Landscape Architect Articles

LASN Landscape Lighting September, 198909-01-89 | News

Lighting Types And Terminology

There is only one who can create landscape and landscape lighting such as this--Unfortunately, he doesn't do contract work. Photo by George Schmok.

Light is the revealer, the instigator of sight. Yes, but it’s much more. It’s the teaser of texture, the creator of form, the bearer of color and mood. It’s the electromagnetic ocean we immerse ourselves in every morning. And even if we can’t see it, we can feel its warming effect. One of America’s greatest architects, Frank Lloyd Wright, referred to light as “the beautifier.” He felt that light enhanced his work. Its purpose was to complement, not compete with the architecture. Mood begins with the quality of light. You have no doubt heard that “a lot of light cheers while a little light saddens.” There are, however, exceptions. Low light levels can create romance, intimacy and mood. The color or hue of the light also has an effect. Our response to light is primarily a sensation of color from which there are many conscious and unconscious emotional overtones and reactions. These powers of light and color which affect our minds have been utilized since the days of Eric the Red (a name that is anything but peaceful) who discovered a barren land and tried to lure settlers to it by calling it “Greenland.”

A Good use of uplighting and water feature enhancement. submitted by Christine Rains of POD. Inc., for their work at the Koll Center Irvine. California.

Warm light gladdens or warms the scene while the cold light of a rainy day depresses. Other factors, such as direction, harshness, and contrast shade the moods of what we see around us. Although their effect may be subtle, we learn to recognize them as we work with light.

Effective outdoor lighting applies a combination of lighting techniques which can be separated into three general categories, defined by the direction from which the light comes. They are downlighting, uplighting, and backlighting. Downlighting is the lighting of objects from above. It imitates nature and creates the most natural effects. In downlighting, the light source should be hidden and directed down to filter through trees and plants. Uplighting is dramatic lighting achieved with fixtures mounted low and throwing their light upwards. Uplighting is rarely seen in nature so its unusual effect demands attention. Uplighting’s flair for the drama is usually augmented by large shadows that should be considered as a design element in the scene. Backlighting silhouettes shapes which can then be emphasized with light backgrounds. Backlighting also reveals texture and creates long shadows that emphasize the feeling of depth in a landscape. Combinations of these techniques create many types of lighting that serve different functions.

A neon sculpture by Stephen Antonakos is enhanced with lighting and fountains at the Southwestern Bell Plaza in Dallas, Texas.

Safety lighting is one of the primary functions of outdoor lighting. When we speak of safety lighting, we are referring to the safety that you provide with illuminated hazard areas, such as steps, low branches, abrupt changes in path direction or elevation.

Security lighting is designed to make you feel comfortable with the dark or what is in it. This form of lighting is achieved with a low level of evenly spread light. Floodlights mounted on the corners of a building do not provide safety. Our natural tendency is to look away from such bright light sources?EUR??,,????'??+this means that their purpose is self-defeating. They create dark shadows where intruders can hide. Lighting with low level light from the knee down silhouettes intruders, making them visible from all sides. Automatic controls such as a timer or transformers with a built-in photo electric cell will provide the impression that someone is always home.

Three Basic Categories Of Lighting Can Be Identified By Which Direction The Light Is Coming From

Highlighting or focal point lighting is the technique by which you create a focal point with more dramatic light. Before you create a focal point, decide what element of the selected subject needs to be emphasized and from where it will be viewed.

Skeleton lighting is created by backlighting or uplighting on bare deciduous trees, emphasizing their stark lines and shapes, as well as giving this technique its name. If it is possible to place the light source over the plant or tree, the effect can be created with downlighting.

Backlighting provides highlighting and silhouetting effect at the entry way of this private residence. Design by David Kemp, Kemp & Associates. La Jolla, California.

Vista lighting creates smooth transitions from indoors to outdoors and the scenes beyond. Emphasize the existing views with subdued uplights by framing the foliage and using below-the-knee downlighting near the vista. In any landscape, the soft ambient luminescence that provides safety, visual depth, light to converse by, and background light is referred to as flood lighting. Don’t confuse this with the rather sterile high intensity discharge mercury and sodium vapor lighting used in commercial settings or parking lots.

Recreational lighting for the occasional backyard or patio game setting is quite different from the recreational lighting we see in stadiums. For theseuses, an even illumination is required that is not in the eye of the participant, or invadingthe neighbor’s privacy.

For Best Results With Underwater Lighting, Make Sure The Water Is Crystal Clear

Pathlighting is really traverse lighting. Lighting that allows us to move comfortably throughout a project without fear of unseen obstacles.

Crosslighting occurs when two light sources are placed on either side of the subject and the light intersects or crosses at the subject. More detail and tonalities are accentuated which adds to the feeling of dimension or volume. Crosslighting separates subject from the background. This effect is achieved because of the added volume of light the subject receives at the intersection of both lights and because the added illumination on the edges of the subject contrasts it with its darker background.

Traverse lighting along the steps at the same private residence as above. Design by David Kemp, Kemp & Associates. La Jolla, California.

For best results of underwater lighting, make sure the water is filtered and crystal clear; otherwise the algae makes the water look murky. Moving water can also create exciting effects.

Mirror lighting is achieved when lighting across water rather than in or through water. It is most effective over dark-bottomed pools or still water ponds. By lighting the trees and plantings on the other side, the lighted areas are reflected on the surface of the water. In a small area, this can be extremely effective. Just like mirrors which make a small room look spacious, the mirrored reflections across water will double the apparent size of the project area.