Chapter 2

Lighting Environments

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Daylight Integration and Control

• Sunlight vs. DaylightSunlight:

Direct light from the sunCan cause glareCreates excessive heatDeteriorates fabricsFades colors

Daylight:Indirect natural light

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Daylight Integration and Control

• Harvesting of daylight:– Capturing daylight for the purpose of

illumination• Apertures include windows and

skylights

Daylight Integration and Control

• Advantages of daylight and windows:– Psychological & biological well-being – Constant and standard light – Passive solar energy penetration in the

winter– Ventilation with non-fixed windows– View of the outdoors– Reduction in electrical lights– Enhances visual acuity

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Daylight Integration and Control

• Disadvantages of direct light and windows:– Fading and deterioration of fabrics and

artwork – Cracking and peeling of woods and

paints– Glare– Increased heat in the summer– Black holes at night

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Solar Geometry

• Examines movement of earth around the sun• • Sunlight changes by the hour, day, season,

weather and geographic location

• Use solar geometry to specify size, shape, and location of windows

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Solar Geometry• An object’s appearance will vary

during the day according to the sun’s position: – Light produced by midmorning and late

afternoon sun create long and soft shadows

– Harsh shadows at noon emphasize the three dimensions of objects

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Daylight Integration and Control

• Factors affecting daylight penetration:– Cloudy/overcast skies (reduces

shadows)– Atmospheric pollution– Site orientation– Landscaping and surrounding structures

Site Orientation

• Southern exposure: – Various intensities and colors– Can fade and deteriorate materials

• Northern exposure: – Even intensity and spectographic

characteristics• East/West exposure:

– Low, variable sun angles = glare10

Sunlight vs. Daylight

Sunlit sky vs. day-lit sky

Sunlight penetration changes during the year

Urban sites can have lots of reflected light

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Landscaping and Surrounding Structures

• Outdoors surfaces affecting interior light: – Dark materials absorb light:

• Grass, asphalt, dirt, rocks– Light materials reflect light:

• Rocks, snow, sand

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Windows• Horizontal shapes:– Maximize view and reinforce natural eye

movement• Vertical shapes:

– Maximize amount of reflection (if long, and floor is a light color)

• Windows should be located to reflect light from ceilings

• Transoms can provide daylight in adjacent spaces

• Skylights provide a large area of illumination

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Apertures

• Factors that affect quantity and quality of daylight in a room:– Size, shape, and location of openings– Flush openings not designed to reflect

light– Light shelves, deep and rounded

openings reflect light into the space

Window Apertures: shape and location

• Horizontal shapes• Vertical shapes• Consider reflected light• Transoms• Skylights 18

Interior Surfaces

• Ceilings: matte finish, light color• Chamfer to reflect daylight• Floors and walls opposite windows

can reflect daylight30

Light pipes

Room shape

Light shelf principles

Skylight with integral HVAC return system

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Daylight Factor

• Daylight Factor (DF): – Ratio between the amount of daylight in

specific areas of a room and the light outdoors

– Helps to determine the number of windows and artificial light sources needed in a space

Daylight Factor

• Rule of thumb:– Useable ambient daylight is only with

2.5 H, where H is the head height of the window

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Using alphabet plans: keep room depth to within 2.5H

Daylighting Models

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Windows and Tasks

• To help reduce glare, locate work areas parallel to windows

• Windows should stand to the left of right-handed people; and vice versa

• Equipment and technology located out of direct sunlight

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Windows and Tasks

• Amount of daylight determined by amount of sky one can see from a room

sight l

ine

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Controlling Daylight• Glazing systems:– Double or triple glazing can reduce amount of

heat gain, noise pollution, and glare• Glass coatings:

– Distort colors of interiors, exteriors of buildings and landscape

• Window treatments:– Draperies, shades, horizontal and vertical

blinds• Roof overhangs and awnings:

– Fixed elements to control sunlight

Shading devices

• Interiors product of all sorts• Traditional: exterior shutters, vertical

and horizontal blinds, roll shades…• Can vary translucency• Can be automated• Can be integrated with switching

system

Lutron’s Sivoia QED (see electronic brochure)

Integration with switching system

Match colors and textures

Dimensional constraints

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Assessment Item

Do you automatically turn on the lights in a room?

Project

• Daylighting creates drama and meaning

• Tadao Ando, the Church of Light

Lillis Business Complex, University of Oregon

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Lighting Techniques

• Layered Lighting: – General (ambient)– Task– Accent– Decorative

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General (Ambient) • Sufficient lighting to walk through a

space• Establishes overall impression of

space and is determined by:– Light level– Type of lamps– Style of luminaires– Amount of daylight

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Structural Applications• General lighting often done with

structural lighting systems:– Cornice: Located on vertical surfaces;

directs light downward – Cove: Close to ceiling; directs light

upward– Wall bracket: Located on a wall; directs

light upward and downward

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Luminaire Systems• Ceiling-mounted lighting systems:

– Wallslot: Integrated into the ceiling system and distributes light down onto vertical surfaces

– Recessed luminaires (fixture): downlight (high-hat) mounted above ceiling and directs light downward

– Surface-mounted fixtures: Track lighting, pendants, and any other luminaire installed on a ceiling

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Task Lighting

• Light for specific activities and tasks• Flexibility and control essential for

users• Special considerations:

– Critical tasks– Time spent on task– Age of users

• Potential problems to address:– Strong contrasts in illumination levels– Glare and veiling reflections

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Task Lighting• Resolving problems associated with illumination contrasts:– Moderate illumination levels between

task and surrounding area– Increase contrast in color– Increase size of a task

• Planning task lighting requires an examination of:– Activities in the space– Characteristics of each task– Characteristics of the users

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Assessment Item

How many of these techniques have

you seen?

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Accent Lighting • Highlights an object or element in a space

• A basis for accent lighting is that people are attracted to the brightest region in a space

• Planning accent lighting:– Identify what should be highlighted– Review the surrounding areas and

establish contrast– Determine angle and intensity (5-1

ratio)

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Accent Lighting• To avoid problems with viewing, the preferred angle to a wall is 30 degrees

art piece

30° angle

light source

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Accent Lighting• Accent techniques:– Grazing: Enhancing textures and forms

of an object by placing the light source close to the object

• Backlighting:– Creates a silhouette of objects

• Types of luminaires:– Uplights– Recessed spots– Spotlight projectors with optical control– Furniture-integrated systems

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Decorative Lighting• Primary purpose is as an ornamental element in a space

• Examples:– Chandeliers– Holograms– Lasers– Neon lights– Fiber optics– Candles

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Assessment Item

When did you notice a room with general, task, and accent

lighting?

Daylighting studies

• Revit uses Advanced Model Graphics• SketchUp uses two saved scenes• North oriented to the top of the screen• Set your interior view to show off shadows

– facing a window is best• Set location and times

Daylighting concerns for different project types

Residential

• Bedroom• Bathroom• Dining room• Kitchen• Living room• Game pit

A work station

• Desk with drawers• Chair• Large computer monitor• Table top for books• Table with three chairs

Restaurant

• Entry/waiting area• Bar• Private dining• Large main dining area• Bathrooms• Kitchen

Art Museum

• Gallery for 3D objects• Gallery for small 2D objects• Gallery for small 2D objects• Gallery for jewelry• Café• Ticketing• Storage

Office project

• Large open office area with desks• Private offices• Conference room with projector• Toilets• Entry/reception/waiting area• Storage