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22.07.2024

The magic of the outdoor lighting

The magic of the outdoor lighting

Many of the phrases of our wised people, such as “the human eye is greedy”, “quantity is not important, but quality”, “it doesn’t take any effort, it is a matter of how”, “the essence is found in the details” etc, become meaningful when we talk about the outdoor lighting.
The magic of the outdoor lighting lies in those details that really do make a difference. It can be found even in a small gesture, which is capable of producing great results, like the fairy who, with her tiny wand and such a tiny gesture, has the power to bring about major changes.
The design of outdoor lighting contains little secrets and tricks that if they are followed, they will be lucky enough to experience its magic. Just a few drops of light at key points are enough to make a space not only functional, but also create an irresistible atmosphere.

In this text we will reveal some of these tricks…

Everything is a matter of measure

Let’s start with the basics…there is no need to exaggerate when it comes to lighting. It is important that the outdoor space we design is not underlit, since the eye will get used to the darkness and so when it needs to go inside, it will be “blinded” by the greater amount of light that is there. Similarly, if there are excessive doses of light outside and we want to go back inside, where there may be lower levels of light, we will have the illusion that we have lost our vision.
Therefore, the transition from inside to outside and inversely, it is required to be gentle.

 

It is quality and not quantity that matters

Let’s remember the last time we got together with our friends on a beach and sat around a fire. Just one small source of light was enough to define our space and make us feel intimate and warm, even if there was no other light in the surrounding area.

Therefore, the lighting of an outdoor space should be done sparingly, at the right positions and in the right quantity for an even and balanced effect. Of course, let us not forget the economic factor and the need to save energy.
The indiscriminate use of light outdoors (light pollution) results in chatty environments that simply provoke, in essence seeking our attention. However, what we do not realise is that such an environment is very tiring not only for the eye, but also for our psychology. Too much light is a deterrent to the serenity and rest that we so desperately need. It is no coincidence that when we want to relax either at home or in a spa, we turn down the lights and use candles. The same treatment is needed outdoors, so that we can feel calm and well-being.

The issue of quantity and measure in lighting applies even when we have to illuminate an object in an outdoor environment and not an entire space. For example, if we have to illuminate a tree and use three or four projectors, then we will simply “burn it”. However, one or two projectors are enough to highlight the tree, its foliage and create the necessary shadows to make it visible and attractive.

The human eye has always been greedy and we always think we need more light, but this is not truth.

 

It is all about the view

Another useful trick that few people know when we are outdoors, for example on a balcony or in a swimming pool and we have a wonderful view in front of us, is to place the lighting in positions that do not interrupt it. The view should be unobstructed and supported by low lighting at points on either side of it or even behind us.
In many cases the use of large amounts of light combined with placing it in the wrong positions is a barrier to the view. In other words, lighting acts like a curtain, which instead of revealing the view, eventually hides it. A very simple example is the starry sky. The more lights there are, the less chance of seeing it.

Some types of lighting that are suitable for outdoor areas and which we will further refer to in another blog are: steplights for orientation, bollards for path lighting, projectors for planting, uplights for façade lighting, cove lights as supplementary lighting.

If we learn to choose the proper lighting fixtures in the right way, then we will create unique spaces that are both elegant and functional…and then yes…we will experience the magic of the outdoor lighting.

To be continued…

 


Text Editor: Myrto Tempelopoulou – Lighting Consultant

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