Creating sustainable visual identity with architectural lighting

Exterior architectural lighting has advanced in leaps and bounds in recent years, in terms of technology, innovative approaches and sustainability. But lighting professionals need to take the lead in pushing things further.

To understand the fast-evolving world of architectural lighting and connectivity, it is important to first understand some of the trends driving this important lighting industry segment, such as a real push towards enhanced sustainability in terms of reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions, and limiting sky glow and light pollution.

Increasingly of interest is the consideration being put into how to avoid directing light on to the ecology of a site, how to mitigate or reduce light pollution and obtrusive light, and how to limit energy consumption of architectural lighting.

Unlike street lighting, which is functionally used for safety and visibility, architectural exterior and public realm lighting has little if any functional value; it is used to create dynamic, colourful, and engaging visual experiences. The challenge faced is that this potentially increases energy consumption through illuminating spaces that have not been lit, or only minimally lit, up to now.

That said, through a well-designed, specified, commissioned, and more crucially, controlled architectural lighting installations, it is now possible to minimise energy consumption and the associated carbon footprint while still creating impactful experiences.

This leverages important messages around community engagement, interactivity and cohesion, the night-time economy, safety, and more diverse and inclusive night-time environments.

At the same time, as elsewhere within lighting, there is an acceleration of smart connectivity and integration beyond lighting, with the introduction of more immersive and interactive experiences becoming increasingly the norm, even expected.

Combined with modern-day control and connectivity, it opens the door further to bringing new and innovative technologies into the public realm, so people can have experiences and create memories in a different way.

But – and there is always a ‘but’ – when we talk about architectural lighting, there is a need to be more visionary, to masterplan. How is this scheme going to enhance the community, not just now but for the next decade? Of course, the brief needs to be met, and to come in on budget, but broader thinking is required, beyond narrow project scope lines.

With more considered design, buildings or landmarks can be transformed through lighting, at the touch of a button. It is no longer the same structure at night - visually. The connectivity and the future-readying of schemes needs to be a key part of this transformational process.

With the current focus on reducing energy and CO₂ emissions, architectural exterior lighting – used and specified correctly – can have real value in bringing communities together, and powerfully connecting people and places.

Discover more about architectural lighting, here