Daylight
and Electrical Light in Gathering Spaces
Retail lighting
should create the right contrast to attract potential customers
— not simply blast merchandise with light. Contrast can be
effectively created by:
- using colored
objects and lighting to create dramatic contrast with “color
difference”.
- using a
low level wash for general illumination, with a few high-impact
highlights for drama and contrast.
Color difference
uses ambient light of one color temperature (e.g., ~4100°K,
relatively cool), and highlighting with another color (3000°K,
warm), or vice versa. Drama can be created using colored light.
General illumination
can be provided with linear or compact fluorescent washes. Adjustable
metal halide, white high-pressure sodium or halogen highlights
can provide focus on displays.
Energy-efficient
choices for highlighting include:
- adjustable
metal halide spot PAR lamps or white high-pressure sodium lamps
in trackheads or recessed cans.
- long-life
(5,000+ hr.) halogen lamps.
- fiber optics
to provide pinpointed light without UV or IR damage to the merchandise
Energy-efficient
choices for surface washing are:
- compact
fluorescent lamps.
- linear
fluorescent lamps.
- metal halide
flood PAR lamps. Energy-efficient lighting power densities typically
will range from 1.5 to 3.5 W/sq.ft., depending on the merchandise.
Cautions:
- Careful
design is required to create the right effect for the type of
merchandise.
- High light
levels can harm food, clothing and painted objects.
