Lighting Concerns - Paradoxes From the Field (1)
Lighting studies should always be incorporated into the architectural design practices, starting from the presentation of initial ideas across the development phases to the final supervision of fixtures in a project life cycle.
In fact, the importance of lighting methods and their strong bond to the architect's design values are not limited to tangible numbers at the quantification stage, such as the minimum illumination level required for a working space in lux/footcandles, as much as to the relatively-unmeasurable quality factors that affect the human-being's way of life and the desired conformance of a lit space to its intended usage.
Unfortunately, while power load budgets are being tightened in recent projects, lighting is one of the components that are most likely subject to value engineering considerations, in which the fixture is preferred to be multi-versatile with more functions added to the performance, as a way to reduce the numbers whilst increasing the cost efficiency.
In this context, it's contended that, as the current codes and regulations based on the submitted PC/manual lighting calculations could be satisfied in line with the project constraints, many of the quality values are compromised; simply, for instance, waiving out the anti-glare accessories, removing certain specified prismatic diffusers from the specification sheets, or even shortening the external window shades/blinds, ignoring the role taken by those parts in achieving the desired visual comfort.
The consistency of the daytime architectural design and the impact of the building appearance in the night require a precise definition for the contribution level of the lighting study in the course of the design development processes.
In fact, the importance of lighting methods and their strong bond to the architect's design values are not limited to tangible numbers at the quantification stage, such as the minimum illumination level required for a working space in lux/footcandles, as much as to the relatively-unmeasurable quality factors that affect the human-being's way of life and the desired conformance of a lit space to its intended usage.
Unfortunately, while power load budgets are being tightened in recent projects, lighting is one of the components that are most likely subject to value engineering considerations, in which the fixture is preferred to be multi-versatile with more functions added to the performance, as a way to reduce the numbers whilst increasing the cost efficiency.
In this context, it's contended that, as the current codes and regulations based on the submitted PC/manual lighting calculations could be satisfied in line with the project constraints, many of the quality values are compromised; simply, for instance, waiving out the anti-glare accessories, removing certain specified prismatic diffusers from the specification sheets, or even shortening the external window shades/blinds, ignoring the role taken by those parts in achieving the desired visual comfort.
The consistency of the daytime architectural design and the impact of the building appearance in the night require a precise definition for the contribution level of the lighting study in the course of the design development processes.
