The importance of indoor lighting – Rules, mistakes and trends

There are many aspects that makes us feel comfortable in a certain space but one in particular is more important than others. It`s at its best when it`s so discreet it`s almost unnoticeable but speaks volumes. Its majesty – lighting.

We`ve gone a long way since the time when it was sufficient to install a chandelier or a ceiling light in a room. Now we know that it`s not the same when we pick the bedroom lights and the kitchen lights, whether we want to create a relaxed or a working atmosphere and if the light is “coming” from the ceiling or from the floor and table lamps. Common people, not just professionals, are becoming aware of the importance of proper indoor lighting.

The most successful and brilliant thing the lighting designers can do is the most inconspicuous, Jean Rosenthal,the pioneer in the field of theatrical lighting design, used to say.

Why it is important not to mix different-colored light sources in the same room, in which cases it is better to use halogen lamp even though LED light sources are being advertised everywhere, how to avoid monotonous atmosphere in office spaces and how to set up apartment lighting to feel more at home – these are some of the topics we discussed with Dr Lidija Djokic, the professor at the Faculty of Architecture in Belgrade.

As professor Dr Lidija Djokic explains for eKapija web portal, we will understand the importance of proper lighting if we imagine ourselves reading in semidarkness or staring directly at a light source. It isn`t pleasant, is it? Lighting, our interviewee reminds, should set up optimal conditions for range of activities in a certain space.

– We feel comfortable when objects in our field of vision give us necessary information and hide that which is not important, in other words, when there is a hierarchy of objects and parts of a space by their significance to us. One of the goals in lighting design should be eliminating negative effects, such as glare, or elements which cause distraction. Spaces that require higher lighting levels in order to leave a brighter impression or to achieve equilibrium with the outdoors usually provide enough light for most of the activities happening in those spaces. Environment illuminated in this way with the additional local lighting (user-controlled) placed where necessary, represents a comfortable visual environment, our collocutor points out and adds that the key to good lighting is in quality and not the quantity of the light because better visual performance can be often achieved through slight enhancements in the light quality rather than increasing its intensity.

The development in the past 20 years was faster than ever before

American interior designer, Albert Hadley said that the design is defined by light and shadow and that proper lighting is paramount. While this statement was only understood by industry professionals once, now everyone in the hierarchical chain understands the importance of lighting – investors and project designers and clients.

And a lot has changed in this field since our collocutor started the “Lighting in Architecture” course on the Faculty of Architecture in Belgrade back in 2003.

– The field of lighting design has had an explosive growth since the first light bulb was patented in 1879. In the past 20 years, this field has been developing faster than ever and it is during this time that we have witnessed development and practical, commercial use of the (third) new technology of light sources which has significantly altered our relationship with lighting. Twenty years ago we couldn`t apply LED light sources in interior spaces because they were only sold in cold white light with visible diodes which emitted unbearable glare. Today we can choose the color of the light and warm colored light sources are predominantly sold. Customers now know to ask for a specific color of the light.

Serbia is keeping up with the world

Dr Lidija Djokic thinks that in the field of lighting design Serbia is not only keeping up with the world, but is even ahead in some areas.

–Our designers have the necessary knowledge, and there are also renowned domestic companies that produce lamps. Unfortunately, light sources are still being imported. Products by many renowned lighting manufactures are present in the local market which leads to decrease in prices, our collocutor explains
Dr Lidija Djokic reminds that the initially big difference in energy efficiency between cold and warm LED light sources was resolved.

Rules for offices – 68% of employees complains about lightning

Naturally, other rules are applied in office spaces. A number of studies showed a connection between health and productivity and the type of lights in a working environment. The research conducted by the American Society of Interior Designers discovered that up to 68% of employees complained about office lights. The two most common complaints cited were that the lights were too bright or too dim, which leads to eyestrain and headaches.

Arhitektonski fakultet Beograd

Faculty of Architecture

Lidija Djokic

Jean Rosenthal

Albert Hadley

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Lighting in Architecture

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direct lights

LED lamps

cold light

warm light

mistakes in lighting

rules in lighting

trends in lightning for 2023

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