April 2001 Edition
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REPLACING THE SUN
Lightscaping the Outdoor Environment
By Craig G. Malesic
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Residential Outdoor Lightscaping
in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania
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The dream of conquering the great outdoors is as much a part of our lives today as it was in yesteryear. Each of us hears the alluring call to commune with nature and escape the drudgery of our laborious trek through the day's work. Unfortunately, by the time we have closed the books on the business day and resigned ourselves to an evening of relaxation, the sun has set. We are left with the silence of the night and the accompanying darkness.
Savvy builders and architects realized the importance of creating private outdoor spaces long ago. The inclusion of gardens, decks, sunrooms, and large expansive windows crept back into modern design as we recognized our connection to the outdoor realm. However, the use of lighting to recreate these spaces in the evening hours has not been embraced with the same enthusiasm.
Quality lighting designs engender wonderful moods while providing security, safety, and comfort. Landscape lighting enhances outdoor decor by highlighting natural elements (trees, shrubbery, and ground cover plantings) as well as decorative elements (statues, art, and lawn ornaments). Path lighting, an integral part of any landscape design, flatters hardscape elements (masonry walls or concrete reflecting pools) and thus distinguishes the edges of the space. Architectural lighting develops the style and concept of building structures by focusing the viewer's eye on the marvels of each intricate detail. Combining landscape, path, and architectural lighting concepts is often referred to as exterior lighting.
The culmination of delicate lightscaping creates endless possibilities by setting the tone of an outdoor space. All design processes begin with several fundamental questions. What should be accomplished? What mood should be developed? Which architectural details are significant? What are the various uses of the space?
A space must sometime serve as the venue for various types of functions, often called a 'multi-use' space. Good design addresses each use separately even though the tones can be radically different. The most beautiful exterior lighting design controlled by one simple switch will create only one mood. This can be overcome with layered lighting in which lighting sources are grouped on different switches, dimmers, or preset scene controls.
Style, as represented through the architectural and interior design, is all-important. Lighting accentuates existing elements; therefore, the lighting design must conform to, or complement, the existing details of a space. Depending on the design's goal, styles can be matched or blended to bestow a new and unique look. Existing elements set the stage for lighting creativity; such as when using unique art objects, unusual plantings, and dramatic architecture. Conversely, a bland, uninspiring area can also be dramatically lit to develop a specific mood, such as a romantic or intimate setting.
Lighting can transform an outdoor space, bring the outdoors inside, or both. At night, interior rooms with large windows lose their view. The same room that felt grand and spacious during the day begins to feel small and cramped. The elements beyond the window become the key to recapturing the room's feel. Exterior lighting, designed for viewing through the window, captures the same dramatic effect as eloquent art in a distinguished frame.
Exterior lighting sets the mood of outdoor spaces through the use of color, intensity, and focus. The color of a light source can dramatically change the appearance of a particular object. Intensity captures the viewer's attention and directs it to the brightest lit object, adding a sense of depth. Illuminating areas of interest focuses attention on the most beautiful elements while de-emphasizing the least attractive areas.
Correctly identifying the proper lamp color is essential to exhibit the best display and coloring of each object. Lamp types such as Xenon, Halogen, and Metal Halide provide intense white light, which is useful for creating brilliant realizations and specific accents. Incandescent lamps provide a color range from yellowish to pinkish light and create soft illumination useful for area washing, path lighting, and ambient effects. Mercury Vapor lamps provide a bluish-green tone most often used to highlight greenery and wood siding. Sodium lamps are yellow in color and work best when highlighting red or pale masonry.
It is essential, however, to keep in mind that lighting intensity can complement or destroy a design. An abundance of illumination in a garden will cause the area to feel like an interrogation room, ruining the desired effect. Similarly, insufficient illumination renders the design ineffective by not attaining the goals of the plan. Mixing varying intensities of light sources adds depth to the overall design, which can highlight or hide different areas, creating a well-balanced space.
Fixture placement and lamp focus create the fundamental plan for any exterior lighting design. The landscape and architectural elements chosen to embody the night scenes are paramount. It is important to light those elements, which are both close to and distant from a particular viewing area to develop 'depth of scene.' The distant elements capture the viewer's imagination, creating a grandiose illusion.
All outdoor spaces should include some sort of lighting design. Whether the project is complex and uses exotic materials or simple and utilizes standard building supplies, lighting can transform the finished space into a relaxing, comfortable haven. Businesses and higher-end homes should have the exterior lighting planned by a professional Illumination Designer. The expertise and experience of an Illumination Designer blends functionality with effect to create a safe, efficient, and beautiful design worthy of the surrounding architecture. Much care has been taken when cultivating the perfect outdoor environment. Proper lighting techniques allow the outdoors to be enjoyed when we have the time to enjoy being outside most.
Craig G. Malesic is more than just the Illumination Designer for CM Squared, Inc. He holds a degree in Electrical Engineering, is a Master Electrician, and has served as a Technical Director and Illumination Designer on numerous theatrical performances. For more information on exterior lighting or to discuss a specific lighting project, contact Craig at www.cmsquared.com or call (717) 545-1056.
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