Presented by Leni Schwendinger to the I.E.S. Street and Area Lighting Conference 2006

The City as Stage

The city can be viewed as civic stage. The concept of ephemeral architecture; the use of “event” as a place -maker and -marker in cities; decoding and clarifying the “inner” uses, spatial relationships, and distinctions of buildings and structures in a city are enhanced by the judicious use of colored light

The city as kitsch burlesque: Serious architects and designers might think of colored light in the environment as an attention-getting selling tool without purpose or aesthetic values—the garish side of theater—that gives colored light a “bad name”.

Color: a powerful design tool for public realm lighting

Evaluation/Conditions

• Determine the purpose of the public color-lighting design. Is it art or architecture, or urban design?

Art: A concept or interpretation, stand-alone realization
Architecture: Enhancement of use, volume or materials
A combination: focal point, beacon, integral to the architectural design
Urban design: color used in accordance with a lighting masterplan

Objectives

Enhancement of architectural form

Visual communication

Identity/recognition factor
Wayfinding
Curb appeal

Interpretation of site (history, use, topography)

• Infusion of vitality and animation

Analysis

What is the building/area type?

Historic or modern
Commercial, cultural, transit-oriented, infrastructural
Late or early night closing

Evaluate the building/area surfaces

Solid, filigreed, fenestrated
Reflective, absorptive
Light or dark value
Textured, smooth

Design

Create an approach based on objectives, building/area type, and surface evaluation

Graphic
Environmental
Sublime
Carnivalesque

Create a color palette and based on the approach

Cool – Warm tints
Chromatic selections, symbolic, emotional, natural

Color and Light: Humanizing the Urban Nighttime Environment

Presented by Leni Schwendinger to the I.E.S. Street and Area Lighting Conference 2006

Colored light opportunity check list Objectives Methods

‰ Enhance architectural form ‰ Develop approach; graphic, environmental, sublime, carnivalesque ‰ Reinforce wayfinding and identity ‰ Select color palette: neutral, symbolic, emotional, natural ‰ Enhance iconic/landmark value ‰ Provide excitement through animation or emphasize historic, ‰ Establish artistic value: new serene qualities through static lighting

interpretations, content ‰Select color-mixing sources and electronic control

Color: Symbolism, Categories

Neutral
Emotional
Nature
Flags
Trends

Factors and methods for use of tinted light

Successful design: Lighting that strengthens the existing color, texture, shape of the object/surface which therefore renders the object as ‘more of what it already is’
Rule of thumb: To enrich a surface color, the light output should contain the same or similar wavelength as the lighted object. Therefore, warm colored objects are enlivened with warm light tones, cool colored objects with cool.

Technologies: select sources and control system

Single Color • L.E.D. with RGB mixing (or other

Color Filters selection)
L.E.D. • Fiber optics with color wheel

Automated color-changing (with control system) • Floodlights with automated CMY color mixing (filters)

• Fluorescent with RGB color mixing

Criteria for effective design with colored light

Meet Objective Methods support the Objective

Does this design make sense for this building Does the overall approach and technology reinforce the type, in this context? Does meet one of the design? following criteria? ‰ Develop approach; graphic, environmental,

‰ Enhance architectural form sublime, carnivalesque ‰ Reinforce wayfinding and identity ‰ Select color palette: neutral, symbolic, emotional, ‰ Enhance iconic/landmark value natural ‰ Establish artistic value: new ‰ Animation or serene?

interpretations, content ‰ Select color-mixing sources and control

Bibliography

Chronological Bibliography on Color Theory Chevreul, M.E. Harmony and Contrast Of Colors, http://www.fadu.uba.ar/sitios/sicyt/color/bib.htm Reinhold Pub. Corp 1967 Albers, Josef, The Interaction of Color, Yale Goethe, J.W., Theory of Colours, Dover Pub. 2006 University Press 2006 Itten, J., The Elements of Color, Wiley1970 Arnheim, Rudolph, Art and Visual Perception, Mahnke, Color and Light In Man-Made Environments, University of California Press 1974 Van Norstrand1993 Beck, Jacob, Surface Color Perception 1972 Morton, J.L., Color Logic, a Guide to Color Birren, Faber, Light Color and Environment, Schiffer Symbolism, Colorcom 1998, 2004 Publishing 1988 Swirnoff, Lois, Dimensional Color, Van Norstrand Birren, Faber, Color Perception In Art, Schiffer 2003 Pub.1986 Sloane, Patricia, (Ed.), Primary Sources, Design Press

1991