A very unusual and ground breaking LED lighting product is being developed by ASSIST. Aimed at homes and offices it consists of relocatable rectangular LED panels for walls or ceilings that can be easily moved from one place to another without the need for re-wirong. The LED panels can be controlled by a wall mounted LCD display. For more information see:
A new bathing platform on a beach near Copenhagen in Denmark is employing a simple technique of recessed uplighters in the wooden boards of the half moon shaped platform. The recessed lights cast warm plumes of light up onto the curved wooden walls creating a very inviting space for bathers to enjoy the waters. Take a look at:
A chess park in California has come up with a stunning lighting scheme to sooth the taxed brains of the chess players using the park. Giant illuminated chess pieces provide a warm glow of ambient and task lighting around the 16 chess boards. Take a look at:
http://www.ci.glendale.ca.us/parks/images/Night_View_500px.jpg
and
http://archrecord.construction.com/projects/lighting/archives/0503chessPark.asp
Candles are the ultimate mood lighting light fitting! When designing a home it is well worth considering where you might want to place candles in the future. Lounges, dining rooms, bathrooms, and master bedrooms are all good candidates for occasional candle light. Consider building in niches and ledges in appropriate places. Also consider the use of wall sconces.
A recently launched wall light from Oylight allows you to dramatically change the appearance and light output by sliding in and out a drawer in the middle of the light fitting. On one setting the rectangular wall light casts all of its light back onto the wall behind the fitting. On another setting, the light is reflected off the front of the fitting. There are many settings in between that will give you plenty of scope to adjust the lighting effect. For a look at this light fitting visit:
Every found yourself floating on your back in your swimming pool wishing there was a table lamp at your side so that you can read your favourite book? Well now you can! Spanish designer Hector Serrano has created an elegant, floating, battery powered table lamp. Throw a few of these in your pool when you are having a party and you will certainly impress your guests. For a look at this beautiful lamp visit:
There are not that many light fittings at the moment that make good use of LEDs. So when one comes along it is always of interest. The ‘Y Light’ designed by Marc Boase is a very unusual, but rather stunning pendant light. Take a look at CTO Lighting’s web sight for a look.
A bold and spectacular light sculpture has returned to Liverpool. Called The Mersey Wave, and sometimes referred to as Liverpool’s ‘Angel of the North’, the sculpture welcomes visitors to Liverpool. It is tall, elegant, and lit by a combination of LEDs and fluorescent tubes. If public light sculptures are your thing take a look at:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/merseyside/4616407.stm
A very interesting, and provocative study has been conducted by the BRE (Building Research Establishment) that has revealed that replacing conventional GLS light bulbs with low energy compact fluorescents can lead to an INCREASE in energy consumption. Yes, that is not a typo! Apparently when you take into consideration the amount of heat given out by a conventional light bulb and the corresponding increase in heating requirements when GLS bulbs are replaced by compact fluorescents…… more energy is required!
Ceiling recessed downlighters when used well can be an excellent way of using a space. However all ceiling recessed downlighters are not the same! The cheap and chearful kind that can be bought for as little as £1.99 have the light bulb positioned close to the ceiling plane. This inevitably creates ‘glare bombs’ in the ceiling that can be very distracting. Much better are the type that have the light bulb recessed into the celing so that the glare is only visible when you are under the fitting and looking up at the ceiling. A particularly elegant example of such a fitting can be found on our web site at:
http://www.wowlighting.co.uk/recessed_lights/Pages/can_mini.html
