User:Sadie.Eggleston/Architectural lighting design

Overview
The purpose of architectural lighting design is to balance the characteristics of light within a space to optimize the technical, the visual and, most recently, the non-visual components of ergonomics with respect to illumination of buildings or spaces.

The technical requirements include the amount of light needed to perform a task, the energy consumed by the lighting within the space and the relative distribution and direction of travel for the light so as not to cause unnecessary glare and discomfort. The visual aspects of the light are those that are concerned with the aesthetics and the narrative of the space (e.g. the mood of a restaurant, the experience of an exhibition within a museum, the promotion of goods within a retail space, the reinforcement of corporate brand) and the non-visual aspects are those concerned with human health and well-being. [citation needed]

As part of the lighting design process both cultural and contextual factors also need to be considered. For example, bright lighting was a mark of wealth through much of Chinese history, but if uncontrolled bright lights are known to be detrimental to insects, birds, and the view of stars.

[My addition] Added citation after the last sentence of the second paragraph.

Day lighting
For colors based on black-body theory, blue occurs at higher temperatures, while red occurs at lower, cooler, temperatures. This is the opposite of the cultural associations attributed to colors, in which red represents hot, and blue cold.

''[My addition] The source for daylight or natural lighting is the sun. Sunlight provides the greatest quality of light, rated at 100, on the electromagnetic spectrum. There are many psychological and physical health benefits that come from using daylight in a space. For example, it can help to ease Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), it can provide people with the necessary vitamin D, and can assist in regulating circadian rhythms, or daily light and dark cycles. Additionally, using daylight as a light source can eliminate the use of energy. Day lighting can also cause deterioration of materials and finishes and an increased use of energy for cooling the space. The architectural makeup of a space impacts day lighting. It can be used in a space through windows, openings of the interior, skylight, and reflective surface. ''

''[Revised Version] The source for daylight or natural lighting is the sun. Sunlight provides the greatest quality of light, rated 100, on the electromagnetic spectrum. There are psychological and physical health benefits that come from using daylight in a space. For example, it can help to ease Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), it can provide people with the necessary vitamin D, and can assist in regulating circadian rhythms, or daily light and dark cycles. Using daylight as a light source can eliminate the use of energy. Daylighting can also cause deterioration of materials and finishes and an increased use of energy for cooling a space. The architectural makeup of a space impacts the day lighting. It can be used in a space through windows, openings of the interior, skylights, and reflective surfaces. ''

** Possibly get rid of the original sentences of the daylighting section because it does not pertain to the topic of Day lighting in a general and easily understandable way.**

[My addition] Electric lighting
''[My addition] This is a type of architectural lighting that includes electric light sources and is also known as artificial lighting. The overall purpose of electric lighting is to allow the user of the space to see at various times in the day, but especially at night, when daylight is no longer a possible source of light. Artificial lighting can help to create or enhance the aesthetic of a space. Various techniques can be implemented when it comes to electric lighting, since users have more control over the light. This can include dimming or increasing the brightness of a lamp, diffusion of the light source, and the use of different hues of lamps. The main sources used for electric lighting include incandescent lamps, solid state lamps, and gas discharge lamps. ''

''[Revised Version] Electric lighting or artificial lighting is a type of architectural lighting that includes electric light sources. The overall purpose of electric lighting is to allow the user of the space to see at various times in the day, but especially at night, when daylight is no longer a possible source of light. Artificial lighting helps to create or enhance the aesthetic of a space. Various techniques can be implemented when it comes to electric lighting, since users have more control over the light. This can include dimming or increasing the brightness of a lamp, diffusion of the light source, and the use of different lamp hues. The main sources used for electric lighting include incandescent lamps, solid state lamps, and gas discharge lamps. ''

[My addition] Lighting design layers
''[My addition] Many designers utilize the idea of lighting layers when creating a lighting plan for a space. Lighting layers include: the task layer, focal layer, ambient layer, decorative layer, and daylight layer. Each layer can contribute a function to space, but often they work together to create a well composed lighting design. The task layer is lighting that serves a purpose to perform a certain job or task. Typically, in this layer, there tends to be a need for more light. An example of this would be the use of under cabinet lighting in a kitchen. The focal layer is when lighting is used to highlight a certain feature in a room. For example, they use lights to illuminate an architectural feature, such as a fireplace. This type of lighting draws the eye to that certain area. The ambient layer provides for background or general lighting. This layer has a strong influence on the brightness of a space. In the decorative layer, lighting is used as an ornament to the space and can help develop the style. Lastly, the daylight layer uses natural light or the sun to light the space. Using the layering technique can help to develop the aesthetic and functionality of the lighting.''

''[Revised Version] Designers utilize the idea of lighting layers when creating a lighting plan for a space. Lighting layers include: task layer, focal layer, ambient layer, decorative layer, and daylight layer. Each layer contributes a function to the space and often they work together to create a well composed lighting design. The task layer is lighting that serves a purpose to perform a certain job or task. Typically, in this layer, there tends to be a need for more light. An example of this would be the use of under cabinet lighting in a kitchen. The focal layer is when lighting is used to highlight a certain feature in a room, such as a fireplace. This type of lighting draws the eye to that certain area. The ambient layer provides for background or general lighting. This layer has a strong influence on the brightness of a space. In the decorative layer, lighting is used as an ornament to the space and can help develop the style. The daylight layer uses natural light or the sun to light a space. Using the layering technique helps to develop the aesthetic and functionality of lighting. ''

Terminology

 * Recessed light
 * The protective housing is concealed behind a ceiling or wall, leaving only the fixture itself exposed. The ceiling-mounted version is often called a downlight.


 * "Cans" with a variety of lamps
 * Jargon for inexpensive downlighting products that are recessed into the ceiling, or sometimes for uplights placed on the floor. The name comes from the shape of the housing. The term "pot lights" is often used in Canada and parts of the US.


 * Cove light
 * Recessed into the ceiling in a long box against a wall


 * Troffer
 * Recessed fluorescent light fixtures, usually rectangular in shape to fit into a drop ceiling grid


 * Surface-mounted light
 * The finished housing is exposed, not flush mount with surface.


 * Chandelier
 * A branched ornamental light fixture designed to be mounted on ceilings or walls


 * Pendant light
 * Suspended from the ceiling with a chain or pipe


 * Sconce
 * A decorative light fixture that is mounted to a wall


 * Track lighting fixture
 * Individual fixtures (called track heads) can be positioned anywhere along the track, which provides electric power.


 * Under-cabinet light
 * Mounted below kitchen wall cabinets


 * Emergency lighting or exit sign
 * Connected to a battery backup or to an electric circuit that has emergency power if the mains power fails


 * High- and low-bay lighting
 * Typically used for general lighting for industrial buildings and often big-box stores


 * Strip lights or Industrial lighting
 * Often long lines of fluorescent lamps used in a warehouse or factory


 * Outdoor lighting and landscape lighting
 * Used to illuminate walkways, parking lots, roadways, building exteriors and architectural details, gardens, and parks


 * Bollard
 * A type of architectural outdoor lighting that is a short, upright ground-mounted unit typically used to provide cutoff type illumination for egress lighting, to light walkways, steps, or other pathways


 * Street light
 * A type of outdoor pole-mounted light used to light streets and roadways; similar to pole-mounted flood lights but with a type II lens (side to side light distribution pattern) instead of type III


 * Flood lighting
 * Usually pole- or stanchion-mounted; for landscape, roadways, and parking lots

[My addition] The following terms below and citations for some of the terms above.
 * Wallwashers
 * An asymmetric light fixture that lights from ceiling to floor and flatly illuminates the wall 


 * Wall grazing fixture
 * Light is closely place to wall, typically to enhance a textured surface 


 * Adjustable accent fixture
 * Used to point at certain design elements 


 * Lamp
 * Lightbulb, comes in various shapes and sizes 


 * Luminaire
 * Holds and supports lamp, provides electrification