Expertly Designed Lighting: Essential to Successful Interiors

From natural to artificial light sources and everything in between, architecture and lighting work as one to realize effective design.
Lighting_Internet-Services-Client-Sherman-Takata_2
Confidential Tech Client. Photo by Sherman Takata.

The art and science of illumination can make or break a space. We’ve all experienced a multitude of bad lighting causalities: the romantic restaurant that’s a little too bright; the classroom with the harsh light; the under-lit workspace.

At Leica’s global flagship store, a central stair is lit from within. Photo by Art Gray.
At Leica’s global flagship store, a central stair is lit from within. Photo by Art Gray.

As a critical design factor, good lighting goes far beyond utility. The right lighting can spark creativity; encourage community development and interpersonal interaction; and create varying moods. It can also contribute to wellness and productivity; celebrate brand; and kindle delight and pride of place. Quite simply, an interior environment won’t realize its full potential without the skillful and artful application of light.

An elevator well glows with iconic LinkedIn blue in New York, signifying brand from any entry point. Photo by Eric Laignel.
An elevator well glows with iconic LinkedIn blue in New York, announcing the brand from any entry point. Photo by Eric Laignel.
At LinkedIn’s Mountain View headquarters, lighting emphasizes structure. Photo by Sherman Takata.
At LinkedIn’s Mountain View headquarters, lighting emphasizes structure. Photo by Sherman Takata.

But the technology of lighting has evolved more in the past five years than in the last five decades, dramatically increasing the cost of lighting—the fixtures, controls, installation, and operation. The rise of LEDs and the development of sophisticated software-based control systems has changed architectural lighting forever, providing new, creative ways to light our spaces and develop energy efficient strategies. And across the U.S., increasingly strict energy codes now—or soon will—mandate advanced control systems that substantially impact project budgets.

Light doubles as art for this confidential client. Photo by Sherman Takata.
Light doubles as art for this confidential client. Photo by Sherman Takata.

More than ever, an expert approach to lighting is critical.

At Whirlpool’s North American headquarters, IA designed custom lighting fixtures. Photo by Paul Morgan.
At Whirlpool’s North American headquarters, IA designed custom lighting fixtures. Photo by Paul Morgan.
The fixtures are constructed from the inner drum of Whirlpool dryers to celebrate the brand. Photo by Paul Morgan.
The fixtures are constructed from the inner drum of Whirlpool dryers to celebrate the brand. Photo by Paul Morgan.

Whether natural or artificial, lighting is fundamental to project design and should be part of the design process from the beginning. Interiors are meant to be lit; architecture and lighting working as one. IA understands this and expertly executes this strategy through its distinctive integrated design approach. For each project, IA design teams seamlessly thread together multidisciplinary expertise to integrate all aspects of project design in detail from start to finish—including lighting. It is the firm’s mission to explore alternate design solutions, and cultivate the best possible lighting design and interior environment for each client.

Natural and interior light interplay at the Red Hat headquarters in Raleigh. Photo by Eric Laignel.
Natural light complements interior lighting at the Red Hat headquarters in Raleigh. Photo by Eric Laignel.

 


IA is a global firm of architects, designers, strategists, and specialists. We focus exclusively on environments through the lens of interior architecture—a radical idea in 1984, when IA was founded. We are highly connected agents of change, committed to creativity, innovation, growth, and community.



IA is a global firm of architects, designers, strategists, and specialists. We focus exclusively on environments through the lens of interior architecture—a radical idea in 1984, when IA was founded. We are highly connected agents of change, committed to creativity, innovation, growth, and community.



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