Light Lines September/October 24

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SECRETARY

Brendan Keely FSLL bkeely@cibse.org

EDITOR

Jill Entwistle jillentwistle@yahoo.com

COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE:

Andrew Bissell FSLL

James Buck

Iain Carlile FSLL

Jill Entwistle

Fiona Fanning

Debbie-Sue Farrell

Chris Fordham MSLL

Rebecca Hodge

Stewart Langdown FSLL

Luke Locke-Wheaton

Rory Marples MSLL

Linda Salamoun MSLL

All contributions are the responsibility of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the society. All contributions are personal, except where attributed to an organisation represented by the author.

COPY DATE FOR LL6 2024 IS 18 SEPTEMBER

PUBLISHED BY

The Society of Light and Lighting 222 Balham High Road London SW12 9BS www.sll.org.uk ISSN 2632-2838

© 2024 THE SOCIETY OF LIGHT AND LIGHTING

The Society of Light and Lighting is part of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers, 222 Balham High Road, London SW12 9BS. Charity registration no 278104

Designed and printed in the UK

George Eason

Graphic Design

www.georgeeason.design hello@georgeeason.design

FROM THE EDITOR

To many people, the natural environment is there simply for our exploration, exploitation or entertainment. As a species punching above our weight, we seem to have forgotten that we are an intrinsic part of nature and that we trample on it at our own peril.

Sadly artificial light at night (ALAN) is one of the main threats when it comes to affecting the flora and fauna of this planet. It has an impact on the most basic biological processes that ensure the survival of all species, including our own.

As Chiara Carucci points out (The Night Watch, p5), 'it is time to distinguish "astronomical light pollution", which obscures the view of the night sky, from "ecological light pollution", which alters natural light regimes in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems'. Tellingly it was a strong theme at the ROLAN conference in 2022, coorganised by the SLL, and hopefully awareness will continue to grow.

But it's rather more complicated than simply dimming, switching off or assuming that the light

colour or colour temperature that suits one creature, for example, will be appropriate for another. The needs of different species may well be in direct conflict.

'Changes in the natural patterns of light and dark, even at very low lighting levels, like the moonlight, can have important effects,' says Carucci, 'therefore, information about a specific taxon and the local ecosystem are essential to devise appropriate mitigation measures to reduce or prevent the negative impacts of ALAN on biodiversity.

'There are no valid one-size-fits-all solutions when lighting ecologically sensitive sites.'

CURRENT SLL LIGHTING GUIDES

SLL Lighting Guide 0: Introduction to Light and Lighting (2017)

SLL Lighting Guide 1: The Industrial Environment (2018)

SLL Lighting Guide 2: Lighting for Healthcare Premises (2019)

SLL Lighting Guide 4: Sports Lighting (2023)

SLL Lighting Guide 5: Lighting for Education (2011)

SLL Lighting Guide 6: The Exterior Environment (2016)

SLL Lighting Guide 7: Office Lighting (2023)

SLL Lighting Guide 8: Lighting for Museums and Galleries (2021)

SLL Lighting Guide 9: Lighting for Communal Residential Buildings (2022)

SLL Lighting Guide 10: Daylighting – a guide for designers (2014)

SLL Lighting Guide 11: Surface Reflectance and Colour (2001)

SLL Lighting Guide 12: Emergency Lighting (2022)

SLL Lighting Guide 13: Places of Worship (2018)

SLL Lighting Guide 14: Control of Electric Lighting (2023)

SLL Lighting Guide 15: Transport Buildings (2017)

SLL Lighting Guide 16: Lighting for Stairs (2017)

SLL Lighting Guide 17: Lighting for Retail Premises (2018)

SLL Lighting Guide 18: Lighting for Licensed Premises (2018)

SLL Lighting Guide 19: Lighting for Extreme Conditions (2019)

SLL Lighting Guide 20: Lighting and Facilities Management (2020)

SLL Lighting Guide 21: Protecting the Night-time Environment (2021)

SLL Lighting Guide 22: Lighting for Control Rooms (2022)

Guide to Limiting Obtrusive Light (2012) Code for Lighting (2022)

Commissioning Code L (2018)

SLL Lighting Handbook (2018)

CIBSE TM66: Creating a Circular Economy in the Lighting Industry (2021)

CIBSE TM65.2: Embodied Carbon in Building Services – Lighting (2023)

FROM THE SECRETARY

There is so much to look forward to. The society will be exhibiting and supporting a number of events from September onwards.

SLL is supporting the online event Innovators in Residential Healthcare: Circadian Lighting Principles and Practice on 5 September (see p9). Registration and details for the event and events below can be found on the What’s Happening page of the SLL website (and see box).

We are also supporting another online event, EPD, or Go Home?, on 9 September. Irene Mazzei, PhD, sustainability lead at Stoane Lighting, will discuss life-cycle assessment and environmental product declarations.

The SLL is also partnering with the ICEL Emergency Lighting event on 12 September at the Cavendish Conference Centre.

The Northern Lighters will meet on 19September at Ducie Street Warehouse, Manchester. This is a great opportunity to network with lighting professionals. Our thanks to David Battersby for organising the event.

Alex Draper, SLL regional lighting representative for the East Midlands region, will be hosting a hybrid presentation with Tridonic on 25September, focusing on emergency lighting incorporating DALI2 and wireless technology. It will be a good opportunity to update your controls knowledge.

The North West and Scotland regions will be hosting presentations and discussions on museums and conservation on 3 and 10 October respectively. Mark Sutton Vane will speak at the North West event and Kevan Shaw in Scotland. We would like to thank SLL Sustaining Members Erco and Stoane Lighting for supporting the events, and SLL regional lighting representative Giorgos Kourtelis and Lisa Sutherland for organising them.

SLL will also exhibit and have a speaker slot at the Healthcare Estates Conference, Exhibition and Awards on 8-9October at Manchester Central. The SLL speakers are Nicholas Bukorovic (lead author LG2: Lighting for Healthcare Premises) and David Mooney (lead author of LG12: Emergency Lighting).

On 9October, the SLL will be supporting the Recolight: Circular Lighting Live conference and exhibition. This is a great opportunity to update yourself on TM65.2, TM66 and more.

SLL Ready Steady Light, in association with Rose Bruford College and the IALD, will take place on 15October. The event was a sell-out

• To register for Residential Healthcare: Circadian Lighting Principles and Practice: www.cibse.org/what-s-on/ search-events/innovatorsin-residential-healthcarecircadian-lightingprinciples-practice

• To register for EPD, or Go Home?: www.cibse.org/what-s-on/ search-events/epd-or-gohome

• To register for the ICEL Emergency Lighting conference: www.thelia.org.uk/memberservices/events/icelemergency-lightingconference.html

• To find out more about the Healthcare Estates Conference, Exhibition and Awards: www.cibse.org/what-s-on/ search-events/healthcareestates-2024

• Registration and details of the Recolight Circular Lighting Live Conference: www.recolight.co.uk/ circular-lighting-live/

• For more details of Light2Perform: www.build2perform.co.uk/ sll-light2perform

last year so do not delay in registering. Light2Perform returns from 13-14 November at ExCeL, London. The two-day lighting conference will include sessions on lighting for people with neurodiversity and visual impairment, sleep, light dosimetry, circularity and more. The first day is extended into the evening so we hope you can enjoy the presentations and network once the conference is over.

The following week, on 20-21November, the SLL will exhibit in the Associations' Lounge at LiGHT 24 at London's Building Design Centre. We also have a speaker slot, full details of which will be shared nearer the time.

THE NIGHT WATCH

ChiaraCarucciexplainswhyweshould carespecificallyaboutecologicallight pollutionandwhyeachsolutionmustbe tailoredtospeciesandsite

LIGHT ON MARS

DrShelleyJameshighlightsanSLLsupportedwebinaronnewresearchinto lightandsleepinextremeenvironments thatcouldinformlightingforcarestaff

MOREL FIBRE

AresearchteamattheUniversityof Stuttgartinvestigatesmycelium'susein translucentlightingandfurniture

SOURCES AND RESOURCES

JohnO'Haganreportsonrecent developmentsandfutureactivities oftheCIE

EYES ON THE ROAD

AlanTullainvestigatesthelatestLR&T papers,selectingthreethatfocuson streetlighting

PART OF THE FURNITURE

Top5:KristinaAllisononherfavourite boundary-crossingluminairedesigners EVENTS

COVER: Winner of the Silver Award in the lighting category for the Scottish Design Awards 2024, the art installation (detail of one of three panels) for the facade of Norwegian restaurant Lysverket, Bergen, was created by Callum Innes and developed by EFLA/Kevan Shaw Lighting Design

Kevan Shaw/Callum Innes

News

HERTS AND MINDS: NEXT SLL STEM EVENT IN HOME COUNTIES

The SLL's Home Counties North West (HCNW) region is organising a Pockets of Light event involving three schools in Hertfordshire this November. The focus for the installation will be St Lawrence's Church (right) in the village of Abbots Langley.

Three local secondary schools are taking part in the Stem event – Parmiter’s School, St Michael's Catholic High School and Future Academies Watford. The society members involved include SLL president elect Kristina Allison of WSP, Chris Dicks of Hoare Lea and SLL HCNW representative, Simon Fisher of F Mark, past president Helen Loomes and Ryan Rolph of Tryka.

The first part of the exercise will involve one or more SLL members visiting each of the schools in September and October to give a presentation on architectural lighting, theory and practice. Pupils – from design technology and creative arts classes – will have the opportunity to explore the effects of lighting.They will then create their own concept ideas based on the theme of 'remembrance' as the event will be held at the church the night before Remembrance Sunday.

Selected designs will be reviewed by practising lighting designers and three to four winning designs will be realised on the evening of 9 November using equipment from lighting manufacturers supporting the event – so far that includes Architainment, Architectural FX, iGuzzini, Martin Light (Harman) and Tryka.

A winner will be selected on the night, based on peer review, and awarded a prize of two Harry Potter studio tour tickets, courtesy of Warner Brothers Studio Tour, who along with Focus Events (rigging) and Friends of St Lawrence's Church, will be sponsoring the event, with electrical support from Ohmega Contractors.

ON THE LIGHTER SIDE…

A lamp by Thomas Takada takes the use of natural materials to a logical conclusion, along with elements of DIY and built-in obsolescence. Each 2W LED Grandpa's Lamp comes with a stone as a counterweight and a leaf as a diffuser, 'but you are encouraged to go out and find a nice leaf and an interesting rock'. Eventually, the leaf will wither, so you have to find a new one anyway. Oh, and the 'uncoated steel might rust and patina with time'. The idea is that as the thing falls apart, 'each lamp becomes a living piece of decor that reflects the passage of time'.

TRIBUTES FOR LEADING LIGHT

Tributes have flooded in for Sir Kenneth Grange, Pentagram co-founder and one of the great post-war designers, who died in July aged 95. From the Kenwood mixer to the Kodak Instamatic, and from London black cabs to British Rail's Inter-City 125 train, his iconic products helped define British industrial design.

Notably for the lighting industry, he redesigned the Anglepoise lamp, reinvigorating its commercial success. Design director of the company since 2003, he had previously identified the Anglepoise as his favourite design and a ‘minor miracle of balance’.

'Kenneth's career was unparalleled in its breadth and longevity,' said Anglepoise in a statement. 'His work over the past 70 years helped shape the domestic life and public realm of modern Britain; the way we cook, create, consume, groom and travel –in his own words, "the sculpture of the everyday object".'

His extensive archive, which earned him a knighthood for his services to design in 2012, will be displayed at the V&A East Storehouse when it opens in 2025.

GREAT BALLS OF... LEDS

For the first time, the cauldron at the Paris Olympics, located in the Jardin des Tuileries, did not involve real flames or burning fossil fuels.

The 7m-diameter 'ring of fire' at the base of the 30m-high structure comprised 40 LED spotlights that illuminated a cloud created by 200 high-pressure misting nozzles. It was powered by renewable electricy supplied by EDF.

The cauldron, referencing traditional hot-air balloons, remained on the ground during the day throughout the Olympics, but at sunset rose 60m into the sky to be visible from hundreds of metres away.

'Light, magical and unifying, it [was] a beacon in the night and a sun within reach during the day,' said its French designer Mathieu Lehanneur.

Pockets of Light will take place on 9 November at St Lawrence's Church, Abbots Langley, Herts
Prices range from 500€ to 700€, which seems sort of pricy.
John Salmon/ Wikimedia

THE NIGHT WATCH

ChiaraCarucciexplains whyweshouldcare specificallyaboutecological lightpollutionandwhyeach solutionmustbetailoredto speciesandsite

Throughout my experience as a lighting designer in Sweden, I have had the opportunity to collaborate with a wide range of experts including water and traffic engineers, conservation architects and, most interestingly, scientists.

In 2017, while discussing the lighting design for a public park, the city architect alerted me to the challenges posed by beavers along the water (preferring this site to a close-by nature reserve area), potentially harming trees and disrupting

birds' nests, including two protected species. We decided to discuss the case with a zoologist who specialised in rodents, and an ornithologist who supported us while investigating the best solution for this project.

Since then, when working in environmentally sensitive areas, or natural heritage sites, I have sought advice from local experts, or associations monitoring and assessing wildlife population trends, and researchers. Collaborating with ecologists, biologists and conservationists – for instance, testing on site their findings on the effects of the exposure to artificial light at night (ALAN) – contributes to the global effort to conserve biodiversity, and helps ensure the sustainable use and stewardship of natural resources and the environment.

The lighting industry long ago acknowledged the issue of unwanted light (overlighting, light trespass and so on, resulting in skyglow) generically labelled as light pollution. But it is time to distinguish 'astronomical light pollution', which

'Biodiversity has dwindled worldwide due to anthropogenic activities; ALAN is one of the main threats'

obscures the view of the night sky, from 'ecological light pollution', which alters natural light regimes in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems (Longcore and Rich, 2004). In Italy, research centres and associations (Legambiente, WWF, for example) are raising awareness of the issue, while the political and legislative spheres are failing to recognise this global-change driver. While thedeaths of migratory birds are a known consequence of ecological light pollution, understanding the more subtle influences on species behaviour and community ecology is a significant research priority in the field of ecology – and a pressing conservation challenge.

Biodiversity has dwindled worldwide due to

� The Collepardo Caves in Lazio, Italy, are home to at least five species of bats, as well as being archaeologically and geologically important. Lighting them involved Carucci working with a range of experts to create a multifaceted solution
Jansin & Hammarling

anthropogenic activities; ALAN is one of the main threats contributing to this loss (comparable to climate change and loss of habitat). Light from anthropogenic sources can interfere with the circadian and 12-month seasonal cycles ingrained in all living beings, leading to disruptions in physiological functions and crucial behaviours (in animals, for example, mating, sleeping, foraging, and not only in nocturnal species).

Changes in the natural patterns of light and dark, even at very low lighting levels, like the moonlight, can have important effects. Therefore, information about a specific taxon and the local ecosystem are essential to devise appropriate mitigation measures to reduce or prevent the negative impacts of ALAN on biodiversity.

This summer, I witnessed some of the effects of ecological light pollution while collaborating with marine biologists on the preservation of loggerhead turtles at nesting sites in Cilento, south of Italy's Amalfi Coast, especially preparing our pilot project for the EU LIFE21 Turtlenest initiative (see sidebar overleaf). Like other species, sea turtles are particularly sensitive to ALAN, which affects distribution, density, and placement of nests on beaches. Ecological light pollution disrupts seafinding in hatchlings emerging from nests, often leading to their death, by predators and correlated human activities.

Sadly, there is a lot more at stake than the scope of consequences on fauna and flora: the repercussions also ripple out to human health and wellbeing.

Many are aware of plants' circadian and

seasonal rhythms of light and dark, but not everyone is aware that photoperiodism controls flowering, seeding and senescence. Artificially extending the length of the daytriggers photoreceptorsaffecting their phenology, growth form and resource allocation. The negative effects could be combined and exacerbate the impact of ecological light pollution on the physiology, behaviour and ecology of herbivores and especially pollinators in an ecosystem.

Some competing pollinators may extend their activity time and disrupt the balance between species. Furthermore, nocturnal lightopportunistic pollinators (exhibiting positive phototaxis) are drawn towards the lights and away from plants, while light-averse pollinators are drawn away from the area, both resulting in low pollination. This may potentially lead to a decrease in the reproduction of a large number of flowering plants, including many rare species and a number of crops.

The ecological cascade effect is even more evident close to a body of water. ALAN can disrupt trophic interactions, causing a significant shift in the overall structure and dynamics of the community (for example, predator-prey balance) not only for aquatic life, but also for animals (such as beavers) that rely on water for feeding, or migration.

While there is potential for modern lighting technologies to decrease the ecological effects of ALAN, determining the most effective approach is a complex endeavour. For example, for the lighting of the park on the river we agreed on a

strategy that would steer the beavers (mainly nocturnal and light averse) towards the nature reserve: illuminating the base of the trees and thus protecting the diurnal species of birds, which are more vulnerable in that context.

As we have seen so far, ALAN can alter physiology and ecological relationships, disrupting the ecosystem at different levels. The state of knowledge of the effects of ecological light pollution shows several needs, a few critical, such as a standardised approach to measuring light exposure (comparable across disciplines, such as physics, biology, lighting design). Meanwhile, future research should document long-term effects on biodiversity, on landscape-level connectivity.

Currently, the data available to inform mitigation strategies remains modest, however. Broadening and strengthening transdisciplinary approaches can help.

Back in 2021, I was chosen by Lazio region and LAZIOCrea for the lighting design of the Collepardo Caves tourist site, under the supervision of the Natural and Cultural Heritage department. The caves are in a Site of Community Importance, SIC, since they are home to at least five species of bats, as well as showing archaeological findings and geological features. I tested the solutions on site, working closely with local managers, guides, the in-house chiropterlogist, and three researchers. Relying on perception and storytelling (more than usual lighting techniques) we contributed to raising awareness and protecting this delicate ecosystem.

In such sensitive environments, the

construction process also demands careful consideration and timely planning. In this case, the building site was strategically planned in relation to the bats' phenological phases, starting after hibernation and concluding before the nursery.

Collepardo was a full-scale field experiment, helping to verify research protocols and best practices. This project encompasses some of the most effective mitigating measures (including controls and scenes, restricted operating times, controlled light direction and so on) as agreed with all the experts.

In lighting design the background analysis is fundamental; it is time to include the environmental impact in our investigations. A primary consideration for prioritising measures to mitigate the effects of ecological light pollution is to assess how disturbances affect a particular species’ conservation status, since this varies. Different mitigation strategies and adaptations should be used, depending on landscape characteristics, species sensitivity and other factors. Therefore, a wide multidisciplinary team, as with Collepardo, can help assess the correlated actions and mitigating measures.

In fact, there is no panacea that will ensure visual safety for people while avoiding impacts on other species. The heterogeneity of visual response systems and photoreceptor sensitivity

across taxa encompass large variability. Therefore, the possibility of mitigation by using specific wavelengths is based on the bias that a higher spectral sensitivity value directly translates to a behavioural response.

A monochromatic and modified spectrum may give marginal benefits (or none, if the species in the area have different photoreceptor sensitivity), and thus should only be explored once all other mitigation measures have been put into place.

In other words, there are no valid one-size-fitsall solutions when lighting ecologically sensitive sites; tailored projects are necessary for longterm economic and environmental sustainability. My experience taught me that limitations are not restraints, but a framework, a tool to promote discussion, support informed choices and simplify the design process. Therefore, multidisciplinary collaboration is vital.

In a nutshell: in situations where ALAN can induce detrimental impacts, especially in natural heritage areas, it is essential that the client considers involving a specialist, and consulting a lighting designer, who can embrace the value of darkness, and ensure the scheme creates the right light, at the right time.

Chiara Carucci is an award-winning independent lighting designer (including winner

of the Women in Lighting Awards 2021) with a focus on public realm, cultural and natural heritage projects. She is launching her own practice, Noctua, in autumn this year, with studios based in both Sweden and Italy.

Our thanks to Italian quarterly magazine Luce where this article first appeared (Issue 347, March 2024)

Following the ROLAN (Responsible Outdoor Lighting at Night) Conference in 2022, the SLL and other founding partners published the ROLAN Manifesto in support of UN Sustainable Development Goals. The document is available at: https://www.cibse.org/SLL-ROLAN.

ESSENTIAL READING

• Longcore T, Rich C, Ecological light pollution. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 2: 191-198, 2004, https:// esajournals.onlinelibrary. wiley.com/doi/full/ 10.1890/15409295(2004)002%5B0191: ELP%5D2.0.CO;2

• Longcore T, Rich C,Artificial night lighting and protected lands: ecological effects and management approaches Natural Resource Report2016

• Falcón J, TorrigliaA,Attia D, Viénot F, Gronfier C, BeharCohen F, Martinsons C, Hicks D, Exposure toArtificial Light at Night and the Consequences for Flora, Fauna, and Ecosystems, Frontiers in Neuroscience, Vol. 14, 2020, https://www.frontiersin.org/ articles/10.3389/ fnins.2020.602796

• Sanders D, Frago E, Kehoe R.et al.Ameta-analysis of biological impacts of artificial light at night.Nat Ecol Evol5, 74–81 (2021). https://doi.org/ 10.1038/s41559-020-01322-x

• Hölker F, Bolliger J, Davies TW, Giavi S, JechowA, Kalinkat G, Longcore T, Spoelstra K, Tidau S, Visser ME and Knop E, 11 Pressing Research Questions on How Light PollutionAffects Biodiversity. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 2021

• GN08 Bats and artificial lighting in the UK, in association with the Bat Conservation Trust, 2021, https://theilp.org.uk/ publication/guidance-note-8bats-and-artificial-lighting/

� A lighting scheme for a public park on a river strategically steered beavers (nocturnal and light averse) towards a nearby nature reserve by illuminating the base of the trees, thus protecting a diurnal species of bird
Niklas
Hamann/Unsplash

INNOVATIVE LIGHTING FOR TURTLE CONSERVATION

Artificial light, when used indiscriminately, can profoundly affect wildlife behaviour, physiology and survival. For protected species such as the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta), light pollution exacerbates the risks they face. A cutting-edge pilot project, funded under the EU LIFE21 Turtlenest initiative, aimed to mitigate these risks in emerging nesting sites in the Western Mediterranean. Coordinated by Italian environmentalist organisation Legambiente, the project focuses on improving the conservation status of these turtles in Italy, Spain and France. It addresses the anthropogenic disturbances at new, regular nesting sites. The Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn (SZN), the scientific coordinator, leads Task 4.7, which involves pilot interventions to reduce human impacts at these nesting sites.

As project leaders for SZN, Sandra Hochscheid and Fulvio Maffucci recognise the importance of comprehensive lighting design in wildlife conservation. They therefore sought the expertise of Chiara Carucci, with her track record of successful lighting projects in wildlife conservation.

The first pilot intervention is being conducted in the Municipality of Ascea, in the Campania region of southern Italy. This 1km stretch of beach is a significant tourist destination during the summer and has seen regular loggerhead turtle nesting since 2015. The project includes actions to mitigate light pollution and enhance beach maintenance procedures, which will serve as a model for other sites.

The adaptive management approach of this project involves a risk assessment to manage light pollution impacts on wildlife. Light management must be tailored case-by-case, as different species are affected uniquely by light. Street lighting and beachfront property lighting pose significant challenges to loggerhead turtles. Artificial lighting discourages egg-bearing females from coming ashore to nest and misdirects hatchlings away from the sea.

The project includes the replacement and upgrade of 21 pole-mounted street lighting luminaires and 81 marker lights in the most sensitive1 part of the beach (1km). The new lighting fixtures feature the best available photometries, and the markers are combined with special shielding. The municipality is also considering applying these changes along the entire 3km waterfront.

Initially, the project leaders proposed long-wavelength amber LED lights. The team eventually selected a warm colour temperature (2700K) instead. This choice is economically sustainable and readily available in the consumer market, making it scalable for other projects.

This decision is also supported by the latest research on the turtles' light sensitivity2

While well-designed and shielded luminaires significantly mitigate light pollution, they are not a panacea for all challenges faced by sea turtles. Effective lighting design can greatly aid in turtle protection, but it must be part of a broader conservation strategy.

The project will also provide new LED luminaires to managers of beachfront restaurants and bars, replacing exterior fittings that emit bright light visible from the beach. This intervention involves replacing at least 50 fittings, including decorative table luminaires, with shielded, 2700K versions, and suggesting best practices for orienting and shielding outdoor floodlights.

This pilot project in Ascea sets a precedent for how lighting design can be harmonised with wildlife conservation. By employing adaptive management and tailored lighting solutions, this model can be replicated in other sensitive nesting sites across the Mediterranean.

As SZN will continue to monitor and refine these interventions, the lessons learned from Ascea will inform future efforts to protect Caretta caretta and other wildlife from the adverse effects of light pollution. This project underscores the importance of collaboration between scientists, lighting designers and local administrations in achieving sustainable conservation goals

References

1 85 per cent of loggerhead turtle emergences are concentrated in the south-eastern sector of the beach (Scogliera area), where the nesting density value reaches the threshold used in the Mediterranean context to identify a regular nesting site (three nests/km per year, Casale et al 2018).

2 The chosen light colour temperature is 2700K: a very warm tone of light, perceived as white, with high colour rendering (which contributes to the feeling of safety). It is noted that some research suggests the use of monochromatic amber, red, or 2200K white light because these radiations would be less impactful for some protected species.

However, recent studies suggest that LEDs emitting only in red (narrow band, 600-670nm, λ max 640nm) and yellow (wide band, 600-750nm, λ max 620nm) can also induce total disorientation in young loggerhead turtles, especially at high light intensities (Falcón et al 2020).

Furthermore, one study reports how, contrary to expectations, the ability of the young turtles to find the sea was disturbed by amber-coloured lights, especially in the absence of moonlight. Less intense red lights appear to be less harmful, but disorientation events still occurred when the lights were within 4m of the young turtles (K Robertson et al).

www.szn.it/index.php/it/ricerca/programmi-e-progetti-diricerca/progetti-internazionali/life-turtlenest

Courtesy of Blair Witherington

LIGHT ON MARS

Anewbodyofresearchintothepotentialoflightingcyclesto supportsleepandperformanceinextremeenvironmentsoffers newinsightsthatcouldinformlightingforcarestaff.DrShelley JameshighlightsaforthcomingSLL-supportedwebinar

You may be one of the millions of people with a relative or a friend suffering from dementia and struggling to cope with the physical and emotional load of sleepless nights, agitation, depression and the silent splintering of memory that goes under the radar, until they are in an unfamiliar setting and find themselves startled and lost, often just a few yards from their own front door.

The Alzheimer’s Society research estimates that the number of people with dementia who need a care home bed will rise from 350,000 to 503,000 in the next five years, leaving a shortfall of 50,000 people with dementia unable to access the care they need.1 At the same time, the sector is struggling to recruit and keep the staff they need, with an average salary of just over £12 per

hour,2 around one in 10 jobs vacant3 and burnout rates at an all-time high.4,5

So what does this have to do with the lights?

Residential healthcare settings are uniquely complex, needing to cater for patients, clinical, clerical and support staff, and visitors 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year.

So lighting professionals need to consider multiple guidelines and standards, from LG2 Lighting for Healthcare (2019), LG9: Lighting for Communal Residential Buildings (2022) and BSI EN12464-1:2021 Lighting for Workplaces Part 1 (lighting for indoor workplaces). Specifiers also need to work within ambitious Part L efficiency targets set by local authorities to meet their climate goals.

While these standards are broadly aligned when it comes to light levels for visual tasks

(although light level requirements are significantly higher in EN12464-1), there is a considerable divide when it comes to designing for non-visual or body-clock setting ‘circadian’ effects, perhaps due in part to the date of publication.

LG2 (2019), the guidance for healthcare settings urges caution regarding the circadian dimension, pointing out that a causal link between lighting and circadian entrainment has yet to be conclusively proven. In contrast, EN12464-1 2021 recognises the role of daytime light levels in setting the body clock and supporting the wellbeing of day-active workers, reflecting recommendations from the seminal 2021 paper by Brown et al.6

Disruption to the body clock through mistimed or insufficient light exposure has even been classified as a carcinogen by the World Health Organisation7 with an increased risk of breast cancer among female nurses working night shifts for more than 30 years of over 36 per cent.8

However, beyond functional requirements for visual performance, lighting standards do not offer guidance relating to circadian entrainment for shift workers – accounting for an estimated

� Chromaviso, Aalholmhjemmet Nursing Home (2018), showing the different lighting scenes from morning, through afternoon and evening, to night

12 per cent of the adult population in the UK.9

A new body of research, largely driven by commercial interests in space exploration and extreme environments such as power station control rooms, and offshore and underground construction, is offering new insights into the potential of lighting cycles to support sleep and performance in these high-pressure roles. These discoveries have the potential to inform new approaches to lighting for care staff much closer to home.

For example, this study took 20 healthy adults over four weeks in a closed space to mimic shift work, and compared a static lighting set-up with dynamic lighting cycles designed to advance or delay dim light melatonin onset, a marker of circadian entrainment. They effectively controlled sleepiness, quality and quantity, suggesting that these strategies can help support a healthy body clock for shift workers.10

This builds on a similar study that replicated shift work patterns over 38 days, noting the potential for these lighting interventions not only to facilitate healthy sleep-wake patterns but also to stabilise mood, another frequent issue for shift workers.11,12

This paper simulated conditions on a 45-day mission to Mars, building on a previous paper demonstrating that a dynamic lighting cycle can improve circadian alignment and performance.13 This time, they focused on reaction times and lapses in attention, noting that compared to a standard lighting pattern (4500K constant CCT and a shift between 284 and 62 melanopic equivalent daylight illuminance or M-EDI), a dynamic lighting cycle improved performance on these measures, especially in the afternoon. Given that most accidents and errors take place at the end of a shift, these findings could offer valuable insights for care workers, too.14,15

However tempting it may seem, simply imposing a standard circadian cycle on night-shift workers may not be the answer. Professor Arne Loudon gave train traffic controllers the choice of light levels during their shift, noting that some preferred to work almost entirely in the dark. He points to the wide variations in personal sensitivities to light and, critically, to the fact that those who work night shifts may self-select as they tend to be extreme night owls, linked to other sensory processing issues such as extreme photophobia.16

Inhibition theory explains that our ability to concentrate, to self-motivate and manage mood are all impaired when we are unable to control the key dimensions of our environment

REFERENCES

1 www.thecarehomeenvironment.com/story/36423/demand-for-dementia-care-homebeds-to-outstrip-supply-by-2030-report

2 https://uk.talent.com/salary?job=care+worker#: ~:text=How%20much%20does%20a%20Care%20worker%20make%20in%20United %20Kingdom%3F&text=The%20average%20care%20worker%20salary%20in%20the %20United%20Kingdom%20is,to%20%C2%A339%2C359%20per%20year.

3 www.wbs.ac.uk/news/uk-care-home-sector-in-trouble/

4 Fotaki M, HortonA, Rowland D, Ozdemir Kaya, D & GainA. (2023)Bailed out and burned out?Thefinancial impact of COVID-19 on UK care homes for older people and their workforce. Coventry: Warwick Business School

5 Rotenstein LS, Brown R, Sinsky C, & Linzer M (2023).TheAssociation of Work Overload with Burnout and Intent to Leave the JobAcross the Healthcare Workforce During COVID-19. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 38(8), 1920-1927. https://doi. org/10.1007/s11606-023-08153-z

6 BrownTM, Brainard GC, Cajochen C, Czeisler CA, Hanifin JP, Lockley SW, Lucas RJ, Munch M, O'Hagan JB, Peirson SN, Price LLA, RoennebergT, Schlangen LJM, Skene DJ, Spitschan M, Vetter C, Zee PC, & Wright KP, Jr (2022). Recommendations for daytime, evening, and night-time indoor light exposure to best support physiology, sleep, and wakefulness in healthy adults. PLoS Biol, 20(3), e3001571. https://doi.org/10.1371/ journal.pbio.3001571

7 ErrenTC, Morfeld P, Groß JV, Wild U, & Lewis P(2019). IARC 2019: 'Night shift work' is probably carcinogenic: What about disturbed chronobiology in all walks of life? Journal of Occupational Medicine andToxicology, 14, 1-3.

8 Lingas EC (2023).ANarrative Review of the Carcinogenic Effect of Night Shift and the Potential Protective Role of Melatonin. Cureus, 15(8), e43326. https://doi.org/10.7759/ cureus.43326

9 https://post.parliament.uk/research-briefings/post-pn-0586/

10 WangT, Li J, WangY, Dai S, Shao R, & Hao L(2022).Active interventions of dynamic lighting on human circadian rhythm and sleep quality in confined spaces. Building and Environment, 226, 109766. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2022.109766

11 Nie J, ZhouT, Chen Z, Dang W, Jiao F, Zhan J, ChenY, ChenY, Pan Z, Kang X, WangY, Wang Q,TangY, Dong W, Zhou S, MaY,Yu X, Zhang G, & Shen B (2021). The effects of dynamic daylight-like light on the rhythm, cognition and mood of irregular shift workers in closed environment. Sci Rep, 11(1), 13059. https://doi.org/10.1038/ s41598-021-92438-y

12 MohdAzmi NAS, Juliana N, Mohd FahmiTeng NI,Azmani S, Das S, & Effendy N (2020). Consequences of Circadian Disruption in Shift Workers on Chrononutrition and their Psychosocial Well-Being. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(6), 2043. https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/6/2043

13 Rahman SA, Kent BA, Grant LK, ClarkT, Hanifin JP, Barger LK, Czeisler CA, Brainard GC, St Hilaire MA, & Lockley SW (2022). Effects of dynamic lighting on circadian phase, self-reported sleep and performance during a 45-day space analog mission with chronic variable sleep deficiency. J Pineal Res, 73(4), e12826. https://doi. org/10.1111/jpi.12826

14 Grant LK, Kent BA, Rahman SA, St Hilaire MA, Kirkley CL, Gregory KB, ClarkT, Hanifin JP, Barger LK, Czeisler CA, Brainard GC, Lockley SW, & Flynn-Evans EE (2024).The effect of a dynamic lighting schedule on neurobehavioral performance during a 45-day simulated space mission. SleepAdv, 5(1), zpae032. https://doi.org/ 10.1093/sleepadvances/zpae032

15 Folkard S, Lombardi DA, &Tucker PT(2005). Shiftwork: safety, sleepiness and sleep. Ind Health, 43(1), 20-23. https://doi.org/10.2486/indhealth.43.20

16 LowdenA, & Kecklund G (2021). Considerations on how to light the night-shift. Lighting Research &Technology, 53(5), 437-452. https://doi.org/ 10.1177/14771535211012251

that cause discomfort and stress.

So, what does that mean for lighting professionals who want to deliver outstanding solutions for their clients that reflect current guidelines, meet energy codes, and reflect best practice – and do all that on a budget?

This is what we will be focusing on in a forthcoming webinar when a team of scientists and healthcare providers will join me to hear the latest research from the lab and from real life.

Residential Healthcare: Circadian Lighting Principles and Practice

Date: 5 September Time: 2-4.40pm UK time

To register, go to: www.eventbrite. co.uk/e/innovators-in-healthcare-tickets921470221237?utm-campaign= social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utmmedium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utmsource=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl

MOREL FIBRE

AresearchteamattheUniversityofStuttgart,ledby ClaraBlum,PaulaCastel,LemmyHuandGonzalo MuñozGuerrero,isinvestigatingmycelium'susein translucentlightingandfurniture

In response to the imperative to use sustainable materials because of resource scarcity, this study delves into the use of mycelium, a versatile and rapidly renewable substance, within the realm of design and construction. While mycelium's compressive qualities are well-known, this research pioneers its application in building envelopes,

particularly focusing on introducing translucency. Through experimentation with various strains and cultivation methods, including incorporating textiles for reinforcement and modifying the agar base with vegetable cooking residue, the study investigates growth patterns, colour variations and structural integrity.

Our results indicate that faster growth

can be achieved by using smaller cut pieces, while modified agar produced subtle enhancements in growth speed and thickness. Challenges such as contamination and shrinkage are acknowledged, alongside unexpected discoveries such as mycelium growth penetration through the agar.

The discussion underscores potential applications in light-shading elements and furniture, facilitated by 3D-printed frames, while also highlighting the need for further refinement to address shrinkage issues and explore larger-scale implementations. The research creates a foundation for future endeavours in interactive design with mycelium, aiming to enhance durability and stability in the final product.

In the context of resource scarcity, the need for incremental reuse and exploration of sustainable and environmentally friendly materials has become more predominant.

Recently, mycelium, a natural, fastgrowing and highly versatile material, has gained

'The translucent elements from mycelium can ideally be employed in light-shading elements, such as lamps, and light installations'

interest in design

and the building sector. Mycelium is a highly variable material but is mostly used in dense volumetric form, exploiting its compressive benefits. This project, on the other hand, explores further traits of the materiality applicable in building envelopes, introducing the element of translucency. A lamp was chosen as a case study to balance the visual barrier and light transmission, while maintaining low weight and exhibiting unique visual effects through the growth patterns, which could give it a high aesthetic value.

� The study focused on the materiality of mycelium relevant to building envelopes, introducing the element of translucency

METHOD

A wide variety of strains of mycelium are commercially available. For this study we used Ganoderma Lucidum.

As in common mycelium cultivation, a small cut of the growth is introduced into an agar base in Petri dishes and left to grow for several days. With the aim of increasing the surface area, the fully overgrown Petri dishes are subsequently introduced into larger containers of the agar base and are then returned to a growing chamber.

However, mycelium growth only occurs on the surface of the agar and increasing the area implies a decrease in strength to support larger structures. Therefore, textiles are also introduced into the agar base to allow for reinforcement inside the mycelial growth.

Varying dispersal methods for the mycelium culture on the agar base were explored resulting in different radial growth patterns. Furthermore, the agar base was modified by substituting water with residue liquid obtained from cooking beetroot and cabbage, resulting in slight colour changes and incremental growth due to the high values of nutrients.

As part of the assembly design process, two approaches were explored. The first involved framing the final growth in 3Dprinted frames made of PLA.

The other approach entailed aggregating small-scale elements directly. Here, the unique properties of the agar base were leveraged. The agar was liquified under heat, and a substantial amount of it was removed, leaving only a thin layer. The growth elements were laid out overlapped and fused while drying on a mould. In its dry state, the agar takes on a plastic-like texture and functions as a type of adhesive between the components.

RESULTS

Findings indicated that the introduction of smaller cut pieces resulted in significantly faster overall growth of the container, as well as the emergence of aesthetically pleasing patterns. Mixing the agar base with the cooking liquid residue resulted in distinct colouration of the agar but only a very slight variation in the mycelium colouration itself. Nevertheless, a marginal increase in growth speed and thickness was noted.

Furthermore, the mycelium growth was easier to separate from the modified agar base. Visible to the naked eye, the mycelium even lifted slightly off the agar culminating in its growth. Unfortunately, the shrinkage and crumbling of the growth without the agar attached was much worse.

Difficulties were encountered in growing large surfaces in a single large container without contamination. Agar base is an ideal substrate for mycelium growth, and any introduced bacteria or other contaminants during the processing thrive. Despite the diligent adherence to sanitisation protocols during experimentation in the growth chamber, the scale of the growth was restricted in this stage of the research.

Notably, one singular Petri dish exhibited growth not only on the surface but also penetrated through the agar. This finding was unexpected, as previous research had suggested that mycelium growth would only occur on the surface where there is oxygen present.

The textiles tested include a range of materials, mainly tulle fabric and bandages. This, as well as the variations in the dispersal of the pre-growth, allowed us to achieve the optimal level of reinforcement. Even though the growth was dried before assembly inside the 3D-printed frame, shrinking occurred

after assembly resulting in slight ripping of the sub-elements. Also, an uneven drying process was observed, for both the mycelium and agar, leading to the development of doubly curved surfaces.

The welding of smaller elements was successful and with only minor shrinkage and deformation upon fully drying.

DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK

In terms of application, the translucent elements from mycelium can ideally be employed in light-shading elements, such as lamps, and light installations. Using the 3Dprinted frames allows the extension of the structural base and the realisation of varying exploratory geometries.

The shrinkage and crumbling of the mycelium during the drying process are essential points to be addressed in further development. It would be important to analyse and explore how to interactively design with this property and to develop further assembly variations and larger scales to improve the durability and stability of the final product.

The study was developed during the seminar 'Myco-module', offered by the Institute of Building Technology and Design (IBK) at the University of Stuttgart

Mycelium

The subterranean part of a fungus, the mycelium is a network of thin fungal strands called hyphae, with a similar function to the roots of plants. As well as maintaining soil, recycling leaf litter and providing food for animals and bacteria, it can partner with the roots of plants, including trees, creating a cross-kingdom web known as mycorrhizal networks. These help trees and plants absorb water and nutrients from the soil, well beyond the reach of their roots. In the US, anArmillaria ostoyae growing under the Malhuer National Forest in Oregon is estimated to cover almost 10 square kilometres, making it one of the largest single organisms in the world. Able to be cultivated in a lab, mycelium has been used as a material in lighting, furniture andcreating artificial leather. Alternatives to polystyrene and plastic packaging can also be produced by growing mycelium in agricultural waste.

� Varying dispersal methods for the mycelium culture on the agar base resulted in different radial growth patterns

SOURCES AND RESOURCES

JohnO'Haganreportsonrecentdevelopmentsandfuture activitiesoftheCIE

of a webinar presented by Professors Rob Lucas and Timothy Brown of Manchester University on Defining the Characteristics of Healthy Lighting: from discovery biology to real-world application.

Professor John O'Hagan, FInstP CPhys CSci CRadP, is the chair of CIE-UK

IE was restructured in 2023 and now consists of a governing board with Jennifer Veitch from Canada as president. This is supported by a technical management board (TMB), chaired by Tony Burgen from Australia. CIE-UK members Peter Thorns, as vice-president standards, and Kaida Xiao, as director of division 1 (vision and colour) serve on the TMB. The general assembly is the supreme authority of the CIE, which brings together representatives of the individual national committees.

At the CIE-UK AGM in December, trustees were appointed for the next four years: John O'Hagan( chair), Steve Fotios (vice-chair), Allan Howard (secretary), Nigel Parry (treasurer), and Jim Uttley and Peter Thorns (trustees). We said goodbye to Teresa Goodman and Stuart Mucklejohn, who have provided sterling work as trustees for many years. Both were recognised by awards from the CIE at its Quadrennial Session in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

CIE-UK has published a Research Strategy, which links the national priorities for light and lighting research to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Researchers submitting proposals for funded research that fit in with the strategy are welcome to contact the secretary of CIE-UK to see if a letter of support can be provided. The CIE-UK document complements the CIE Research Strategy, which has recently been updated. A webinar on the revised document is being run on 10 October 2024, led

by Jennifer Veitch. Links to the strategies and the registration for the webinar are below.

The next CIE Mid-term Conference will be held in Vienna from 7-9 July 2025. Registration opens on 15 November 2024. Keynote speakers include: Dr Stephen Westland, professor of colour science and technology at the School of Design, University of Leeds, UK; Dr Dietmar Hager, astrophotographer, Stargazer Observatory, Austria, and Dr George Brainard, professor of neurology and neuroscience, director of the Light Research Program, Thomas Jefferson University, USA. CIEUK is able to provide some financial support to members who are taking an active role in the conference. In addition, students can apply for a bursary of up to £1000. This is to encourage networking and future participation in the technical work of CIE.

We are hoping to be able to run a one-day seminar for PhD students in 2025. This will give students the opportunity to present their work to a peer group. We hope the seminar will also appeal to potential future employers, as well as those who are generally interested in the research taking place in the UK on light and lighting-related subjects. You can log your interest via the CIE-UK secretary (details below).

The CCPR-CIE Expert Workshop, 100 Years of V(λ) and the Future of Photometry took place on 3 June 2024, at the prestigious Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM) in Sèvres, France. This event marked a significant milestone – the centennial of the V(λ) spectral luminous efficiency function.

The workshop brought together an incredible assembly of researchers, engineers and industry leaders who engaged in insightful discussions about the history, current trends, and future advancements in photometry and colorimetry. The presentations were both impactful and thought-provoking, offering a comprehensive look at the evolution and future of the field.

Our CIE-UK website includes a resources area. From this page it is possible to watch a recording

SLL is one of the Sponsoring Organisations of CIE-UK, the UK National Committee of the International Commission on Illumination (Commission Internationale de l´Eclairage). Members of CIE-UK can purchase CIE documents at a 66 per cent discount, with one CIE document made available free each year. Contact: Allan Howard, secretary CIE-UK: allan.howard@wspgroup.com

CIE-UK website: https://cie-uk.org.uk/ CIE-UK Research Strategy: https://cie-uk.org.uk/documents/ CIE Research Strategy Webinar: https://cie.co.at/news/save-datecie-research-webinar-cieresearch-strategy-2023-2027 CIE 2025 Conference: https://vienna2025.cie.co.at/

CIE-UK website: Recent CIE publications: Technical Report CIE 252:2024 Assessment of Discomfort Glare from Daylight in Buildings; International Standard ISO/CIE 11664-5:2024 (E) Colorimetry –Part 5: CIE 1976 L*u*v* colour space and u', v' uniform chromaticity scale diagram. New CIE technical committees (TCs)and call for experts: TC 3-63 Decision scheme to determine lighting requirements for indoor environments; TC 1-100 To recommend CAM16-UCS as the CIE Uniform Colour Space; TC 1-101 Influence of ipRGCs on brightness perception; TC 1102 Method for calculating CIE tristimulus values; and TC 2-99 Standard File Format for Electronic Transfer of Optical Radiation Data for Luminaires, Lamps and LED modules. If you are interested in contributing to the work of the technical committees, please contact the CIE-UK secretary

EYES ON THE ROAD

Alan Tulla investigates the latest papers published in Lighting Research and Technology, and finds three that focus on street lighting

One of the aspects that first attracted me to lighting design was the range of applications it covered. Illuminating engineers, as we were then called, could be asked to light a 3000-year-old painting in a museum one day or a high-security prison fence the next This breadth of topics is well covered in the latest edition of LR&T.

One paper, A core lighting curriculum for university students and lighting professionals by KW Houser, describes how the architectural engineering programme was developed for the Oregon State University BSc degree. A constant theme running through the paper is how to incorporate newer, non-engineering topics such as human wellbeing, the circular economy, embodied carbon and other ecological issues into the syllabus.

There are also three papers all related to the theme of street lighting.

P Nteziyaremye and M Sinclair examine more

than 350,000 crashes to evaluate the effect of ambient light conditions on the rate and severity of accidents. Apart from the fact that people cannot see so well after dark, there are other contributing human factors such as tiredness and the greater likelihood of alcohol use. Other factors change between day and night such as road user demographics, vehicle types, pedestrian and vehicle volumes, and so on. The research attempts to tease out all these factors.

One conclusion is that while there is greater accident risk in the evening, morning actually presented the highest risk for pedestrians. There was also identical crash risk under complete darkness and darkness which included nautical and astronomical twilight.

Related to this study is the paper by J Uttley et al. This deals with a day-dark field study of pedestrian reassurance but with the daylight evaluation carried out at two different times of day.

One evaluation was around midday and the other at the same time of day as the after-dark evaluation. The data does not suggest any significant effect of the time of day on the evaluation of pedestrian reassurance.

Readers of Light Lines are well aware that floodlights can have symmetric or asymmetric beams. The paper by RM Spieringhs et al considers an asymmetric road lighting concept called the Probeam. This compares visibility levels, VLs, of vertical (non-retroreflective) objects and road markings (retroreflective) with conventional symmetric beam street lighting luminaires. It also compares glare towards the drivers.

The Probeam concept results in higher VLs but at a 14 per cent increase of luminous flux. Due to the asymmetric distribution, there is no light directed towards the driver's eyes and hence no glare, (0 per cent threshold increment). This is particularly advantageous for elderly drivers who are more susceptible to glare.

However, readers should note that the Probeam concept is restricted to one-directional traffic.

Alan Tulla is a former president of the SLL and principal of the independent consultancy Alan Tulla Lighting

Lighting Research and Technology: OnlineFirst

In advance of being published in the print version of Lighting Research and Technology (LR&T), all papers accepted for publishing are available online. SLL members can gain access to these papers via the SLL website (www.sll.org.uk)

A core lighting curriculum for university students and lighting professionals KW Houser

Investigating the effect of ambient light conditions on road traffic crashes: The case of Cape Town, South Africa P Nteziyaremye and M Sinclair

Defining daytime in the daydark approach to measuring the pedestrian reassurance of road lighting

J Uttley, S Gorjimahlabani and S Fotios

An asymmetric road lighting concept: Probeam RM Spieringhs, K Smet, I Heynderickx and P Hanselaer

� Three types of lighting distributions for tunnel lighting (Spieringhs et al): symmetrical lighting (top), Probeam Lighting (centre), counterbeam lighting (bottom)

PART OF THE FURNITURE

KristinaAllisononher favouriteboundary-crossing luminairedesigners

’ve heard it said many times before that table lamps are really just ‘lighting furniture’. But why not indulge in exploration and crossexperimentation across disciplines? So many wonderful and accidental outcomes are born out of diversity of creative thought processes. Furniture designers and lighting designers have much in common – both work and immerse themselves within their live-in environments. So, it is no surprise that at some point the careers of both professions cross paths. I’d like to share with you some of my favourite design classics from furniture designers who also dabbled in our craft, often bringing their own left-field approaches to the world of lighting.

Kristina Allison is SLL president-elect, and TM66, TM65.2 and capability lead for environmental and net zero at WSP

Verner Panton

The Verpan Panto Pendant, designed in 1977, draws inspiration from the interplay of light and form. Its crystal-clear acrylic outer sphere allows the light to diffuse beautifully, while the four white internal reflectors create a harmonious balance. Panton’s innovative approach to materials and aesthetics shines through in this captivating spherical piece, as does his understanding of how light works. Using his unrivalled approach to freeflowing form in furniture design, he created a mesmerising form.

Le Corbusier

Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier's passions extended to painting, furniture and luminaire design. In 1958 he designed the Applique de Marseille wall light for his home in Paris (where he is pictured with it above). Both the top and the bottom cones have individual light source control. 'Our eyes are made to see forms in light; light and shade reveal these forms,' he said... 'cubes, cones, spheres, cylinders or pyramids are the great primary forms which light reveals to advantage.' This post-modern luminaire is often reproduced now in a number of variations, likely inspired by Le Corbusier's original design.

Philippe Starck

Philippe Starck's work transcends the architectural, furniture and lighting design disciplines. He began his career as a product designer, which led him to create some of the most recognisable objets d'art and products for Alessi (including his iconic lemon squeezer) and wild architectural projects such as the Tokyo HQ for Asahi beer. He has designed a number of luminaires for Flos, including the Bon Jour table lamp (Versailles version pictured) in 2015. His skill for applying both technical features and an achingly simple aesthetic in all his work is just stunning.

Charles

and Ray Eames

The one that never was. Charles and Ray Eames were undeniably the most famous furniture design couple of the 20th century. Originally created for An Exhibition for Modern Living at the Detroit Institute of Arts in 1949 (pictured above), Galaxy was never marketed, due to technological limitations at the time, despite exciting much interest, including from eminent modernist architect/designer Marcel Breuer. Charles Eames confirmed in a letter to him that 'while there were quite a few inquiries and requests for the Galaxy, it was never put into production. The one used at the exhibition was a model of automotive parts…’ Italian design company Cassina did subsequently put a version into production.

Jasper Morrison

British-born furniture and product designer Morrison was once quoted as saying that ‘design should never shout’. Here his Suplerloon for Flos is design stripped down to a basic form: a tri-pod base with a simple disc. Its simplicity belies its ingenuity: the four-layer composite disc (only 18mm) is edgelit with LEDs, adjustable in intensity and colour temperature. The gyroscopic axis allows the light to be directed in infinite directions. Its diffuse light is calming, not demanding your attention, but warranting it all the same.

© Robert Doisneau/FLC/ADAGP
Flos

Events 2024

For details of all upcoming webinars, go to: www.cibse.org/societyof-light-and-lighting-sll/sll-events/upcoming-webinars-and-onlinecontent

For previously recorded CPD webinars (including regional webinars), go to: https://www.cibse.org/get-involved/societies/society-of-lightand-lighting-sll/sll-events/on-demand-webinars-past-presentations

EVENTS

HEALTHCARE ESTATES CONFERENCE, EXHIBITION AND AWARDS

(Supported by the SLL, Stand B10)

Date: 8-9 October

Venue: Manchester Central www.cibse.org/what-s-on/search-events/healthcare-estates-2024

CIRCULAR LIGHTING LIVE 2024

(Organised by Recolight)

Date: 9 October

Location: Royal College of Physicians, NW1 www.circularlighting.live

READY STEADY LIGHT 24

(in association with Rose Bruford College and the IALD)

Date: 15 October

Venue: Rose Bruford College, Sidcup, Kent https://www.cibse.org/what-s-on/search-events/ready-steadylight-2024.

SUSTAINABLE SMART LIGHTING WORLD CONFERENCE

Date: 12-14 November

Venue: Eindhoven University of Technology www.ssleindhoven.com/home

LIGHT2PERFORM 24

(Organised by the SLL as part of CIBSE's Build2Perform)

Date: 13-14 November

Venue: ExCeL, London www.build2perform.co.uk/light2perform

LIGHT 24

(including the SLL Young Lighter 2024 final) Date: 20-21 November

Venue: Business Design Centre, London N1 www.lightexpo.london

2025

LIGHT+INTELLIGENT BUILDING MIDDLE EAST

Date: 14-16 January

Venue: Dubai World Trade Center https://light-middle-east.ae.messefrankfurt.com

LET Diploma in Lighting Design

For details and registration: www.lightingeducationtrust.org

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