Lighting the Fourth Dimension of Architecture

Tejas Doshi, Co-Founder & Chief Design Officer, Light & Beyond, briefs on the correct way of designing interior lighting.   How do you define a good Interior Lighting? Good lighting doesn’t just happen; it is designed. Earlier it was all about technology taking quantum leaps. Today it’s definitely about technology and “societal” considerations such as environmental sustainability, health and safety, and defining scalability and functionality of design solutions.   What is the current status of lighting products available in India? The manufacturing of light fixtures in India is a concern. Very few companies are manufacturing quality products in India, and the rest are importing from abroad and assembling them here. The lack of proper codes governing lighting design is also problematic. The government introducing the BIS certification (Bureau of Indian Standards) has created a certain degree of awareness, but the establishment still needs to get more efficient lighting designers on board.   How are lighting products manufacturers keeping sync with new technologies? An important area to focus on, is the reality that Indian manufacturers are less open to exploring newer avenues. For instance, while the rest of the world is discussing the psychological benefits of Circadian Rhythmic Lighting, Indian manufacturers are still apprehensive. Lighting (which incidentally is the fourth dimension of architecture) must be treated with the gravity that it deserves. The trend of hiring lighting designers separately is missing. We must wake up to the fact that without appropriate lighting, the life of a building reduces by 50%. That’s half of a building’s lifetime!   Role and importance of a lighting designer Hiring a lighting designer is a scalable investment. It generates returns for years to come. Lighting designer adds a lot of value to the project. Today with RERA in place, developers have to maintain the building for five years. Getting credentialed lighting designers on board would mean that they would not only save money and energy, but also have to invest less in maintenance. A change in the consumer’s mind-set can turn things around. It’s their endorsement that can potentially effectuate noteworthy changes in the ways in which manufacturers “perceive” their responsibilities and even the ways in which codes are defined, re-defined and implemented.   To read the full article, write to us for Digital Edition of the Realty+ Coffee Table Book – “The Pillars Of Real Estate” at realtyplus@exchange4media.com