some quick images from AGI...

the Beginnings of AGI..

Beginning this new program AGI working with rendering and calculating lighting, I became super overwhelmed. I knew that I needed to have 3 different types of lighting and 1 architectural detail/element, so I did some research on different types of lighting elements.

The first one is suspended recessed lighting, which can be used in both commercial or residential areas. I find these slick and small enough and small enough to be able to fit into a residential space, as well as being able to give off enough light to help light the space properly without making the space full of them. 

Here is an image of recessed lighting shown in a dining space. Most residential spaces I have been in, have had recessed lighting throughout the spaces. They give off great light and because they are flush with the ceiling the dont overwhelm the ceiling or the space as well. 

Above: represents an architectural detail/element, because it is a residential space I wanted the architectural element to be less loud then this one, but I thought it was a cool detail for a commercial or retail space, it provides good space for the lights as well as a source for way finding and for visual pleasure.

cove lighting was what I found myself proposing for the space. It allows ambient lighting when there is daylight as well as good night time lighting. I wanted to focus on keeping as much daylighting in the space and in use as possible which is why i chose an architectural element that was sensitive to the natural lighting as well as the space.

Color Experiment

It was important for us as designers to learn, obtain the knowledge and to understand the impact that color, color schemes and color choices can have on a space. Working with color schemes learned in class, we focused on a study working with photoshop to help us understand the power of color schemes in a space. Below is a sample of analogous, complementary and monochromatic. 

The eiffel Tower lights up on the hour every hour starting at 5pm I believe and you can see the lights lighting up the outdoors from miles and miles away. It isn't because of the size of the tower, rather it is the luminance and the lamps that are used for the lighting of the eiffel tower. It is both amazing and brilliant what lighting can do. 

                                               

Lighting used as advertising. This building a COACH store isn't only advertising during the day with their window displays and sale  signs, rather it is displaying 24/7 utilizing the power and brilliancy that light can play on a space and a building. When it gets dark out the "C's" take over the exterior of the building and allow for people to see from blocks away where the Coach store is, to draw attention and draw more clients into the store

Daylighting BOX

For the day lighting project we really wanted to focus on breaking out of the box as well as the designers we looked at, we wanted to utilize their elements of design as best as possible. Multilateral day lighting was achieved through the use of four types of openings in this model, which in total create a space for both gathering and quiet contemplation. The ribs on the southern wall provide shade for the interiors as well as providing daylight openings. As a result of the curved light shelf, the top light entering the space diffuses on the surrounding walls providing no harsh shadows. However, the skylights located on the light shelf control the top light and only allows specific light downward to create the pattern of light on the interior floor. The impact of this combination of lighting is diverse within this space but is unified through the structures that create this daylit atmosphere. 

more inspirational lighting....

Inspirational lighting

Some inspirational lighting I came across while in Atlanta for the weekend. The top picture is of a huge light fixture we came across while heading up to Perkins + Will. The ceiling were extremely tall, and there were about 4 of these light fixtures to help illuminate the space as well as serving for decoration. They also had wall sconces that were similar to the design, and again served for intimate lighting.

The below picture is a lighting fixture in the [W] Hotel. They had renovated and did quite a bit of updates to the below area. The light really helped give the space the modern edge along with the rest of the space. standing under the light fixture makes you feel so small and almost as if you were looking at falling stars. Its amazing how different light fixtures can influence and evoke emotions.

For my studio project we are working on an institutional design project, and when looking for lighting in the re-design of 204, I came across this sleek lighting design that I felt would work well in an institution. 

This light reminded me somewhat of our lighting box project, its dealing with negative and positive space and how they interact with the light thats included on the inside. 

This light also dealt a bit with the positive and negative space, but what caught my eye about this light was the color. Its a strong color, but it works with the shape and the design of the light. I could see this in a modern retail space, in a residential area, etc. 

This was my favorite that i found. When I was in Italy, the light that is similar to this, but designed as a floor lamp, were all over in every lighting store and ever design place, and I loved it, and have since wanted to purchase one...I like this light because it comes off the wall- it would be cool in a restaurant setting or in a residential or retail space. 

Lighting Evaluation

The Lobby of the Gatewood building was our selection for a space. It is a large, open public space which is used for gatherings, displaying artwork, and as an entrance. Natural light is the main source of light. The large, over-sized windows that allow this to happen, as well as large ambient lighting which light the space when it is dark outside. Overall our impression of the space is that it a well lit, comfortable, inviting space. 

Our team results of the space goes as following:

clear- 2

distinct-2

bright-1

faces clear-2

large-1

spacious-1

wide-2

long-2

horizontal-4

colorful-5

glare-3

public-1

relaxed-3

like-1

satisfying- 2

beautiful-2

interesting- 2

cheerful-3

pleasant-2

overall-3 

Lighting Box

When given the opportunity to make a lighting box using electrical powered lighting, I had so many ideas rolling through my head that I wanted to test out. When we gathered as a group we all knew that we didnt want to just make it a box-we wanted to add and subtract pieces from the box so that it would make a really cool effect on the inside. Transparent (ish) paper was added to the box to help learn the effects of how light gets portrayed with voids and additions to a space. The lighting + the paper didnt have the exact effect that we intended it to have- so from there we did trial and error for the rest of the design. We added in different materials as well as a diagonal board with holes cut out of it-and I would say overall we were happy with the results that we saw from the final design with the lighting-although when we did present- it started smoking! ooops!

Natural Science Museum of Greensboro

Jan 30th 2009

On Jan 30th, 2009 our lighting class adventured to The Natural Science Center of Greensboro- We were greeted with giraffe's and other animals hanging out of the walls. Never been to The Natural Science Center of Greensboro, and the trip was definitely worth while. We learned a lot about different types of lighting...light is radiant energy + electromagnetic energy. He talked about different types of visible lighting in nature- such as bio-luminescence, sunlight (which includes the starts and the moon, etc.), fire, lightning, volcanoes, lava etc. 

The differences between when light absorbs through products such as paint, water color and other objects make different colors then when you put the colors together through light. 

Black absorbs all color, white bounces all colors off and whatever color your wearing gets absorbed and the others bounce off. ie: if you are wearing a green sweater-green light gets absorbed, and the other colors bounce off. Plus, white light contains all colors. 

We ended with a wild laser show-which included justin timberlake-POP, and dancing men. I think I smiled the whole time, with a 4 year old grin from ear to ear. Certainly a successful field trip!

Lighting

LED lights are used in this building to give the structure a different voice and feeling in the night time. 

An interesting art display in Barcelona, Spain, dealt with glass products and the way that light interacts with those items and the space provided. The shadows the light + objects made together became more interesting then art work. 

The Modern Museum of Art in Barcelona, used natural light as their main light source, but creatively placed color panels over part of the window to allow different colors of light to blend with the natural white light, to give the space a different glow.