Dear Friends …
Artificial lighting plays a critical role in our everyday lives, simply by the way it influences our experiences within the architectural spaces we inhabit. Lighting is not only about being able to see at night, but also about how it creates a moment in time. Its strategic application in a space can enhance the ambiance, functionality, and emotional impact of environments, thereby transforming how we perceive and interact with our surroundings. The perception of our spaces is directly linked to how the light integrates within them. In this way, light improves one’s ability to live, work, and play.Architect Le Corbusier said, “Architecture is the skillful, accurate and magnificent plays of volumes seen in light.” The power and ability to completely transform a room or a
building’s exterior impacts our visual comfort or excitement by setting the tone of texture, colors and volumes of space. From the creation of fire and candlelight to the development of the lightbulb, as a society we have created new ways to harness and creatively manipulate light. The magic of a concert environment with the music would be less moving without synchronized lights, a sporting event with the rumble of a crowd would have less impact without the flashing lights after a touchdown, and a night out on the town without the neon signs would have far less draw. Architects can evoke emotions and atmospheres that make the experience of a space more engaging and memorable through light.
Lighting design can help us as Architects create something bold and unexpected with the use of simple techniques. LED lighting has created an opportunity for our spaces to integrate smart systems and controls. With the continual development of technology and the versatility of lighting, designers can achieve more impactful and dramatic scenes in lighting design. From day to night, the simple use of a fixture will evoke a different mood in which one perceives space. Moving light creates excitement and energy on a building’s façade that may be architecturally simple. The play of light, creating contrast on forms through shadow, can enliven rooms and add interest and intrigue to seemingly plain spaces.
The future of lighting has endless opportunities. Fixtures will have extended life cycles, be more energy efficient, produce a better quality of light and integrate with other forms of technology seemlessly. Lighting will become more interactive, allowing humans to connect and collaborate with a light wall and manipulate it with the sounds of nature and music. Artificial Intelligence will be used in lighting design to enhance efficiency, creativity, problem-solving solutions in lighting. and
ODA Architecture understands the role that lighting design can play in accentuating any three-dimensional space. Considering architectural design without the effects of lighting would be detrimental to the human experience. We always partner with our engineers and lighting consultants to bring our owner’s visions to life through the magic of light.
Let’s discuss turning your vision into a masterpiece!
Stephen F. Overcash, Managing Principal, ODA Architecture (704) 905-0423
AC Hotels
Greenville, South Carolina
Located as a focal point at a highly trafficked intersection, this project needed to have presence. The massing and material palette are simple and clean to seamlessly integrate with the urban fabric, but when the sun goes down this building stands out. The playful lighting enhances and brings life and energy to a traditional brick canvas. This design makes the building experientially and tangibly sparkle.
Red Ventures 3 Conference Room
Indian Land, South Carolina
The Red Ventures Campus was designed with bold massing and playful colors, that were enhanced by the lighting design.
In the Red Ventures 3 building, all the conference rooms were themed to bring different environments to life within this corporate office space. The featured image (left) was designed and themed to emulate a tree house with the use of the high ceilings and natural finishes.
ODA featured tree branch-esque light fixtures and a falling leaves motif of acoustic panels that together brought the tree house vision to life.
Marriott Hotel
North Charleston, South Carolina
The renovation of the Marriott in North Charleston provided an opportunity to refresh the facade of this existing building.
During the day the hotel’s simple form and lines create a clean presence along the interstate. At night the building comes alive as a dynamic canvas of color and variety through the color changing LED lighting integrated into the buildings’ dynamic structure.
The additional lighting transforms this building facade without having to physically edit the architecture.
The Platform
Charlotte, North Carolina
The Platform is a mixed use project that has recently openned along the light rail in the rapidly developing Loso district of Charlotte, North Carolina.
With the simple massing of the small campus of building, lighting became an essential part of the overall design as a way to invite people into and through the project.
The use of architectural features like the steel rib system to the left was used to accentuate the spaces between buildings. as portals leading into the complex and patio spaces within.
The linear lighting elements along these ribs brought not only depth and excitement to the space, but also a sense of safety from those passing through.
