Whether lighting has been carefully designed or merely used for its basic functionality, it can be a very crucial factor in how the quality of a space is perceived. The very way in which the user inhabits the space and feels about it can sometimes be a function of light.

Most of the time, lighting is considered to be independent of other architectural elements. However, it is part of the way we interpret such things as floors, walls, and ceilings. In a way, it is both there and not there at the same time, because we only notice the light or its absence when we need it. So how do you use light subtly to illuminate a place or structure while also using it to create a beautiful atmosphere?

When Lighting is Built-In

One way to do this is through the walls. You can have perforations in the wall; subtle but effective. The light shines through, and it is both reflected in the material of the walls and integrated into the mass of the wall. You can play around with the length and width of the cuts and can use this to give the light different effects on different surfaces.

When Lighting comes in a Line

Another way to use lighting effectively is to let it occur in a line. Line lighting has an uncanny way of accentuating the length of the space which it illuminates. It can illuminate the space continuously or act as a divider for different areas through the way it traverses the space. Because of this function, the lighting can also serve as a kind of guide for users of the space. It is an excellent choice of demarcation for areas because it is one of the least invasive ones.

When Lighting comes in Streaks

This occurs when you have a source of light hidden from sight, such as a light that is recessed into the floor at the base of a pillar. It is typically used to highlight various architectural elements or landscape elements and is one of those uses of lighting that can be applied both indoors and outdoors. Such illumination is highly effective as a guide for users in the dark or at night and can also be used to accentuate the beauty of various elements.

When Lighting comes in Spots

Light spots are one of the most ubiquitous forms of lighting in buildings. They can be used in much the same way as light streaks. They have the same effect of accentuating various architectural elements and will help to give shape and form to such things as accent floors, walls, or ceilings. When such lights are used outdoors, they are made out of stainless steel in order to be able to withstand adverse weather conditions.

When constructive elements are made Luminous

Imagine a brick wall where one of the bricks spontaneously lights up. Then you realize that it wasn’t brick but, in fact, a light, disguised as a brick. This innovative use of light can bring great beauty to a façade and is used in various forms where luminous constructive elements are integrated into walls, floors, and ceilings. You can find them in the corner of a structure or its middle, and such lights can be placed in curved walls, can protrude out of walls, or even lie embedded.

Lighting is powerful and can impact the perceived beauty and value of a building or space.  Where has the use of illumination made an impact on your perception?