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It’s 2:00 A.M.”, he said as he woke his partner from their 5 hour flight. “I just have to have this proposal finished by tomorrow morning”, came the next tireless remark, thinking of the recent crime wave plaguing his local business district. “I doubt if anyone is still at the office but at least we can call up and turn on the lights.”
Lighting plays one of the most important roles in every man made landscape. Whether the role is positive or negative depends on you. But no matter how you look at it a landscape is in the dark as often as it is in the light. More importantly, as John Watson, John Watson Landscape Illumination, points out, “In most residential landscapes the owner is more often gone during the day leaving the night as the only time he is able to truely enjoy his ?EUR??,,????'??landscape.”
With this in mind we asked several leading consultants and suppliers of landscape lighting to tell what is the most frequently asked question about landscape lighting from the Landscape Architect; what is their answer; what is new in landscape lighting; and what is the future of landscape lighting? What follows are their answers.
“What does it cost?”, beamed Watson with a chuckle, “they all want to know what it costs.” This answer was also given by Michael Hooker, Michael Hooker Associates Lighting Consultants, Anarbor, Michigan. The problem according to Hooker is that, “they very often come to us before they have a budget and are looking to us to help them establish that budget. Landscape Lighting can range anywhere from $100.00 a tree (including labor/installation) to over $1,000.00 a tree. Besides that, there are the operation costs which must be taken into consideration.” Adds Jan Moyer, Jan Moyer Design, Lighting Consultants, “in many cases low voltage fixtures are more expensive than standard volt fixtures?EUR??,,????'???however, low voltage offers lower operational costs to the client.”
In addition to cost Moyer frequently hears another question. “Most landscape architects according to Moyer,” want to know how to design a proper plan and what are the limitations of the various equipment wiring and code requirements, the limitations and benefits of various lighting systems, and using and fusing transformers are all concerns of the landscape architects.”
John Lomeli, John Lomeli Lighting Consultant, sees the same thing. “Everyone knows what they want,” says Lomeli, “at least they can describe it verbally. We are called upon to act as an interpretive liason and put all the factors together to create the solution.” This is where a consultant becomes a necessity for a proper lighting plan. Far be it for every landscape architect to know all there is about proper lighting, the right equipment, the right codes, and the use of the various sources of light ( mercury vapor ( MV ), incandescent, metal halide ( MH ), fiber optics, high intensity discharge ( HID ), high pressure sodium ( HPS ), low voltage, etc.)
The other most frequently asked question according to all the interviewees is what will the lighting do for my project? Here came a flood of answers ranging from safety vs. security to aesthetics and maintenance.
It appears that the use of lighting in and about a landscape is a relatively novel idea. Not that it hasn’t been used but instead landscape lighting has progressed and is being developed at such a pace that almost everything is somewhat new. In essence, exterior lighting has yet to reach its full potential in safety, security, aesthetic and operational value.
At a quick glance it might appear as if Safety and Security were one and the same. However, after closer examination real differences begin to distinguish the two. Safety in lighting protects the user from the hazards of night travel. Whether one is walking, jogging, biking or skateboarding when done at night the landscape architect becomes open to a liability suit. Measures must be taken to ensure that all travel ways are prudently lit.
A little tidbit offered by Roger Northrup of Nightscaping points out that, “when lighting a pathway you can avoid the runway look and reduce vandalism by placing the fixtures a foot or so off the trail.” Variations would include staggering the fixtures or mixing the direction of the beams.
Another option is to line the pathway and/or stepways with fiber optics. Technological advancements in the use of fiber optics now affords you the ability to light a continuous strand of fiber. Options let you systematically change the coloring and/or place the fiber under water.
Another user-oriented focus of, landscape lighting reduces the threat of physical or real damages. This purpose of lighting enhances the security of the property. There are several new and exciting uses of lighting and controllers that are designed to combine security with functional aesthetics.
As in the introduction, remote controls and sensors are being installed which can either turn on various area lighting and (in some cases) allow the user to control the level of light or can be activated through the use of motion sensors. These act as an energy efficient alarm system and also provides necessary safety to the user. Once you have the lights on it is necessary to provide adequate amounts of properly directed light without drowning out the effect of the system.
We’ve all been out on a clear night when the moon is full. This natural downlighting is equivalent to 1/10 of 1 foot candle. The point is, it’s not the amount of light that makes it functional, its the use of light that determines a proper lightscape. According to Nightscapings Northrup, “at night we start with a blank slate?EUR??,,????'???(from there we try to) strengthen the key design elements while meeting the necessary safety and security requirements of the project.” Efficient use of light is supported by Moyer who adds that, especially in residential and small industrial projects she opts for “finesse instead of muscle.”
Uplighting the trees near a walkway with little low level obstructions can hide the source of the light from the viewer and vandals. At the same time the reflected beam can light the surrounding area providing both safety and security. The trick is to find ways to hide the source of the light while still providing the necessary amounts of illumination. Moyer adds that, “there is a wonderful influx of great fixtures (that are) small and easy to hide in both standard and low voltage decorative lighting.” Still, while small and efficient seems to be the trend it most assuredly is not the rule.
As Mr. Hooker points out, ” In the Midwest many times the client is more concerned with having his building seen from a distance than having a softer effect.” Lomeli adds to this by saying that, “the owners (of commercial properties) want only one thing… to lease the building.” Here of course the client is always right. It isn’t for the landscape architect to alter the thinking of the client (did I say that?). Instead the challenge is to meet the requirements and add your signature. Whatever your requirements are, once you know the effect you’re looking for, the lightscape is made with the fixtures and the lights themselves.
There are far too many manufacturers and for that matter individual products for us to name in this article. There are, however, several new and exciting additions to the fixture and lighting industry.
Up until the energy crisis, the standard bulb used for exterior lighting was an incandescent. All the halidesand mercury vapors were used primarily in Europe. With necessity comes invention, or in this case influxtion. The new lights are more energy efficient. According to Lomeli, “the old incandescent bulbs last about 7501,000 hours. The newer light sources are lasting up in the 20,000 hour range.” However, they do not all provide the same intensity nor coloring as the yellow/red incandescent.
Hooker tells us that, ” the incandescent light is a yellow/red color. Mercury vapor lights produce a blue coloring and sodium lights emit an orangish tone.” Moyer jokingly adds that, ” M.V. lighting makes people look dead !?!” Also available are filters and coatings in almost every color of the rainbow.
“Nightscaping,” says Northrup, “has introduced a line of products using the MR16 lamp.” This is the same lamp used in overhead projectors except they have refined the lamp through many years of use in the automotive and airplane industries. The MR-16 provides a very white light and works well in directing and projecting the low voltage illumination.
Other manufacturers are also meeting the needs of the Landscape Architect. “Hadco, Hydrel, B-K and Luminiere all have a very nice wide line of well made products,” according to Moyer, who often recommends low voltage for renovations and existing project while opting for standard voltage in new construction. “One of the reasons,” states Moyer,” is that low voltage is much safer and easier to install in existing projects. In new construction the proper trenching and preparations can be made to accommodate the standard voltage equipment.”
John Watson has developed their own unique approach to landscape illumination. According to Watson, a true pioneer in the lighting industry who as a boy put candles in cans and placed them about his backyard, we offer the complete package to the professional.” There, they work with the design team to complete the plans, select the equipment, and control the installation.” This assures the client,” continues Watson, “and us, that the job is completed as planned and the desired effect is achieved.”
Still others such as Emco, Hanover Lantern, Greenlee, Architectural Area Lighting, Vista, Abec and Herwig offer a wide assortment of state-of-the-art fixtures and lamps. “The industry,” says Hooker, “is just learning to use the equipment that we’ve had for 10 years.” With the current influx of new lamps and fixtures it will take another ten years just to catch up.
While the present might seem a little overpowering due to the variety and growth of the lighting industry, the future is truely looking bright.
Color choices,remote control, brighter, energy efficient lighting, smaller, easier to hide fixtures, and greater availability are all on the forefront of the landscape lighting industry. As the consumer becomes more familiar with the benefits of proper lighting, the importance and presence of effective lighting plan will continue to add a special dimension to the overall landscape architecture of your projects.
Francisco Uviña, University of New Mexico
Hardscape Oasis in Litchfield Park
Ash Nochian, Ph.D. Landscape Architect
November 12th, 2025
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