Visual Connections
Visual cues created by artificial light can help us to understand and interpret the spaces and places we inhabit. In being selective about which elements and surfaces we choose to illuminate, we can draw the eye to certain aspects of an environment while concealing others in shadow, informing how a space is perceived and thereby gently influencing behaviour. Combining expertise in the creative application of light with an understanding of the psychology, sociology, and cultural values of the people we are lighting for, we can evoke positive emotional responses relating to the purpose of the space. We can also contribute to place-making - the iterative, collaborative process that creates spaces people feel connected to and want to spend time in.
For the Gasholders development in Kings Cross, London, we carefully focused contrasting colour temperature light and finely crafted a balance of intensities to draw focus onto the heritage cast iron structure, celebrating its past and highlighting the exciting future for the new architecture within it.
We can also use light as a powerful narrative tool. Exploring the myriad ways that light interacts with materials, we create atmosphere and ambience that can tell stories about places and spaces using visual clues that connect with people at an emotional level.
At the BIO4 Power Plant in Copenhagen, our lighting expresses the narrative of the building. Projected light, animated to evoke a sense of the energy and movement of natural light filtering through a 'forest' façade, connects the building to its function of using renewable biofuel to create power.
Light can support meaningful connections to the social, cultural, and historical context embedded in the design and fabric of their environment.
At the Macallan Distillery, we used coloured light to describe the temperatures at different stages of the whisky-making process, exaggerating the sense of heat emitted from the copper Stills compared with the cooler Washbacks.
Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present and engaged in the moment, physically and psychologically. A more conscious sense of connection with our immediate environment is deemed to positively impact our well-being.
At Battersea Power Station, London, our close offset lighting and warm colour temperatures exaggerate the texture and colour of the brickwork and draw attention to the beautiful details of the building that appear in shadow during the day.
As darkness falls, we use light to draw attention to aspects of both exterior and interior settings that might otherwise be overlooked, encouraging greater engagement with the environment around us.
The lighting has a soft, natural feel, with highlights to playful textures in the interiors, creating an attractive environment where people feel relaxed and convivial.