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and the light source should then be placed closer to the ceiling in decorating departments that are meant to seem glamorous but luminaires designed for the purpose. A more appealing alternative —_ affordable, thereby encouraging the customer to buy a bit more than could be spotlights directed at the walls. Whether the light comes she or he had originally planned. from desk, walls, ceiling or windows, the light source should not be + For more exclusive shops, restaurants, etc., where it is taken for seen in the screen—that's the most important thing. granted that you are willing and able to part with large amounts of ¢ For areas that you just pass through or spend little time in, e.g., money, guidelines recommend light that is warm, dim, mainly direc- corridors, garages, etc., I suggest replacing any ceiling tubes with tional with high contrast and of top quality. So if you go to a jewellery wall-washers (downlights placed close to the walls) or with wall store, a designer fashion boutique, an exclusive hotel or casino, a car sconces. These should be placed at medium height so that most of the | showroom, a private clinic or spa, you are likely to find the lighting to light falls just below the eye level of those who are shortest. Also, the be very soft, pleasant and inspiring. You'll notice more incandescent light should not be unnecessarily bright. light, including romantic downlights and little dazzling halogen spots « Bright lights placed higher so as to illuminate larger areas I find which, when placed to highlight certain products, make these appear appropriate mainly where/when you have to be physically active and —_ even more exclusive and attractive than they really are. Theatres, at the same time have a need to see what you're doing, such as when —_—s museums and art galleries are also often very beautifully lit. cleaning, redecorating or building something. Clearly, this indicates that there really is an awareness within the With all aspects combined, you could say that the cooler, the lighting and commercial community of the fact that the incandescent brighter and more evenly distributed the light and the higher up itis bulb has some unique and very desirable qualities, or they would not placed or directed to, the more impersonal the effect. The warmer, the put so much effort into creating something as similar as possible to dimmer and the more concentrated the light and the lower down in the _ incandescent light, use it to sell the most expensive goods or let it flow room it is placed or directed to, the more intimate and sophisticated _ in such profusion at Christmas-time to add to the "Christmas spirit" the atmosphere. To see a beautiful example of the latter, check out the —_and, of course, to sales. mainly incandescent and directional lighting in the TV series The West But although a majority seems to be sticking to these rules, there are Wing (and its real-world counterpart). those who don't. Increasingly, supermar- It seems that during the last decade or et owners, for example, seem to have so, awareness of how light can be used realised that customers might want to create various moods and impressions more pleasant lighting when buying as increased considerably. O roceries, too. Hopefully, more will Unfortunately, though, it seems that this Very bright FL of poor or follow. And since many foods are nowledge is often used to manipu- medium quality is also known to be affected by light—usually late—when, instead, it could be applied . . adversely once they are harvested— on a larger scale to promote the well- often used In discount stores to erhaps it might be good for the food, eing of everyone. enhance the impression that too, if the lights were less bright and of . u . a better quality, not only where the Commercial Lighting one is really getting a bargain. food is sold but also where it is When the lighting in shops, restau- rants and other commercial facilities is lanned, there are certain guidelines issued by the lighting industry, besides the standard regulations concerning processed, packaged and stored. Lighting at Work Even though attractive halogen light is becoming more widely used in work- ergonomics and energy efficiency, that architects and lighting engi- ing environments, there, too, incandescent light often seems to be neers are encouraged to follow.'' These guidelines can be summed up _ reserved for those with the highest income and status. Even in the thus: most beautifully lit shops, restaurants and hotels, etc., the lighting in « For supermarkets, drug stores, gas stations and other stores that staff and storage areas still tends to be the same cool, ugly and often you are compelled to visit often because they sell things you really unnecessarily bright FL so as to emphasise the constructed differences need, guidelines recommend light that is mainly fluorescent, of medi- between customer and employee and between leisure and work. um quality, evenly distributed, cool-white and very bright (possibly But is this really necessary? Why are most of us not allowed to supplemented by a few high-pressure sodium discharge lamps over __ work and feel comfortable at the same time—and perhaps even get the the meat counter, as their extra-warm colour makes meat and salmon _job done better because of it, too, with less sick-leave, better concen- look more red). Very bright FL of poor or medium quality is also tration and fewer errors due to stress? Are employers afraid we will often used in discount stores to enhance the impression that one is feel too relaxed and not work hard enough if we're not constantly kept really getting a bargain. And in sports, electronics and hardware in a keyed-up mode? Or is it that enjoyable lighting is to be granted to stores and departments designed mainly to attract men (as if women _us only when we are willing to pay for the expensive goods and ser- might not shop there, too), the colour of both the light and the interior —_ vices that come with it? design is usually much cooler and brighter than in those that target women specifically. Recommendations for Offices ¢ For smaller shops with personal service, medium-range fashion In studies on lighting conditions preferred in offices, Jennifer Veitch boutiques, department stores and shopping malls, where many things = and Guy Newsham (2000), at the Institute for Research in are displayed that you may want but don't really need, more appealing Construction, National Research Council of Canada, found that most lighting solutions are recommended. These places generally have people would like to have windows, preferably with blinds or curtains, fewer, warmer, better-quality fluorescent lights that are placed higher _ but they also wanted to have electric lighting and be able to adjust and more inconspicuously in the ceiling, often in combination with —_ both the position and angle of the lighting and turn the lights on and halogen or good-quality HID spotlights. These spots are placed lower __ off during the day. (Very reasonable wishes, aren't they?) Since the to accentuate areas such as the fashion, perfume and interior participants were very satisfied when allowed to adjust the lighting to Very bright FL of poor or medium quality is also often used in discount stores to enhance the impression that one is really getting a bargain. Recommendations for Offices In studies on lighting conditions preferred in offices, Jennifer Veitch and Guy Newsham (2000), at the Institute for Research in Construction, National Research Council of Canada, found that most people would like to have windows, preferably with blinds or curtains, but they also wanted to have electric lighting and be able to adjust both the position and angle of the lighting and turn the lights on and off during the day. (Very reasonable wishes, aren't they?) Since the participants were very satisfied when allowed to adjust the lighting to JUNE — JULY 2003 NEXUS = 43 www.nexusmagazine.com