Lighting with Paul Traynor of Light Bureau Lecture

Landscape Lighting Fundamentals: Designing with Light in the Built Environment

Lighting is far more than a tool to illuminate — it’s a critical architectural element that shapes how we experience and engage with spaces. At a recent Light Bureau lecture, key principles of landscape lighting were explored, offering fascinating insights into how light interacts with form, texture, and the natural environment. Here’s a breakdown of the core ideas, inspirations, and design fundamentals covered.

Lighting as an Architectural Contribution

Landscape lighting isn’t about creating “artworks” in isolation — it’s about contributing to the architectural and environmental narrative of a space. Good lighting design enhances the experience of buildings, parks, and public areas, making them more usable, atmospheric, and safe after dark. One inspiration referenced was Hiroshi Sugimoto, whose work captures serene, minimalistic light-scapes. The Japanese concept of Bokeh (meaning blurry or fuzzy) was also highlighted as a metaphor for soft, atmospheric lighting in landscapes.

The lecture reflected on Roman architectural values:

• Firmitas (Solidity)

• Utilitas (Usefulness)

• Venustas (Beauty)

— timeless principles that remain relevant in lighting design today.

The Pioneers: Richard Kelly & James Carpenter

Richard Kelly was a pioneer in architectural lighting design, founding his practice in New York in 1935. Collaborating with Edison Price, Kelly advanced luminaire design, introducing refined techniques like:

• Pushing light onto vertical planes

• Utilizing reflected light to sculpt and soften spaces

Kelly developed three key lighting categories still used today:

• Ambient Luminescence – a soft, gentle background glow with low contrast.

• Focal Glow – dramatic, high-contrast lighting to highlight key features like trees, sculptures, or architectural details.

• Play of Brilliants – vibrant, festive lighting for public squares or entertainment areas (think neon, fairy lights, or coloured LEDs).

• Case Study: The Glass House by Philip Johnson (1949) featured a dynamic collaboration between Johnson and Kelly, where lighting enhanced the experience of transparency, reflection, and spatial layering.

Exterior vs. Interior Lighting Dynamics

Unlike interior environments, exterior spaces are exposed to uncontrollable factors:

• Day/night cycles and seasonal changes

• Weather conditions

• Limited reflectance (no ceiling)

• Potential for light pollution

• Risk of vandalism

Lighting design for landscapes requires special consideration of:

• The urban, suburban, or rural environment

• Background light levels

• Environmental sensitivity and local ecology

For example:

• Urban areas deal with existing ambient light.

• Suburban spaces often suffer from overlit amenity lighting.

• Rural environments benefit from minimal, strategically placed lighting to preserve dark skies.

Light Colour, Texture, and Detail

The lecture highlighted how different materials and natural elements interact with light:

• Water features: Pair best with cooler, crisper lights

• Timber and brick: Warm lights enhance their natural textures

Designers must also account for:

• Physical durability (IK Rating, IP Rating for water and dust resistance, Marine/UV ratings)

• Beam angles (spotlight, floodlight, or wall washers)

• Directionality when lighting sculptures or textured surfaces

• Balance is crucial — combining elements like linear path lighting, uplighting for trees, wall-mounted lights, and vertical feature lighting creates layered, dynamic compositions

Ecology, Habitats, and Lighting Ethics

One of the lecture’s most important messages was about protecting habitats and wildlife:

• Avoid blue spectrum light, which disrupts nocturnal animals

• Use warm reds and oranges in coastal or ecologically sensitive areas

• Preserve dark night skies where possible to prevent light pollution

• Consideration of who uses a space, when, and how is essential when designing night-time environments

Notable Case Studies

Several projects were shared as exemplary lighting installations:

• Hanover Square

• Bolster Street

• Regent Hotel Italian Garden

• Bath Riverside

• Jørpeland Town Centre

• Espenes Rest Area, Norway

• Each demonstrated thoughtful integration of light with landscape, architecture, and community use

Recommendations

The session also recommended exploring manufacturer catalogs (linked in the lecture) for new technologies and sustainable fixtures. A material palette — much like in architectural finishes — is valuable for selecting light fittings that harmonise with their environment, whether sleek urban schemes or rustic parklands. Juxtaposing warm and cool tones within a space can create contrast and hierarchy, guiding users through landscapes while defining different zones or moods.

Final Thoughts

Landscape lighting is a delicate balance of art, science, and ethics. It’s about enhancing beauty, improving safety, and protecting our ecosystems after dark. As cities and communities continue to develop, lighting designers have a responsibility to shape night-time environments that are functional, beautiful, and environmentally responsible.