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Lighting Design for the 21st Century: Applied research in lighting practice

Asst. Prof. Dr. Karolina M. Zielinska-Dabkowska IALD, IES, CIE, MSLL, RIBA, discusses three key and pivotal research topics for the future of our profession. She also presents some project examples where research has been performed to help derive outstanding results.

Basic research versus applied research

For those who are unfamiliar with research, it’s important to know there are two categories: fundamental (or basic) research [1] and applied research [2]. Basic research often discusses scientific ideas/theories, whereas applied research explores testing these ideas in practice to develop technology or techniques. It’s applied research that most interests lighting practitioners.

In the recent past, significant discrepancies in the spectral power distribution (SPD), correlated colour temperature (CCT) and colour rendering index (CRI) could be observed between the characteristics listed in lighting catalogues compared to obtained physical working lighting samples. The only explanation for this situation was the fact that previously, research was mainly performed in lighting labs owned by the lighting industry/specific lamp and luminaire manufacturers. (This usually involved expensive research equipment that the researchers from these labs understood how to operate). Furthermore, professional lighting designers most often did not have the necessary time, skills and access to the equipment required to verify these results. Therefore, some of the data could be manipulated.

Today though, due to the development of measuring equipment and improved accessibility (for example, small, calibrated handheld spectroradiometers with a flicker option), we as lighting designers can at least verify results by performing alternative measurements in our own practice. Access to free scientific knowledge is also now widely available. Additionally, improvements in research are being made via lighting designers and engineers who teach at the university level, and many students have the advantage of receiving excellent supervision when they perform research on light and lighting during their Master’s thesis and PhD studies.

Great lighting design that creates a pleasant and beneficial user experience in any given space doesn’t just occur miraculously. Rather, it’s built on the designer’s insights and understanding which comes from sound research and years of practice. This awareness comes from knowing the end users, as well as comprehending what’s best for them. It’s helpful to acknowledge that many of us perform research in our day-to day practice as part of the design process. However, there’s a tendency to disregard this, even though what we as lighting designers actually do, is applied research in practice.

In my view, there are three key research topics for the future of our lighting design profession that we should become familiar with. They are all based on the mounting research about daylight and artificial light and its impact on circadian relevance and biological stimulus. These are: environmental impact and light pollution, biophilic office design and user oriented daylight integrated lighting (DIL).These topics have been demonstrated below by some pioneering project examples, where research has been performed to help derive outstanding results.

Environmental impact and light pollution

Firstly, there’s the environmental impact of artificial lighting on humans, flora, and fauna, which includes light pollution. When lighting professionals began to illuminate skyscraper buildings in metropolitan cities in the 1920s and 30s, to make architecture and urban environment visually more prominent at night, it wasn’t even considered that these actions could have adverse consequences for living organisms in the future to come. Light was perceived as a positive medium that can beautify cities and be used as a powerful marketing and advertisement tool [3]. Over time, things have changed for the lighting design profession, as there’s an increasing body of knowledge from various research fields such as astronomy [4], biology [5], medicine [6], and ecology [7], all of which confirm that our design actions, if not carefully thought through and skilfully applied, could have far-reaching negative effects.

Due to accessibility of various information on the topic of environmental impact and light pollution from nighttime illumination via the internet, the general public were made aware of the situation and later, began taking things into their own hands, demanding better quality, improved, environmentally sensitive lighting [8]. This means that today, we must ensure that the illumination of urban elements such as buildings, squares, landmarks, and parks etc, is visually pleasing, as well as energy efficient, sustainable and responsible. There’s no doubt that lighting designers have a moral obligation to decline urban lighting commissions that do not support human health and environmental wellbeing [9].

While our cities were “painted with light” in the past, we simply didn’t have the knowledge that now exists. So, the illumination of our cities today must be executed with far more care, caution and restraint, and furthermore, our actions should bring about positive change. We should always consider the possible impact of lighting projects and be able to provide our clients with evidence-based answers to meet their demands.

The controversial illumination of Duijangyan’s irrigation system in Duijangyan, China, with jade-coloured lighting in the Minjing riverbed (Figure 1) is a reminder of the careless application of colourful external illumination that lacked any background research on the topic. Although some recognised lighting design practices have designed projects in the past like this example, which at the time, didn’t even consider the impact of lighting on the environment and fauna – this approach ended up facilitating important change because it was strongly criticised by biologists and fellow lighting designers. Case in point, lighting design practices today talk about dark infrastructures in urban environments being a much-needed positive transformation.

Not many of us know that the 9/11 Memorial and its park to honour those who died on September 11, 2001, might have been illuminated as brightly as a baseball pitch. This was one of the requirements of the NYC police to create safe and secure spaces. (It’s a common misconception that more light horizontally equates to increased security, when this isn’t the case at all.) Thankfully, it was the courage of Paul Marantz, the founder of Fisher Marantz Stone (FMS), who disagreed with this requirement (Figure 2), as based on his years of observation and experience, he understood how people perceive three-dimensional spaces at night.

His solution was the proposal of a benchmarking tool. (Benchmarking in lighting design is a tool that has been employed for many years to search for ‘best practices’). This project required a few of my colleagues from FMS and I, to travel around Manhattan, where we measured the horizontal illuminance in public parks and squares to prove that with even low levels of horizontal illuminance, if the vertical surfaces of the buildings at the perimeter level in the distance, such as shop fronts or restaurants etc. are illuminated, then pedestrians will feel safe (Figure 3). This is a great example of applied research being carried out by lighting designers in 2004, before it became more widely applied in practice.

This project received a 2012 IALD Award of Excellence, a 2012 IESNA Lumen Awards of Excellence, and a 2012 IES Illumination Award of Merit.

Granary Square, with the Grade II listed Granary Building, London, UK, forms part of a wider nighttime strategy developed by the UK-based Speirs Major in 2006, with discreet illumination that subtly highlights its historical importance, as well as a grid of trees. At night, when the square is unoccupied, the four rectangular water features are left static and dark, reflecting the architecture, to form a quiet, meditative, dark space (Figure 4). When Mark Major discussed with me an approach toward urban lighting masterplan [ULM] research, in connection with the King’s Cross project, he explained a very important design philosophy: “Unless [we] are committed to really spending time going around the site at night, taking photographs and recording lighting levels, talking to everyone involved and getting much deeper knowledge and doing a lot of research, we are in no position to make any recommendations, because [we] would be doing it from a position of ignorance.” [10] This clearly highlights why background research should be part of every project that a lighting designer decides to take on.

Biophilic office design

Secondly, there’s the fascinating and important emergence of biophilic design development. This has arisen to address the needs of those people who migrated from rural areas to cities during the 20th century. The abandonment of pastural and natural landscapes had physical and emotional consequences for these individuals, who now lived in man-made urban environments, often without greenery and trees. This urban growth continues to this day, with 68% of the current world population predicted to occupy cities by 2050 [11].

Due to the evolutionary disposition of humans, when people live in an urban habitat, they will still seek to restore their lost relationship with plants and the natural world by spending time in open green spaces outdoors, and by bringing plants indoors. As a consequence, at the turn of the 21st century, a noticeable global movement developed in the application of biophilic design principles in the projects of numerous, internationally recognised architectural practices. Clients and architects now expect their projects to incorporate theses new elements. Interestingly, when lighting manufacturers or plant specialists are consulted about how to illuminate ornamental plants in real life interior projects with LEDs, a lack of knowledge is apparent, as there are no worldwide established standards and recommendations regarding how to correctly illuminate indoor decorative vegetation. What’s more, if there is no daylight available for built environments, many plants do not survive so they need to be constantly replaced due to insufficiently designed and poorly specified artificial lighting.

When working on the Zurich Innovation Center Givaden, Julia Hartmann and her team from Lightsphere in Switzerland, designed special illumination for 12-metre green columns of ornamental plants in the new laboratory buildings that surround the atrium, which serves as a common space for encounters and exchanges.

It was vital that the plants thrive indoors, and a special luminaire was created using a biophilic approach to provide the right light spectrum (Figure 5). In order to understand the lighting that’s best for plants, numerous lighting mock-up scenarios were set up with various light sources, and the results were recorded via photographic documentation. Lighting research was also conducted, and the experiment was shared in an open access publication [12]. This project received an IALD Award of Merit in 2020 , an IES Illumination Award of Merit in 2020, the Deutscher Lichtdesign Preis in 2020, a Lighting Design Award in 2020, and it was also a LIT Award Winner in 2019.

User oriented daylight integrated lighting (DIL)

Thirdly, we should apply user-oriented daylight integrated lighting (DIL) for interior illumination, which combines daylight and artificial lighting in indoor spaces to produce visual and biological benefits for humans. Sometimes the terms “ circadian lighting” or “ h uman centric lighting” (HCL) [13] are used interchangeably for interior illumination, yet artificial lighting cannot replace the unique qualities and characteristics of natural daylight. Additionally, it’s crucial to acknowledge that removing natural light from this equation is inappropriate because humans as a species have evolved under natural light.

As rightly indicated by Prof. Kevin Houser, in his lecture during Light Symposium Wismar 2020/21, “Human Centric Lighting: Myth, Magic, or Metaphor” the term HCL is clearly used for marketing purposes [14]. Researcher and Educator Asst. Prof. Ellen Kathrine Hansen and her team from Aalborg University, Copenhagen (AAU), use the term “ double dynamic lighting” (DDL) to describe a concept for office spaces that combines natural daylight with artificial lighting in the space [15].

Light, be it natural or artificial, has a profound impact on our biology and the environment, so we need metrics that provide information relevant to this to enhance the existing practice of lighting design. The crucial challenge facing lighting professionals today regarding designing lighting schemes, is to provide LED lighting that is both visually and biologically safe to general health [16]. This is difficult as there’s still a wide lack of knowledge about the impact of LED technology, coupled with an absence of lighting products with clearly labelled characteristics such as SPD and flicker [17].

The American Society of Interior Designers Headquarters (ASIDH), completed in 2016, is one of the first pioneering projects that showcases both daylighting and the artificial lighting of interior spaces that’s centred on humans, their health and wellbeing. Lighting consultants Benya Burnett used existing research knowledge on light and lighting, and translated it into their unique design. For this project, the luminaire specification was completed in late 2015, when LEDs were still costly, therefore, designers specified and selected high output fluorescent lamps with 5000K uplight, and 3000K downlight components, integrated with the office luminaires. As for the luminaire CCT, the designers specified and selected lamps based on their SPD and the specified work or function of the occupants in that space.

Pre and post occupancy evaluations were conducted. The ASIDH staff wore sensing monitors that measured speech and body movements when people interacted with each other. This study provided data on how their interactions changed as a result of the new office design. The new design had numerous benefits including the following – “ collaborative work increased by 9%, there was improved physical and mental health of employees, their productivity increased by 16%, and there was also an increase of 25% in sleep efficacy ” [18].

A new concept of integrated circadian zeitgebers for the central work area was introduced, with controls that are aligned with a mechanical set for a gradual 14-minute shift in both light and ambient temperature, beginning at astronomical twilight and astronomical dawn (18° from horizon line). This was to initiate the cortisol awakening response (CAR) for those workers who were at their desks two hours before dawn and also for those working late. As well as applying a 14-minute period to align with the average solar movement above the building’s geographical location, the following factors were also considered: the time zone, latitude, compass direction of the window wall, height and shadow of adjacent buildings and the leading edge of location, the time zone, as well as the proximity to ocean and yearly average cloud cover. This was calculated manually, and the combined information was included in an in-depth survey. One on one interviews were also conducted with each occupant of the space in order to establish control sequences and light source specification.

After completion, this was the first project in the world to be certified platinum by both the U.S. Green Building Council, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (USGBC LEED) and the WELL V1 building standard. It has received an IES – San Francisco chapter Award for Excellence and an IES – International award of Excellence in Energy and Environmental Lighting Design.

Key Takeaways

1.There is a great deal more to learn

It is important to understand that much more science and research is needed to further broaden our understanding of the impact of light upon living organisms. Additionally, we are facing an unprecedented shift in the lighting profession from a vision/perception-oriented lighting approach, to one that is orientated towards biology. It’s imperative that scientists and researchers provide new lighting metrics that can be easily understood and applied by the average lighting professional. There is already an international lighting standard which lighting professionals should become familiar with and apply [19].

2. Skills require an upgrade

It’s essential to upgrade our skills as lighting professionals. More than ever before, we need to become educated in order to interpret the circadian relevance of light and its biological stimulus for health and well-being.

3. New lighting equipment is needed

We need to start using spectroradiometers to measure SPDs to assess and specify lighting in individual environments, as CCT is an inadequate metric for LED lighting technology, especially when we look at lighting from a biological perspective.

4. The physics of light must be understood and respected

We need to look at light and its impact on humans, flora and fauna, in a way that takes various lighting characteristics into account, such as the percentage of energy contained within visible light (this means the percentage of short wavelengths and long wavelengths), as well as flicker.

5. New design rules apply

If we want to provide safer illumination that supports health and wellbeing, we need to approach projects differently to how they have been approached before. It’s essential to become knowledgeable about existing research and metrics in order to engage in conversations about responsible lighting with clients, colleagues, scientists and the lighting industry. This will involve additional time, effort and study. In my view, the only way to establish lighting design as a recognised profession is to ensure that a transdisciplinary design-led research approach is established, in order to generate strategies that support both the health and life quality of humans and wildlife.

To conclude, perhaps the words of American lighting designer Paul Gregory can guide us in the 21st century: “We consider every project an opportunity for greatness. We feel we are being given a canvas and a team of collaborators and that the only restriction is our creativity. We approach every project as a new beginning” [20].

So, let us start a new beginning today, by applying the above in our daily practice!

[1] Fundamental research. Available online: https://bit.ly/34gXGMN (accessed on 19 May 2021).

[2] Applied research. Available online: https://bit.ly/34jiwej (accessed on 19 May 2021).

[3] Pérez Vega, C.; Zielinska-Dabkowska, K.M.; Hölker, F. Urban Lighting Research Transdisciplinary Framework—A Collaborative Process with Lighting Professionals. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 624. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18020624

[4] Falchi, F.; Cinzano, P.; Duriscoe, D.; Kyba, C.C.M.; Elvidge, C.D.; Baugh, K.; Portnov, B.A.; Rybnikova, N.A.; Furgoni, R. The new world atlas of artificial night sky brightness. Sci. Adv. 2016, 2, e1600377 https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.1600377

[5] Longcore, T.; Rich, C. Ecological light pollution. Front. Ecol. Environ. 2004, 2, 191–198. Available online:  https://bit.ly/34hceMe  (accessed on 10 March 2020).

[6] Spivey, A. Light Pollution: Light at Night and Breast Cancer Risk Worldwide. Environ. Health Perspect. 2010, 118, A525. Available online:  https://bit.ly/34TuxaG  (accessed on 19 May 2021)

[7] Jägerbrand, A.K.; Bouroussis, C.A. Ecological Impact of Artificial Light at Night: Effective Strategies and Measures to Deal with Protected Species and Habitats.  Sustainability  2021,  13 , 5991. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13115991

[8] Zielinska-Dabkowska, K.M.; Xavia, K.; Bobkowska, K. Assessment of Citizens’ Actions against Light Pollution with Guidelines for Future Initiatives.  Sustainability  2020,  12 , 4997. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12124997

[9] Zielinska-Dabkowska, K.M. Knowing when to say no. Arredo & Citta, 2019, 2, pp. 64-73. https://bit.ly/3wziZFh

[10] Zielinska-Dabkowska, K.M. Urban Lighting Masterplan—Definitions, Methodologies and Collaboration. In Urban Lighting for People: Evidence – Based Lighting Design for the Built Environment, 1st ed.; Davoudian, N., Ed.; RIBA Publishing: London, UK, 2019; pp. 18–41. ISBN 9781859468210 https://bit.ly/2SskhmL

[11] 68% of the world population projected to live in urban areas by 2050, says UN. Available online: https://www.un.org/development/desa/en/news/population/2018-revision-of-world-urbanization-prospects.html (accessed on 19 May 2021).

[12] Zielinska-Dabkowska, K.M.; Hartmann, J.; Sigillo, C. LED Light Sources and Their Complex Set-Up for Visually and Biologically Effective Illumination for Ornamental Indoor Plants.  Sustainability  2019,  11 , 2642. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11092642

[13] Zielinska-Dabkowska K.M. Human Centric Lighting. The New X Factor? arc magazine 2019,108, pp.081-086. ISSN 1753-587 http://bit.ly/3bgHhu5

[14] Houser, K. Human Centric Lighting: Myth, Magic, or Metaphor. Available online: https://bit.ly/34kvg4k (accessed on 19 May 2021).

[15] Hansen, E.K.; Bjørner, T.; Xylakis, E.; Pajuste M. An experiment of double dynamic lighting in an office responding to sky and daylight: Perceived effects on comfort, atmosphere and work engagement. Indoor and Built Environment 2021. http://doi.org/10.1177/1420326X21991198

[16] Zielinska-Dabkowska K.M. Home Sweet Home. Connecting the dots for healthy evening residential illumination. arc magazine 2019, 111, pp.055-060. ISSN 1753-5875 http://bit.ly/30TqCss

[17] Zielinska-Dabkowska K.M., Kelly Waskett R. Three Principles for Healthy Living with Light and Lighting. arc magazine 2021, 121, pp. 116-117. ISSN 1753-5875 https://bit.ly/3yJ3bSu

[18] Impact of Design Series, Vol. 1. Available online: https://www.asid.org/impact-of-design/asid (accessed on 19 May 2021).

[19] Commission International de L’Éclairage (CIE). CIE System for Metrology of Optical Radiation for ipRGC Influenced Responses to Light; Standard CIE S 026/E:2018; Commission International de L’Éclairage (CIE): Vienna, Austria, 2018. Available online:  https://cie.co.at/publications/cie-system-metrology-optical-radiation-iprgc-influenced-responses-light-0 (accessed on 19 May 2021).

[20] Gregory P. The Lighting Designer’s new role and responsibility. In Proceedings of the 1st Global Lighting Design Convention PLDC, London, UK, 24–27 October 2007; VIA Verlag: Guetersloh, Germany, 2007; pp. 45–46.

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• Bibliography
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Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Interior Design - Lighting'

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Hill, Sarah Louise. "The complex effects of obstructions on horizontal illuminance in interior lighting design." Thesis, University of Reading, 1997. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.360140.

Vollmer, Florian. "Design for an interconnected world : home lighting as an immersive interactive system." Thesis, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/1853/21691.

Bell, Emily Louise. "An Exploratory Lighting Study on the Effects of Correlated Color Temperature in Senior Living." The Ohio State University, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1523539636787946.

Laughead, Amy Louise. "Illumination Level as an Influence Factor on Proxemic Behavior." Thesis, Virginia Tech, 1999. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/35660.

Rebecca, Magyar. "Håltavla för upphängning av Irislights : Produktutveckling av uppfästningskonstruktion för LED-slinga." Thesis, Karlstads universitet, Fakulteten för hälsa, natur- och teknikvetenskap (from 2013), 2016. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kau:diva-44397.

Majeva, Gerda. "Šviečiantis dekoratyvus objektas "220"." Bachelor's thesis, Lithuanian Academic Libraries Network (LABT), 2010. http://vddb.laba.lt/obj/LT-eLABa-0001:E.02~2010~D_20100902_225306-64996.

Kjellberg, Viktor, and Albin Högkvist. "Current use of smart lighting in the home environment." Thesis, Jönköping University, Tekniska Högskolan, 2020. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hj:diva-51142.

Potts, Dale L. "Interior rehabilitation of alley-type structures : sensitivity to Americans with Disabilities Act and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design." Virtual Press, 2005. http://liblink.bsu.edu/uhtbin/catkey/1313947.

Daré, Ana Cristina Lott. "Lighting Design." Doctoral thesis, Universidade de Lisboa. Faculdade de Arquitetura, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10400.5/11748.

Bougdah, Hocine. "The design of lighting installations for obstructed interiors." Thesis, University of Liverpool, 1991. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.292888.

Hadwan, Morshed Kaid Ali. "Lighting design for complex obstructed industrial and commercial interiors." Thesis, University of Liverpool, 2005. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.425443.

Lin, Shih-Shan, and 林詩珊. "Lighting Patterns of Interior Light-Sculpturing Design." Thesis, 2018. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/zst44y.

Waters, Clarence E. "Evaluation of interior lighting analysis and design software." 1988. http://hdl.handle.net/2097/23641.

Lin, Shyr-Yi, and 林時沂. "Design of LED TIR Lens for Interior Lighting." Thesis, 2010. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/83621374974209985979.

Chiang, Chung-Yung, and 江仲勇. "Interior Lighting Design by Using Artificial Neural Network." Thesis, 2003. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/47186158277284567819.

Hartono, Billie Jaya, and Billie Jaya Hartono. "CORRELATION OF DESIGN BETWEEN HVAC AND INTERIOR LIGHTING ENERGY EFFICIENCY." Thesis, 2019. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/d3ah5s.

Lo, Yi-Chen, and 羅伊真. "A Proposed Framework of Evaluation Criteria for Interior Lighting Design." Thesis, 2006. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/63272227199565036373.

Yu, Jui-Han, and 游睿涵. "Influences of interior lighting design on visual responses to the exhibits." Thesis, 2018. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/x8jd84.

Tsai, Ming-Da, and 蔡明達. "Design and Fabrication of Optical Module for LED Panel Interior Lighting." Thesis, 2013. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/92589830527468333816.

Bhatia, Anubhuti Waxman Lisa. "Effects of interior environment on the dining experience and design of a prototype seafood restaurant." 2003. http://etd.lib.fsu.edu/theses/available/etd-11172003-165804/.

Chang, Chih-hong, and 張智鴻. "Study on Optimal Design of Interior Lighting by Using Artificial Intelligence techniques." Thesis, 2006. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/n88z9d.

Tsai, Chien-fu, and 蔡見福. "A Study of Artificial Neural Network on the Optimization of Interior Lighting Design." Thesis, 2006. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/7t9463.

Marshall, Bronwyn Gillian. "Computer generated lighting techniques: the study of mood in an interior visualisation." Thesis, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10539/7300.