Widening the Spectrum
By Jennifer Noonan
This brass pathlight, hanging from a shepherd?EUR??,,????'???s hook, serves a dual purpose. First, it accents the foliage. Second, the light safely illuminates the pathway. PHOTO COURTESY OF Kichler Lighting
Things look different at night – there is no arguing this truism. Things are hidden and concealed. Colors are deeper or lost altogether. Shadows are darker and mysterious.There are many goals that can be achieved through landscape lighting. Whether the aim is to light a commercial, residential or industrial landscape, the goals must be considered. Among them are aesthetics, safety and security. The first step of lighting is to decide on purpose. Is the lighting entirely for security or it is solely for aesthetics? Or, maybe it is a combination of elements. Until the purpose has been decided, there is no moving forward. After a decision has been made, the possibilities are endless.
LIGHTING THE LAND
What is going to be lit? Will the lights be for focal points or peripheral landscape? Lighting purely for aesthetic quality opens up the following doors: a home?EUR??,,????'???s beauty can be displayed quite differently at night, greatly contrasting its daytime appearance; gardens, flowers and shrubs can be brought to life in ways that have never been imagined; dramatic lighting can create focal points out of trees and fountains; or a soothing and relaxing atmosphere can be created in a backyard.
Here we see a variety of lighting techniques. The lights in the foreground provide uplighting to dramatically highlight the garden and stone entry. In the background we see underwater lighting that lights the water and the sculpture simultaneously. PHOTO COURTESY OF Vista Professional outdoor lighting
Other lighting considerations are for safety and security. A dark walk or driveway may need to be lit to prevent accidents. Stairs are also a safety consideration. Security is a common element of landscape lighting. A well-lit landscape can act as a deterrent for potential crime.
An added benefit to landscape lighting is that any of the above, alone or combined, can be an investment, helping to increase the property value.
LIGHTING THE WATER
Pools, ponds, fountains and waterfalls are integral elements often used in landscape design and construction. They enhance a landscape bringing forth excitement, elegance and ambience. And, in the daytime, they look fantastic; however, their nighttime appearance is sometimes overlooked.
We see a variety of techniques providing both uplighting and downlighting. While the foliage is lit for aesthetics, the bridge is lit for safe passage.
Lighting effects can add a whole new dimension to a waterfall or pool, highlighting elements and nuances that would otherwise be overlooked during the day.
A number of goals are achieved by adding lighting: the hours of viewing are extended, the textures find new depth and dimension, and contrasts that are dulled by daylight are brought to life.
An array of well lights and uplights are used to dramatize a group of deciduous trees.
Downlights provide accents on the plants while also exposing the walkway.
Surface lighting is designed to sharpen any image, greatly enhancing the appearance of plants and ornaments. Underwater lighting produces the most atmospheric effects, illuminating fish, plants and features such as a fountain.
TYPES OF LIGHTING
According to Kichler Lighting Group, nightfall brings landscapes to life. A garden path bathed in soft light invites a nighttime stroll, or creates an ambience of dramatic beauty by highlighting plants, trees and shrubs.?EUR??,,????'??
But the question now is, what are the techniques for landscape lighting. Some common lighting elements include: path, spread, downlighting, uplighting, shadowing, spotlighting, silhouetting, grazing, cross lighting and accent lighting. The following techniques are suggestions from Kichler as to how approach the various lighting techniques.
The plant is backlit to provide a slight silhouetted effect.
The lighting on this home allows a pleasant appearance while providing for safety and security, too.
PATH LIGHTING: Path lighting may be as simple as a few lights placed at corners, or it may involve a combination of lighting techniques that illuminate paths and walkways, whether they are lit from down or above. Path lighting should illuminate an area clearly, avoiding glare.
DOWNLIGHTING: This soft, diffused technique simulates the effect of moonlight. Several fixtures are placed high in trees or on buildings to create a soft downlight and cast attractive patterns through branches and leaves.
SHADOWING: Shining a light directly on an object can create interesting shadows on the vertical surface behind it. The light fixture is placed in front of and below the object. By changing the intensity of the light and the distance from the object, the size and shape of the shadows can be varied.
This is a garden path light that dually lights the walk and the flowers.
SILHOUETTING: Reflecting light off a vertical surface behind it can create the silhouette of a dramatically shaped tree or object. The light source should be concealed behind and below the object. In silhouetting, the object is seen standing out from a lighted background.
CROSS LIGHTING: This lighting variation uses two or more light sources from above or below to illuminate an object from different directions. The result is a tree, large plant, or other object that is more three-dimensionally revealed than when lighting from only one direction.
A well light shines from below on the branches of a small tree.
The single underwater light creates a shadowing effect from this view of the front of the sculpture.
SPREAD: Spread lighting creates points of interest on ground cover and low shrubbery. Usually set fairly close to the ground, spread lighting will highlight the variety of textures and shape that are found in your garden or define the edge of ground cover where it meet the lawn.
UPLIGHTING: Although this light does not normally occur in nature, it can provide dramatic effects when used sparingly. The light source is surface mounted or recessed in the ground and angled up to display a tree, artwork or structure.
The garden path light not only illuminates a walk at night, but also provides a decorative appearance during the daytime.
SPOTLIGHTING: spotlighting is an effective technique for getting an object of architectural interest noticed. A statue, a tree or entranceway can all be focal points through the use of spotlighting. With spotlighting it is important to be selective.
GRAZING: Light is placed to shine across a textured surface such as a brick wall, or a natural surface like tree bark. The light catches the high points of the surface while creating shadows in the low points.
ACCENT: Accent lights will shed focused illumination to highlight trees, shrubbery, or exterior walls. Accent step lights add safety and security to stairways, paths or patio areas.
The combinations of lighting on this home give the residence a balanced appearance, while also allowing for the primary walk to be safely lit.
Whether it is for land or water, for aesthetics or security, the aforementioned techniques can help light any landscape.
A BRIEF LOOK AT LOW VOLTAGE
A growing trend is the use of low voltage lighting. There are a number of reasons why many users or moving to low voltage. One great benefit is that the overall cost is lower – they are more energy efficient (and sometimes capable of more light output per watt). Another benefit is the lesser degree of intrusiveness into lawns and gardens. Many low voltage systems can have cables buried or left above ground.
