Introduction
In the first article of this series we looked at what the term “Architectural Integration” really means in terms of lighting products and how, in fact, they integrate. We established that:
- It is a way of minimizing the visual appearance of light fixtures and allowing the light itself to be the feature instead.
- Those in the know have been doing this for decades using clever detailing of builder’s work to create pockets to house standard light fixtures.
- There are now systems on the market designed to deliver the same or better effects without the need to resort to time-consuming detailing.
- The specifier needs to take care of the product or system they are specifying and be sure it is well designed to ensure a quality finish.
- A well-designed product will ensure a perfect finish between the mounting surface and the product and result in a crisp detail.
So where can we most effectively utilize these new products?
Ceiling Cloud
This is the name typically given to a dropped section of a ceiling with a perimeter uplight, effectively creating a ‘floating’ effect to the dropped panel, defining a particular part of the ceiling and the space below. A great example of this (and the original of the type) is the Whitegoods Edgeless Cove by Inter-lux as selected and installed at 1 Kingdom Street Office building in London by global architects Shepperd Robson, where it has been used to create two distinct sections of the ceiling to either side of the entrance lobby to relate to informal seating areas below.
Perimeter Wash
An alternative to the now popular ‘knife edge’ uplight profiles is the Z Cove product, also from Whitegoods by Inter-lux. This product shares many of the features of a standard uplight knife edge profile but differs in that it sends light downward. This makes it more suitable for perimeter wash applications where the purpose is to send light down a wall or surface from a perimeter slot. The multi-award winning minimalist designer John Pawson has specified this product to deliver some stunning interiors, including the sublime Palmgren House project in Sweden.
It is also particularly suitable for directing focus to feature walls, but also works well in corridor applications where it will deliver a good quantity of light and a sophisticated visual environment.
With careful selection, these products can help the specifier to deliver sharp, crisp lighting details with a minimum of fuss. A range of options can be found at http://inter-lux.com/brands-category/whitegoods/ with all the information you need to start specifying.
