Commercial Lighting Design Trends

According to many specialists the difference between a good room and a perfect one is the lighting. Probably that is true for commercial spaces, too. Commercial building occupants and users - office employees, retail shoppers, hotel guests or patients at a hospital,  all need a more customized, comfortable, and smart building experience. And one of the most important elements for this is lighting. 

Clavel Arquitectos' makeover of the five-star Gran Hotel Casino Extremadura deploys lighting to accentuate the spatial opulence of the complex's entertainment venues. Photos: David Frutos (BISimages) source: architonic.com

A good interior designer should be able to offer the best solution for her customers. And we have to consider not just the visual elements of lighting design, target and ambient lighting, but also flexibility, efficiency, possibility to use different levels of lighting, its impact on people and environment, cost effectiveness. Studies show that lighting makes up over 30% of electricity consumption in buildings. 

The main trend is growing use of LED lighting solutions - they provide not only energy savings but also costs savings. Also, LED lighting technology has the ability to enrich experiences and complement architectural components and all that makes it a major element of commercial lighting.

source: Pinterest

Power and control of LED lamps via Power-over-Ethernet network creates new opportunities for using this type of light source. PoE lighting systems are smart lighting. They improve control over light quality, lower energy bills, and substantially lengthen bulb life. Perhaps the biggest advantage of LED lighting in a PoE network is that it will be compatible with new technologies in the future, as data cables, power cables and lighting cables are already installed where needed. Adding a new sensor or module to the smart LED hub is a cheap way to increase the capabilities of the existing infrastructure without additional expensive lighting replacement. Zūm Wired lighting control provides all the same features you are looking for in a PoE lighting system, but for a lower cost and more reliability, serving as a true end-to-end solution.

I am very much impressed with another interesting trend in lighting, especially for commercial spaces - it has additional functions.  We can now have lighting which is designed not only to illuminate but is also able to absorb ambient noise and ensure a high level of acoustic comfort:

The Acustica suspension lamp by Fabbian at Life Source, a new hospitality centre in Bergamo

All these are part of a bigger trend - Lighting for Enhanced Occupant Health and Wellness. Many studies prove that the correct amount and type of illumination provided to building occupants can enhance overall health and wellbeing. 

You can read more about Lighting and How to create a good mood in your living space by using great lighting in my blog Designcommentator.

Soap as a packaging material

Can you imagine how much plastics we can replace?  

"it is estimated that over a lifetime, a single person uses around 800 shampoo bottles, most of which are just thrown away and pollute the environment taking thousands of years to degrade. 
zhou’s soapack is a sustainable brand that proposes the use of soap as a material to package shampoo and other toiletry products. the packaging itself can be used as soap and completely disintegrates when used, leaving no plastic residue behind." designboom

mi zhou is a post-graduate student at central sant martins and developed this project for the material futures program. soapack was exhibited in the degree show during june 19-23, 2019.

 Another proof that design can save the world :)

The curtains of the very near future

like, for example 2020, will be able to filter the air for you! That is almost reality - a mineral-based surface treatment enables the new IKEA curtain to break down air pollutants when it gets in contact with light, explains the company on their press page:

"The GUNRID air purifying curtain is a new step on the journey.
“Besides enabling people to breathe better air at home, we hope that GUNRID will increase people’s awareness of indoor air pollution, inspiring behavioural changes that contribute to a world of clean air,” says Lena Pripp-Kovac, Head of Sustainability at Inter IKEA Group. “GUNRID is the first product to use the technology, but the development will give us opportunities for future applications on other textiles.”
The curtain uses a unique technology, which has been developed by IKEA over the last years together with universities in Europe and Asia as well as IKEA suppliers and innovators. The way it works is similar to photosynthesis found in nature. The process is activated by both outdoor and indoor light.
“For me, it’s important to work on products that solve actual problems and are relevant to people. Textiles are used across homes and by enabling a curtain to purify the air, we are creating an affordable and space-saving air purifying solution that also makes the home more beautiful,” says Mauricio Affonso, Product Developer at IKEA Range & Supply.

Light from robotic flowers that blossom when you are near

Meadow by Studio Drift from Studio DRIFT on Vimeo.

"Meadow is an upside down landscape, the kinetic sculpture consists of mechanical flowers that open and close in a poetic choreography. The installation reminds the viewer of the impermanence of constantly changing seasons and sensational character of natural growth processes.Most man-made objects have a static form, while everything natural in this world including people, are subject to constant metamorphosis and adaptation to their surroundings. Meadow is the result of the question how an inanimate object can mimic those changes that express character and emotions.

As an upside down landscape the kinetic sculpture reacts to the visitors as if they where the sun to a blooming flower. All flowers together create the experience of a botanical creature that naturally engages the viewer. Underneath Meadow integrated sensors translate the presens of the visitors into different 'moods'.  The robotic flowers blossom by mixing the light colour and the colour of the fabric that in itself has a colour gradient. 

Meadow, by Studio Drift | Meadow is developed as a site specific commissioned by Chodov Centre in Prague"

 

 

Beautiful!

A Kitchen Dream - Cooking Table

I think that this is the perfect solution if you have a large kitchen space and would like to have your dining table there, too:

Cooking Table by next125

It can fit comfortably 6 people for breakfast or dining and is within reach for easy serving :) 

How do you like it?

A bed uniting the functions of several rooms

A chinese design for a multifunctional bed may supply you with everything necessary for sleeping, working, enjoying music, browsing, communicating, etc. - all just in one pice of furniture!

source: Core77

As you can see, there are slots for avaerything you need - even your hairdrier :)

But I wonder how good and healthy would be your sleep in a bed with so many appliances around you.

Creating furniture and lighting from Mushroom Mycelium

Petr Krejci Photography

Bulgarian designer and researcher Ninela Ivanova and British deigner Sebastian Cox have teamed to create something quite unusual - lightweight, compostable stools and lights made from green-wood waste bound together with mycelium fungus. Their project Mycelium + Timber can be seen at Somerset House  as part of Design Frontiers exhibition during London Design Festival 2017.

sitting on a Mycelium + Timber stool beneath mycelium light shades

The floating bonsai tree

Levitation in Design is not new. Still, each time a new application appears it attracts attention and admiration - defying gravity is an old human dream. Have a look at the latest application of of magnetic flotation:

 Hoshinchu Air Bonsai

 

 Quite unusual idea for decoration, but the floating bonsai tree is available for buying. You can plant your own bonsai and make a wish on that "little star". Have a look at other applications of the levitation technology and some interesting imitations :)

Archiproducts Design Awards 2016 Winners

For its first ever edition Archiproducts Design Awards 2016 had 490 products nominated by 250 brands with headquarters in 15 different countries. An international jury, composed of members of the 25 most influential architectural studios from all over the world, has chosen the winners of the ADA 2016 awards. Here below are some of my favourites from different categories, but, it appears bathroom products are most interesting:

AQUABLADE® Flushing system Design By Ideal Standard - I have posted a lot about how AquaBlade® Technology outperforms all existing toilets in terms of hygiene. 

AXOR ONE | Shower tap Thermostatic shower tap with plate

Manufacturer HANSGROHE

design by Barber & Osgerby

(2016)

Axor One Collection - depending on volume flow and installation situation approx. 50% flow rate reduction: 

BETTE DESIGNCONCEPT - Freestanding enamelled steel bathtub clothed with fabric

Manufacturer Bette

design by Tesseraux + Partner

(2016)

- redefining opulence in the bathroom.

CARUSO - Wooden sideboard with built-in speakers

Manufacturer Miniforms

design by Paolo Cappello

(2015

)

GENIUS LOCI | Kitchen with island, Manufacturer VALCUCINE

design by Gabriele Centazzo

(2016)

Genius Loci Collection

TAILORART - Porcelain stoneware wall/floor tiles with textile effect

Manufacturer CERAMICA SANT'AGOSTINO

design by Ceramica Sant’Agostino

(2016)

+ART Collection - another one from my favourites :) that I have already posted about.

A feast of really good design! What do you think?

А portable bathtub

 Its name is Xtend - a meager 7 kgs heavy strip of metal that’s just 8.5mm thin and can in an instant become a bathtub:

source

This is result of clever design and use of metal and a washable cloth lining on the inside. The Xtend is a recipient of the Red Dot Best of the Best award for 2015, Designer: Carina Deuschl.

How do you like it? For me Xtend is the perfect solution for small bathrooms and for travelling.

Great design with unusual welding technique

London designer Paul Cocksedge presented at Friedman Benda Gallery in Chelsea Freeze - a new collection of furniture where metals meet extreme cold to create objects of beauty. My favourite is the Ring table where the experimental welding technique results in a unique design showing the beauty of several metals. I haven't seen another design making use of so many metals at once - and in such a beautiful way!

source

It shows that metal can be warm and inviting and great choice for commercial interior design projects. How do you like it?

The perfect bedroom

What is your idea of the perfect bedroom? From designer's point of view it looks something like that:

thedesignfiles.net

or that - at least for me:

source

But also there are some tiny details that definitely add to creating the perfect bedroom. They could be something like these:


Better Sleep Stomach and Side Sleeper Gel Fiber White Pillow
  The Side Sleeper's Ergonomic Pillow.
Better Sleep Luxury White Goose Feather and Goose Down Pillow Dual-Zone Better Than Downr Comforter
The NASA Sleep Promoting Light Bulb - Used by NASA to help astronauts sleep in space, this is the light bulb that encourages production of melatonin—the hormone that promotes sleep. Unlike typical light bulbs that emit high levels of short wavelength “blue” light that suppresses melatonin, the NASA light bulb’s patented filter reduces blue light by 50% to facilitate a better night’s sleep. Ideal for use in a nightstand lamp for 30 minutes before you fall asleep, the light bulb helps maintain your body’s natural circadian rhythm so you fall asleep faster and wake up more refreshed. The 12-watt LED produces the same light as a 60-watt incandescent for optimal illumination while reading yet lasts up to 16X longer. 4 1/2" H x 2 1/2" W. Tranquil Moments Pro Sleep System
Tranquil Momentsr Bedside Speaker & Sleep Sounds ChiliPad - Cooling/Heating Mattress Pad
Glow in the Dark Canopy

Bianca Green Stardust Covering New York Duvet Cover

Room-Darkening Backtab Window Curtain

Did you find your perfect addition to your perfect bedroom? I hope to have been useful :)