In the small and culturally significant town of Arundel in West Sussex, England, this private residential garden sits mere steps from the imposing Roman Catholic Cathedral and within a short walk of Arundel Castle, a defining medieval landmark rising above the townscape. In such a storied context, subtlety was not simply preferred, but essential. Landscape lighting designer Mark Packham of Garden Spark was tasked with using lighting to enhance the garden's inherent romance while respecting its sensitive surroundings and the community's expectations of visual restraint.

The garden itself was designed and constructed by landscape designers Roger Smith and Chris Mennie of Quercus Garden Design. Their carefully considered planting - featuring Columnar Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus 'Fastigata'), Ornamental Pear (Pyrus calleryana) in a pleached formation for privacy, hedges and domes of Yew (Taxus baccata), as well as Shadbush (Amelanchier) and Crab Apple trees (Malus sylvestris) - provide a rich canvas for nighttime transformation. The challenge was to extend the experience into the evening without introducing harsh brightness, visible glare, or disruptive spill light into neighboring properties.

 
Atmospheric Color
Each fixture has a job to do. It has to earn its place in the design. All fixtures were chosen from Garden Spark's collection of solid brass outdoor luminaires, selected for their timeless aesthetic, quality construction, and ability to visually recede into planting. In total, thirty-eight fixtures were used, including twenty spike-mounted spotlights fitted with a variety of glare control accessories and reduced lumen intensity. Along the paths, ten directional, downward facing lights provide wayfinding without dominating the scene. Elsewhere, five downlights are positioned to create soft, naturalistic shadows. Finally, three eyelid wall lights were placed on the structures for subtle architectural punctuation. The design avoids any single, over-bright focal point.

It's very easy to point the fixtures during the day and just leave it at that. A true professional, however, must be on site at night to adjust each fixture individually. A small degree change on multiple fixtures can have an enormous effect on the overall composition. For example, several of the trees were much larger than anticipated in the design, requiring a change in the spacing of the fixtures and the intensity needed for each one to reach its level in the overall lighting hierarchy of the scene. The positioning for the pleached pears was also much clearer when the designer was able to stand in front of them and view the effects of the lighting on the windows of neighboring homes. Aiming the fixtures is the first task, followed immediately by checking and adjusting the intensity of the light. There were several occasions where the lamp originally used was simply too bright. So, by changing the lamps and using screens mask the emitted light, the lighting designer was able to dim the lamps so the composition felt more comfortable. Light direction, beam cutoff, and overall luminance were all managed to prevent intrusive levels of illumination.

Lighting With Restraint
Because adjacent homeowners had recently endured extended construction, neighbor comfort was a top priority throughout the project. When the lighting designer originally pulled up with the company's logo on the van, two neighbors immediately walked over to express their concern, as great garden lighting design is unusual in the area. Usually, general electricians are tasked to install lighting often specified by people who aren't trained or experienced in lighting design, which can ruin public perception of landscape lighting overall. As an example, the concerned neighbors sited the nuisance of a security camera flood light that would illuminate at the slightest hint of wildlife passing by. To overcome this, the designer showed them the lighting plan and pictures of other projects, ultimately inviting them to attend the reveal and temporarily curbing their unease.

Each fixture was aimed so the overall effect of light is celebrated while the individual sources remain discreet. When a viewer stands in the spaces and feels a sense of joy or happiness, that's when everything comes together. The resulting design respects the dark environment and avoids contributing to the light dome surrounding Arundel, ensuring that the night sky, historic landmarks, and the wider community are respected and shown due consideration. By prioritizing sensitivity over spectacle, the garden now compliments its context rather than competing with it, a balance that feels essential in this unique location.

A Quiet Glow
The Arundel Project demonstrates what can be achieved when lighting design listens to the landscape and takes direction from the intangible characteristics of the site. This project is a reminder that the most powerful lighting designs are often the quietest ones, where less is most definitely more.