17 April 2008

color scheme experiment

for this exercise i chose a space that i found interesting but with very little color. using color theory learned from lighting design and the psychology of design, i chose color combinations for the space that create different harmonious effects.















light series 4a: incandescent/residential



a. purpose of the space- the space is occupied by a kitchen table where tasks vary from non-light-intensive, like eating, to light-intensive, like reading.


b. purpose of the light- the light seems to be designed for a combination of ambient light and focal/task light. this is because the light spills out beyond the apparent [work] surface, but not far. it has a fairly close fall-off.


c. luminaire- it is a pendant light that hangs from the ceiling by an 24" long chain. beyond the chain, the fixture is another 18" long. this makes the entire luminaire hang 3.5' from the ceiling over the middle of the table. the width if the fixture at its widest point, which is close to the bottom, is a 14", frosted-glass, semi-sphere globe. within the globe are 3 incandescent bulbs.


d. effect of the light on the space- see b.


e. effect of light on color- the vast majority of the materials affected by the light have warm colors and textures. there are no metal or other highly reflective surfaces. the wooden table has a gloss finish, but it is dulled with age. for these reasons and the nature of incandescent bulbs, the color quality in the area is quite warm in color.


f. appropriateness of the illumination- since the area is a multi-functional space, the combination of ambient and task lighting is appropriate. however, i believe that it could be brighter at times , but at others it seems too bright for intimacy. so there are pros and cons to designing a light for different functions in one space.


d. design suggestions- to take full advantage of the three lamps in the luminaire, i think that the globe could be less frosted so that the bulbs show brighter when needed. to counter that effect, a dimmer would need to be put in place for more intimate lighting when desired.