Lighting design is the planning and design of lighting, which involves the strategic placement of various lamps, such as chandeliers , wall lamps , floor lamps and bedside lamps in such a way as to create the right visual and functional effect.
As Vitruvius once said, ‘a good architectural work should have three fundamental characteristics: durability (firmitas), usefulness (utilitas) and beauty (venustas).’ Similarly, lighting design, which is nothing more than an emphasis on architecture, should also be based on these three fundamental principles.
The first characteristic is firmness (firmitas). It is believed that architecture should be solid and durable, similarly, lighting should be designed and built in such a way that it will last for many years. Regardless of changing interior design trends or rapidly evolving technology, it is important that lamps, chandeliers and wall lamps are made of high-quality and durable materials that ensure a solid construction and long service life. Therefore, contemporary design promotes timeless designs that will always fit into any interior, even if the colour of the lampshade or the light source is changed. The second issue regarding durability relates to the choice of the type of light source. Chandeliers or lamps with traditional sockets like Edison bulbs (e14 or e 27) are more durable products because if the bulb burns out or breaks, it can be easily replaced. The whole lamp does not have to be removed for this purpose.
Utility (utilitas): Vitruvius emphasised the importance of utility in architecture. Buildings should be designed with the comfort and needs of users in mind. In his writings, he emphasised the importance of functionality and practicality of buildings. Architecture should provide adequate space for different activities and meet the requirements of users. Lighting should follow the needs of the architecture. When designing interior lighting, it is worth remembering the purpose of the room, what the space will be used for (e.g. living room, bedroom, kitchen, bathroom), why it was created and how much time we will spend there (e.g. relaxing, working, reading). All these elements will help to create a suitable arrangement that facilitates safe movement and creates an atmosphere appropriate to its intended use. All this makes the interior ergonomically friendly.
A very important element is to remember about the functions that the room is to fulfil and to use general, task, accent and decorative lighting. Chandeliers or ceiling lights, ceiling lights above the table or desk lamps on the drawers are most often responsible for general lighting. Interestingly, bathroom wall lamps also serve a specific purpose and should therefore be positioned in such a way that they do not cast deep shadows and contrasts, but rather illuminate the face and mirror evenly. Accents can be created by hanging a wall lamp and directing its light at a painting. If you want to avoid a monotonous interior, it is important to use different types of lighting and different lamps and chandeliers.
Choosing the right light colour is equally important. Warm light is more suitable for residential interiors, while a neutral colour stimulates concentration and work. To make the use of a room even more comfortable, intelligent lighting control solutions can be used, such as automatic switching on and off or adjustable light intensity or colour.
Beauty (venustas): According to Vitruvius, architecture should be beautiful and aesthetic. Well-designed buildings should be pleasing to the eye and evoke aesthetic feelings. Nowadays, there are many interior design trends that dictate the style in which we should design them, e.g. loft, Scandinavian or ethnic. The beauty of a given interior does not arise in our eyes only from the style used in the interior, but mainly emotions are built on the basis of the perception of this space. Even if we are not fans of a particular style, such as ethno, as soon as the lighting takes us back to memories of an exotic holiday, we are likely to remember that interior for a long time. So lighting design will have a key impact on the ‘experience of beauty’.
Vittorio believed that beauty is as important as durability and usability, and that all three qualities should coexist in harmony. To this day, many architects believe that these three qualities are essential to creating a successful architectural work. Lighting design should be robust, practical and aesthetic at the same time, to meet the needs of users and provide visual pleasure and emotions. The most important thing, however, is that we feel good in such interiors.
