Lighting Up Houston

By Brian Dailey

Due to the skill and design / installation of the contractor, the ''Houston Project'' home and pool area at night takes on a whole new look. To achieve this, the contractor wired in 100-watt Mercury Vapor Uplights to illuminate the trees and palms, as well as two-way halogen lights to highlight the facade. Photos courtesy of Robert Huff Landscape Illumination

Located in the affluent Memorial Area in Houston, Texas, the single-family residence dubbed the ''Houston House'' to protect the owners privacy, offered an abundance of trees and other features on which Robert Huff Landscape Illumination could ply their trade.

As the homeowner is a custom homebuilder, he selected his own electrical contractor to provide power at the locations specified by Robert Huff Landscape Illumination. All fixtures used were private labeled to the specifications needed. The contractor used a combination of mercury vapor 100-watt and 175-watt, halogen 90-watt and 150-watt, and metal halide 100-watt and 175-watt fixtures. Each fixture was strategically placed in different ways to achieve the desired effect.

Before. During daytime hours, the ''Houston Project'' home and pool area looks inviting.

The gazebo was illuminated with 90-watt halogen lighting, while the adjacent crape myrtles, oaks, pecan, and pine trees are highlighted with 100 and 175-watt Mercury Vapor Uplights.

Property Features and Lighting Design Elements

The project had many attractions and design elements to light, including guest quarters, gazebo, swimming pool, waterfall, outdoor kitchen, entertaining area, and a pond with a fountain. The lighting team worked with the builder and architect, so the lighting design would integrate with the elements of the property.

Lighting Design/Build Concept

Robert Huff Landscape Illumination incorporated soft moonlighting to illuminate the entire grounds, surrounding the home, guesthouse, and entertainment areas. Numerous discretely placed mercury vapor fixtures were used to add a soft, subtle glow and create an ambiance of serenity. In addition, dramatic up-lighting was placed to highlight select trees and landscape architecture.

Green-hue 100-watt Mercury Vapor Uplights illuminate the various species of palm trees, while warm-toned 150-watt Halogens were used on the rock waterfall to provide a stark contrast.

Shown here in daylight, the project featured many elements to light, including a pond with a fountain. The lighting project was completed by a team of 10 employees in just under 12 days.

Warm-toned lighting was strategically placed by the Robert Huff team to illuminate specific pieces within the property's landscape. This type of feature lighting brings a property to life at night, allowing the owner to illuminate the accents of their home and landscape.

At the entrance of the property, the contractor incorporated several feature lights to showcase the front gate. Then, they used up-lighting on the trees that line the entire driveway. Upon arrival, warm-toned up-lighting highlights the exterior and compliments the architectural design of the house. Two entries to this property were well illuminated at the owner's request, providing greater security and convenience. In addition, the team chose a crisp white up-light to feature the patriotic nature of the large United States flag that hangs on a pole in front of this home.

The lighting designer for this projects, Brian Dailey, stands before an area illuminated by all four of the lighting techniques and examples featured throughout the project, including Mercury vapor uplights and downlights, metal halide uplights and halogen ''feature'' lighting.

Mounted in the trees using tree brackets, the oak, pecan, and pine trees are lit using 100-watt Mercury Vapor Moonlights and 175-watt Mercury Vapor Uplights. 100-watt Moonlights are mounted high up the tree trunk via screw-type tree brackets to illuminate the grounds below. The canopies of the trees are illuminated using 175-watt uplights, which are mounted in a similar fashion. Great care is taken to disguise the wiring and fixtures through creative placement.

Project Equipment and Installation

The lighting team installed well over 100 pieces of lighting. They chose a combination of cool-toned and warm-toned lighting. The entire lighting design and installation process was completed in less than two weeks, by a team of 10 employees.

Summary of Project and Results

The lighting design and installation for the home was completed approximately two years ago. However, the company still services the grounds as needed.