What is Facade Lighting?
Illuminating the outside of a building is a great way to add a unique touch of personality to the exterior facade of a property. Facade lighting design is a creative way to make your building stand out from the crowd and create a distinct look. By strategically using lighting to highlight architectural features, one can create a beautiful and captivating display that will draw the attention of passersby. With the right combination of light fixtures, colors, and effects, one can transform your building into a stunning beacon of style and sophistication. From wall-wash lighting, up-lighting, soft ambient wash, linear lighting concepts, decorative elements to making a statement about the structure – there are many creative solutions to explore when it comes to facade lighting design. With the right planning and execution, one can create an eye-catching display that will make a building stand out from the rest.
Benefits of facade lighting design
Lighting can add an architectural or structural feature to a building, create an emotional response to the building, or frame a view of the building. Certain types of lighting, like architectural lighting and landscape lighting, are designed to accentuate features on a building or surrounding landscape. Other types of lighting, such as security lighting, are designed to accomplish a specific task, such as illuminating a pathway or parking lot. If you are considering adding facade lighting to your building, it can be helpful to think about what you want the lighting to accomplish. If you want to draw attention to your building, facade lighting is a great option. It adds drama to the exterior of your building and can create an enchanting environment for passersby.
Types of lighting fixtures for facade lighting design
Wall-wash lighting is one popular way to illuminate the facade of your building. Wall-wash lighting is a type of architectural lighting that floods the building’s facade with a soft and even glow. Wall-wash lighting is generally done with large lighting fixtures, such as floodlights or architectural spotlights. Another popular architectural lighting solution is up-lighting, which is when light fixtures are mounted above a building’s facade to create a spotlight-like effect. Like wall-wash fixtures, up-lighting fixtures are typically large in size, meaning they may be hard to install on many smaller buildings. To illuminate the facade of your building without mounting lighting fixtures directly above it, you can use down-lighting. Down-lighting is when light fixtures are mounted on the ground near your building. This allows you to illuminate your facade from the ground up, rather than from above. Another option is to use a combination of wall-wash and down-lighting; this will create a dramatic effect that draws attention to the facade of your building.
Tips for creating an effective facade lighting design
Before starting your facade lighting design, you should do some research on different lighting fixtures and features like wattage and lumens. You should also visit your local hardware store to examine and test out different fixtures to determine what best suits your needs. Once you have a better idea of what lighting fixtures are available, you can start playing around with different color and effect options to determine what best suits your design. By spending some time exploring the different color options and effect settings on each fixture, you can find a combination that creates the perfect look for your building. If you are still struggling to come up with a creative design for your facade, you can also try consulting with a trusted friend or family member for ideas and inspiration.
Color and effect options for facade lighting design
When you are creating a facade lighting design, the color options you select are a major component of the design. The color you choose will largely determine the mood of your display. Before choosing a color, it is important to determine what mood you want to create. Are you trying to create a welcoming and warm feel? Or, would you rather create a bold and striking design? Depending on your desired mood, there are many color options to consider, such as blues and purples, reds and pinks, greens, yellows, etc. If you want to create an exquisite design, you can also incorporate decorative patterns and effects into your lighting display. Effects like moving silhouettes, fading patterns, and projected images are a great way to add an extra element of excitement to your design.
Popular facade lighting design trends
There are countless creative ways to design your facade lighting, so you can really let your imagination run wild. From incorporating specific themes to creating a unique design in line with your company brand, there are many popular facade lighting design trends. If you want a facade design that represents your brand, you can create a logo-based design by selecting specific colors for your lighting fixtures. By the use of pixel LED mapping, projection mapping, RGBW DMX creative and dynamic effects can be realised. Enertia uses and draws inspiration form world renowned manufacturers like Simes Lighting, Color Kinetics by Signify , FLOS Architectural Lighting , ERCO Lighting etc.
Examples of successful facade lighting designs
If you are still struggling to come up with an idea for your facade lighting design, here are a few examples you can use for inspiration. One popular example of a successful facade lighting design is the Empire State Building in New York City. The Empire State Building is particularly famous for its annual lighting display, which often features different themes, colors, and effects to celebrate holidays and events. Another example of a successful facade lighting design is the Las Vegas Strip. The Las Vegas Strip is renowned for its extravagant architecture and dazzling display of lights. Lastly, one of the most well-known examples of a successful facade lighting design is the London Eye. The London Eye is an enormous Ferris wheel located on the River Thames in London, England. Facing the London Eye is a huge Ferris wheel-shaped building known as the “British Airways London Eye”. One of the most unique aspects of this building is its facade lighting design. Throughout the year, the British Airways London Eye building is lit up with different colors and patterns to celebrate various events and holidays.
Creative solutions for illuminating your building’s facade
If you are still struggling to come up with an idea for your facade lighting design, don’t worry! There are many creative solutions you can explore. You can try adding architectural features like murals or sculptures on your building’s facade. You can also go with what’s trending or what’s in fashion by adding QR codes or adding augmented reality elements. You can also add a virtual tour element in your facade by using sensor technology or camera technology. You can also try adding a live feed of your city to your facade by using a 360-degree HD screen. You can also add a message in your facade or a slogan that represents your business or brand.
How to choose the right lighting fixtures for your facade lighting design
Before purchasing lighting fixtures for your facade lighting design, you should consider a few key factors to ensure you select the right fixtures for your needs. First, you should consider the wattage of the fixtures you select, as this will determine how much light the fixtures will emit. You should also consider the lumens of the fixtures you select, as this will determine how much light will be directed at your building’s facade. You should also think about the lifespan of the bulbs being used in the fixtures. If you want your facade lighting design to last for years to come, you will want to select fixtures that come with a long lifespan. In general, LED or incandescent fixtures will provide you with the longest lifespan. You should also consider the color temperature of the bulbs being used. This will determine the tone of light emitted by the fixtures.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many creative ways to add facade lighting to your building. Whether you want a bold, striking design or a softer, more subtle display, there are many options to explore, including wall-wash lighting, up-lighting, and down-lighting. With the right color and effect options, you can create a facade lighting design that perfectly matches the style and personality of your business or brand. By selecting the right lighting fixtures, you can also help to extend the lifespan of your facade lighting, ensuring it will continue to look great for years to come. Whether you are trying to draw attention to your building, create an enchanting environment for passersby, or celebrate a special occasion, facade lighting is a great way to add personality and style to your building’s exterior.
