The derivation of architectural forms has always dictated the design processes, often sidelining liminal aspects of design, like lighting. While studies like climatological analysis, directionality, and wind inform the overall massing or form, an underutilised aspect of this plan is the thorough integration of lighting design principles. Sciography, a study of light, could efficiently become a tool for observing and capturing the essence of natural light within our built environments.
Light as a tool to define spaces
When incorporated strategically, light could transcend its functional properties and become a means to accentuate, frame and envelope the overall structure. Alcoves and indents in the facades behave differently under indiscriminate sunlight wrapping the building and artificial light. An interesting example that makes a case for inventive architectural devices that honour natural light is the use of jaalis. The incidental light filtering through the stone or metal grids not only maximises daylight but also becomes fleeting motifs of light throughout the day. When reimagined in the modern-day context, a fenestration or a partition, a derivation of jaalis, could sculpt the space by opening it up to its entire expanse and allowing an uninterrupted light influx. The dynamic of the natural light interacting with the textures, materials, indents, and tectonics adds an interesting character to the overall space.
Reimaging Public Interventions with Lighting Design at its Core
A disproportionate focus on optimising spaces in urban design often overlooks the element of lighting in public infrastructure. Parts of placemaking, like semi-public streetscapes or circulation routes, must be designed with an added focus on well-lit spaces. In the case of AIPL Joysteet, a mixed-use development in Gurugram, artificial lighting became a key driver of the planning of open spaces. This blueprint is achieved through transparent design elements, such as glass walls and open layouts, and strategic exercise lighting, which could significantly reduce the number of concealed or isolated zones. Additionally, artificial lighting could become a tool to decipher different aspects of built form in the absence of a blanketing wash of natural light. The S-block building of Delhi Court reinforces this concept and illustrates the power of artificial lighting. To highlight the monumentality of the linear composition of the facade, the element of artificial lighting is used in correspondence, setting it apart in the street section.
Beyond Illumination
The Engineering, Procurement, and Construction master-planning model allows independent consultants to contribute based on their expertise. This framework has propelled a heightened appreciation and integration of intelligent artificial lighting in large-scale public projects. Whether natural or artificial, light influences various aspects of design, from material selection to the placement of fenestrations and beyond. It serves both as an accent to the overall design and as a defining backdrop, transforming the architectural object into a sculptural form.
Light can be strategically used to imbue the space with emotive expressions. In an urban context, gender-sensitive public lighting can make spaces safer. Lighting thus becomes an instrument to highlight the design decisions and a guide to set these decisions as well. When lighting is introduced as a space-defining intervention, its spatial perceptions can be piloted in ways beyond the tangible design elements.
As architectural boundaries continue to be pushed, luxury housing in India will undoubtedly remain at the forefront of architectural innovation, offering residents a life of unmatched luxe and style while enabling community living.
