LIGHTING CONSULTING
Lighting consulting is the design of the desirable light in an area, which is called lighting scenario, and the selection of the lightings which are capable and suitable to implement this scenario.
It is an elegant mixture of art and science.
The science
There are international rules, which dictate the technical characteristics of the required light in any given space. These rules guarantee that the light is sufficient, but they have nothing to do with the feeling; here comes the art.
The art
The purpose of light is metamorphosis. Highlighting and abating elements. We see through light and the way we perceive our environment is key to our phycology. That is why light has been used both as a means of therapy and interrogation.
The lighting scenario must embody the architecture, the needs, and the dominant elements. It must playfully balance between direct and indirect light.
The lightings must become part of the scene, either as a supporting actor, or as a leading role. Each situation is different and sets its own requirements.
Eventually, lighting consulting is the art of elevating the look and feel of a space to its full potential and beyond.
The process
The first task of the lighting consultant is to gather all the relevant information on a project. These include the location, the usage of the space, its architectural style, the presence of significant features or imperfections, the furniture, the colors, and any other factor that must be considered.
In some cases, the client may have some preferences or peculiarities, based on their past experiences with the light on their previous environment. At this point, the job of the consultant is to educate the client and persuade him that the result will fulfill his wishes, if the lighting scenario is based on the knowledge and expertise of the consultant. The client’s wishes are untranslated feelings; The expert must interpret them and not implement them in their raw form.
Here comes the creativity part, where the lighting consultant makes an orchestra out of each element of the space. The lighting scenario illuminates the best parts and gracefully hides the imperfections, using various techniques. Since the early 1900’s, when Fortuni designed the first lighting to offer indirect light, for the needs of a theater, the lighting industry has evolved a lot. Today, we have unlimited options to create a warm and magnificent lighting scenario.
The last part is to select the lightings. Obviously, these must implement the lighting scenario. Additionally, as the lightings are decorative items themselves, they must perfectly fit in the space, following the architectural rules.
The right time
The scope of lighting consulting is to reveal the climax of a scene and not to procreate it. Therefore, the planning, the selection of furniture, materials and colors, the needs of each client and the architectural elements must be predetermined before the lighting consultant undertakes the project.
Ideally, all these can be designed at an early phase before the electrical wiring is constructed. If this is the case, then the lighting consultant can work on an empty canvas and perform miracles.
However, many projects hire a lighting consultant after construction ends. In that case, the consultant faces an additional challenge, to fulfill the desired lighting scenario, using an existing infrastructure. Here at RICHE, we are very experienced, and we can deliver a magnificent result, even with only minor adjustments to the wiring and sockets.
Why you should hire RICHE as your lighting consultant
Before even starting to talk about aesthetics, the light must at least fulfill its primitive role: to illuminate sufficiently, but not overwhelmingly. Bad light can easily lead to fatigue and negative feelings. In some cases, it produces lighting pollution, which is as severe and harmful as any other form of contamination. The lighting consultant considers every aspect of an area and its usage and follows specific rules, to calculate the exact lighting needs.
Additionally, an unstudied lighting implementation will probably ruin the colors and deface the texture of the materials. On the other hand, a well-designed lighting scenario endows a feeling of quality and luxury.
Finally, selecting the lightings themselves is not an easy task: firstly, they must produce the exact amount and kind of light, to guarantee the proper illumination. Then, they must meet the quality and safety standards, depending on their placement. Riche does not only ensure that the lightings tick these boxes, but also minds their aesthetics as decorative items. The lightings must do their part as an element of the space. They can’t be the weak link, while they must never overshadow the scene.
