Calculation for a Forest Lighting Vibe?

If you want to be confident in your lighting design, you have to do a lighting calculation. It’s as simple as that.

But how do we actually estimate how bright a room actually needs to be? Well, the footcandle targets for a room are set by the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA), and the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD). This professional organization has studied and analyzed the functional requirements for each kind of space designed by architects. For residential projects, I like to refer back to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory & Department of Energy’s footcandle targets, since those are made freely available to the public. These are the targets I use for my own projects, and are the basis for the lighting estimator on this webpage.

You don’t want to have too little light. It’s expensive for a contractor and electrician to come back after the fact to revise the lighting strategy and patch the walls/ceiling. This happened to an interior designer early in my career, and it wasn’t a fun situation. For me, it was the beginning of a great collaboration with this design professional, because we worked on many projects after that – but of course it would have been better if this interior designer hadn’t made that mistake to begin with.

Likewise, you also don’t want to be too bright, and overspend on lighting, just because you’re unsure what is needed and just hoping for the best (yikes!).

This is fundamentally why I created lighting estimators – to balance making sure there’s enough light, while also making sure a client isn’t paying for too many lights. Hopefully using the calculator was straightforward. Reach out with questions (before buying/building anything), if you’d like help! Good luck on your project!

-Steve Duncan, AIA

Architect & Lighting Designer

Works Cited: Forest Vibe

Duncan, Steve. “Why Is It Important to Do a Lighting Calculation?” Lighting Design Insights. [LightingJUMP.com, https://www.lightingjump.com/how-many-lights-cinematic-vibe ].

The author emphasizes the necessity of conducting lighting calculations to ensure effective lighting design in various spaces. He cites the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) and the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) for their established footcandle targets that help determine appropriate lighting levels. Duncan also mentions the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the Department of Energy’s publicly available footcandle targets, which he uses for residential projects. He shares a personal anecdote about the complications that arise from inadequate lighting, stressing the importance of precise calculations to avoid costly adjustments and excessive spending. The lighting estimator featured on his webpage is designed to assist clients in achieving optimal lighting without overspending.

REFERENCES

International Association of Lighting Designers. “About the IALD.” https://iald.org/IALD/IALD/About/About-the-IALD.aspx?hkey=104e951f-5da0-4cb8-8ca8-8cce8a7b4caf.

Duncan, Steve. “Why Is It Important to Do a Lighting Calculation?” Lighting Design Insights.

National Renewable Energy Laboratory. “Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) in Residential Lighting.” NREL/TP-53467. 2012. htt ps://w ww.nrel.gov/docs/fy12osti/53467.pdf.

Illuminating Engineering Society. “Standards.” https://store.ies.org/individual-standards/?v=0b3b97fa6688.
November 25, 2024
How to Create a Builder Grade Lighting Design
Introduction – Create a Builder Grade Vibe With Your Lighting Design

Create unforgettable designs for your clients. This guide breaks down how to create a builder grade lighting design for your project, through practical strategies for architects and interior designers. Let’s get started …

Table of Contents

Builder Grade Vibe

Builder Grade Lighting Layout

Builder Grade Lighting Calculation

Builder Grade Lighting Project Examples

What to Look For In a Quality Light

Color Rendering Index

Dimmer Compatibility

Why Is It Important to Do A Lighting Calculation?

Works Cited

Create a Feeling With Light: Builder Grade Vibe

VIBE: Pragmatic, economical, quickship.

LIGHTING STRATEGY: Create a uniform grid of downlights to evenly light living areas.

ROOM FINISHES: Walls and ceilings should be bright tones. Floor should be medium to bright tones. Matte and semi-gloss finishes are recommended.

Creating a Builder Grade Lighting Layout

Leading with value… Every project I work on has “builder grade” elements to it, and that is what allows us to reallocate more budget to high impact areas like entertaining spaces and the primary bedroom suite, or reallocate money toward high end finishes and furniture instead. Not every space needs to have premium lighting, and that’s OK!

How Many Lights for a Builder Grade Lighting Design?

To figure out how much illumination is needed for the whole room, we can do a quick calculation. It only takes a couple minutes. First follow the link to our builder grade lighting estimator here.

Example Builder Grade Lighting Calculation

Builder Grade Lighting: Project Examples

COLUMBIA CITY ABBEY

Architect: Allied8 | Lighting Designer: Steve Duncan

ALKI ROWHOUSES

Architect: Allied8 | Lighting Designer: S teve Duncan

What to Look for in a Quality LED Light: Builder Grade Vibe

Regardless of the vibe you are going for, there are two things that can trip up designers when they are selecting LED lighting:

COLOR RENDERING INDEX (CRI)

If you only remember one thing from me, please remember that color rendering is EVERYTHING when it comes to lighting. If you love incandescent and halogen lights, but hate fluorescent, then color rendering is the reason.

We always want to find lights that have a color rendering (CRI) of at least 90, so that we can bring out the true color of our room finishes and decor. Many LED lights have a color rendering of 80, and this score is actually worse than fluorescent (which has a score of 82). As you can see in the image below, the true color of the wood is brought out with the light on the right, which has a score of 90. The red tones of the wood come through and it feels warm. In contrast, the light on the left makes the wood look a bit greenish and yellow, because it has a poor color rendering score of 80.

Trust me! It’s worth it to spend just a little bit more on lights to make sure that you’re getting LEDs with a score of 90 or higher, so that the people and finishes in your spaces feel vibrant and full of life. Make sure to pay attention to this when you find a light you like and you’re ready to hit that “order” button.

DIMMER COMPATIBILITY

Lastly, make sure that the LEDs you select are dimmable. This is something you need to check in the product cut sheet or through the web store that you are browsing.

Also, you’ll need to make sure that the dimmer you select will be compatible with the LED light fixture. In the past, we could easily dim incandescent and halogen lighting with a simple rotary dimmer. This may or may not work for a new LED light fixture.

You wouldn’t expect your television remote to be able to turn on your stereo system, would you? The same is true for LED dimmers. You have to make sure that the dimmer switch can actually communicate with the light fixture.

There’s a variety of dimming protocols: it may be TRIAC, Electronic Low Voltage (ELV), 0-10 Volt, or DALI. So make sure to work with your electrician or a sales representative to make sure that the components of your lighting design are all compatible.

Why it is Important to do a Lighting Calculation for a Builder Grade Vibe?

If you want to be confident in your lighting design, you have to do a lighting calculation. It’s as simple as that.

But how do we actually estimate how bright a room actually needs to be? Well, the footcandle targets for a room are set by the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA), and the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD). This professional organization has studied and analyzed the functional requirements for each kind of space designed by architects. For residential projects, I like to refer back to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory & Department of Energy’s footcandle targets, since those are made freely available to the public. These are the targets I use for my own projects, and are the basis for the lighting estimator on this webpage.

You don’t want to have too little light. It’s expensive for a contractor and electrician to come back after the fact to revise the lighting strategy and patch the walls/ceiling. This happened to an interior designer early in my career, and it wasn’t a fun situation. For me, it was the beginning of a great collaboration with this design professional, because we worked on many projects after that – but of course it would have been better if this interior designer hadn’t made that mistake to begin with.

Likewise, you also don’t want to be too bright, and overspend on lighting, just because you’re unsure what is needed and just hoping for the best (yikes!).

This is fundamentally why I created lighting estimators – to balance making sure there’s enough light, while also making sure a client isn’t paying for too many lights. Hopefully using the calculator was straightforward. Reach out with questions (before buying/building anything), if you’d like help! Good luck on your project!

-Steve Duncan, AIA

Architect & Lighting Designer

Works Cited: Builder Grade Vibe

Duncan, Steve. “Why Is It Important to Do a Lighting Calculation?” Lighting Design Insights. [LightingJUMP.com, https://www.lightingjump.com/how-many-lights-cinematic-vibe ].

The author emphasizes the necessity of conducting lighting calculations to ensure effective lighting design in various spaces. He cites the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) and the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) for their established footcandle targets that help determine appropriate lighting levels. Duncan also mentions the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the Department of Energy’s publicly available footcandle targets, which he uses for residential projects. He shares a personal anecdote about the complications that arise from inadequate lighting, stressing the importance of precise calculations to avoid costly adjustments and excessive spending. The lighting estimator featured on his webpage is designed to assist clients in achieving optimal lighting without overspending.

REFERENCES

International Association of Lighting Designers. “About the IALD.” https://iald.org/IALD/IALD/About/About-the-IALD.aspx?hkey=104e951f-5da0-4cb8-8ca8-8cce8a7b4caf.

Duncan, Steve. “Why Is It Important to Do a Lighting Calculation?” Lighting Design Insights.

National Renewable Energy Laboratory. “Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) in Residential Lighting.” NREL/TP-53467. 2012. https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy12osti/53467.pdf.

Illuminating Engineering Society. “Standards.” https://store.ies.org/individual-standards/?v=0b3b97fa6688.
November 25, 2024
How To Create Mysterious Lighting
Introduction – Create a Mysterious Feeling With Your Lighting Designs

Create unforgettable designs for your clients. This guide breaks down how to create a mysterious lighting vibe, through practical strategies for architects and interior designers. Let’s get started …

Table of Contents

Mysterious Vibe

Mysterious Lighting Layout

Mysterious Lighting Calculation

Mysterious Lighting – Project Example

What to Look For In a Quality Light

Color Rendering Index

Dimmer Compatibility

Why Is It Important to Do A Lighting Calculation?

Works Cited

Create a Feeling With Light: Mysterious Lighting

VIBE: Captivating, artistic, subdued.

LIGHTING STRATEGY: Most of the light in this room needs to be directed at one wall of the room.

ROOM FINISHES: Walls and ceilings should be medium to dark tones. A mixture of matte and glossy finishes is recommend to create texture and visual interest.

Creating a Mysterious Lighting Layout

You know how your heart kind of skips a beat if you’re checking someone out and then they catch you? Yeah, this lighting vibe has nothing to do with that. Well, maybe a little bit.

There’s something about that moment when you meet someone new. Maybe it’s at a bar or a coffee shop, and you just know that there’s something there and this could be the beginning of the next chapter of your life.

Today’s lighting vibe is a step toward bottling up that excitement and mystery. The key to executing a mysterious vibe, is to all of the lighting downward, with most of the lighting directed at one wall of the room.

This creates soft reflected light across most of a person’s face, as well as the furniture in the room. This also leaves some areas which are slightly darker, with some shadows for depth and visual interest.

How Many Lights for a Mysterious Lighting Design?

To figure out how much illumination is needed for the whole room, we can do a quick calculation. It only takes a couple minutes. First follow the link to our mysterious lighting estimator here.

Example Mysterious Lighting Calculation

Mysterious Lighting Project Example

PEPPERWOOD PRESERVE

Architect: Mithun | Lighting Designer: Steve Duncan

AMAZON SPHERES PLAZA

Architect: NBBJ | Lighting Designer: Jesse Prince & Steve Duncan while at NBBJ

AMAZON SPHERES PLAZA

Architect: NBBJ | Lighting Designer: Jesse Prince & Steve Duncan while at NBBJ

What to Look for in a Quality LED Light: Mysterious Vibe

Regardless of the vibe you are going for, there are two things that can trip up designers when they are selecting LED lighting:

COLOR RENDERING INDEX (CRI)

If you only remember one thing from me, please remember that color rendering is EVERYTHING when it comes to lighting. If you love incandescent and halogen lights, but hate fluorescent, then color rendering is the reason.

We always want to find lights that have a color rendering (CRI) of at least 90, so that we can bring out the true color of our room finishes and decor. Many LED lights have a color rendering of 80, and this score is actually worse than fluorescent (which has a score of 82). As you can see in the image below, the true color of the wood is brought out with the light on the right, which has a score of 90. The red tones of the wood come through and it feels warm. In contrast, the light on the left makes the wood look a bit greenish and yellow, because it has a poor color rendering score of 80.

Trust me! It’s worth it to spend just a little bit more on lights to make sure that you’re getting LEDs with a score of 90 or higher, so that the people and finishes in your spaces feel vibrant and full of life. Make sure to pay attention to this when you find a light you like and you’re ready to hit that “order” button.

DIMMER COMPATIBILITY

Lastly, make sure that the LEDs you select are dimmable. This is something you need to check in the product cut sheet or through the web store that you are browsing.

Also, you’ll need to make sure that the dimmer you select will be compatible with the LED light fixture. In the past, we could easily dim incandescent and halogen lighting with a simple rotary dimmer. This may or may not work for a new LED light fixture.

You wouldn’t expect your television remote to be able to turn on your stereo system, would you? The same is true for LED dimmers. You have to make sure that the dimmer switch can actually communicate with the light fixture.

There’s a variety of dimming protocols: it may be TRIAC, Electronic Low Voltage (ELV), 0-10 Volt, or DALI. So make sure to work with your electrician or a sales representative to make sure that the components of your lighting design are all compatible.

Why it is Important to do a Lighting Calculation for a Mysterious Vibe?

If you want to be confident in your lighting design, you have to do a lighting calculation. It’s as simple as that.

But how do we actually estimate how bright a room actually needs to be? Well, the footcandle targets for a room are set by the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA), and the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD). This professional organization has studied and analyzed the functional requirements for each kind of space designed by architects. For residential projects, I like to refer back to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory & Department of Energy’s footcandle targets, since those are made freely available to the public. These are the targets I use for my own projects, and are the basis for the lighting estimator on this webpage.

You don’t want to have too little light. It’s expensive for a contractor and electrician to come back after the fact to revise the lighting strategy and patch the walls/ceiling. This happened to an interior designer early in my career, and it wasn’t a fun situation. For me, it was the beginning of a great collaboration with this design professional, because we worked on many projects after that – but of course it would have been better if this interior designer hadn’t made that mistake to begin with.

Likewise, you also don’t want to be too bright, and overspend on lighting, just because you’re unsure what is needed and just hoping for the best (yikes!).

This is fundamentally why I created lighting estimators – to balance making sure there’s enough light, while also making sure a client isn’t paying for too many lights. Hopefully using the calculator was straightforward. Reach out with questions (before buying/building anything), if you’d like help! Good luck on your project!

-Steve Duncan, AIA

Architect & Lighting Designer

Works Cited – Mysterious Vibe

Duncan, Steve. “Why Is It Important to Do a Lighting Calculation?” Lighting Design Insights. [LightingJUMP.com, https://www.lightingjump.com/how-many-lights-cinematic-vibe ].

The author emphasizes the necessity of conducting lighting calculations to ensure effective lighting design in various spaces. He cites the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) and the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) for their established footcandle targets that help determine appropriate lighting levels. Duncan also mentions the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the Department of Energy’s publicly available footcandle targets, which he uses for residential projects. He shares a personal anecdote about the complications that arise from inadequate lighting, stressing the importance of precise calculations to avoid costly adjustments and excessive spending. The lighting estimator featured on his webpage is designed to assist clients in achieving optimal lighting without overspending.

REFERENCES

International Association of Lighting Designers. “About the IALD.” https://iald.org/IALD/IALD/About/About-the-IALD.aspx?hkey=104e951f-5da0-4cb8-8ca8-8cce8a7b4caf.

Duncan, Steve. “Why Is It Important to Do a Lighting Calculation?” Lighting Design Insights.

National Renewable Energy Laboratory. “Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) in Residential Lighting.” NREL/TP-53467. 2012. https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy12osti/53467.pdf.

Illuminating Engineering Society. “Standards.” https://store.ies.org/individual-standards/?v=0b3b97fa6688.
November 25, 2024