LIGHTING
A different light
By Katie Navarra Find the
distinctions between
great lighting designs for
residential or commercial properties.
scape lighting, the fundamentals of design for commercial and residential projects are similar, but the nuances can be as distinct as day and night. “I think of them as two different palettes,” says John
W
Pletcher, principal at Natural Accents Outdoor Lighting in Kansas City, Missouri. “Te design on commercial projects is to highlight the appeal of the building as op- posed to the appeal of the home and its landscaping on a residential job.”
Lighting has the power to change a person’s mood and
create an action if done correctly, notes Ken Simons, sales manager for FX Luminaire, San Marcos, California. For example, think of a fast-food restaurant as compared to a romantic Italian restaurant. Te fast food has bright, in- tense lighting with a cool color temperature, while the Italian restaurant has a soft, low-intensity, warm light. “One is for high traffic, and one is for relaxing and spending time,” says Simons. “More time is spent in the restaurant, which leads to more profitability of the high-margin items like appetizers and desserts. Not that one is right or wrong, but each has its own application.” In many ways, commercial projects offer as many
opportunities for creativity as on residential sites. Case in point, Richard Tomas, CID, CLIA, vice president, Westland Landscape Co. Inc., in Liberty, Missouri, has been installing landscape lighting on entryways to sub- divisions, which he considers a mix between residential and commercial. For one client, Westland Landscape lit monument signs made of cut metal with colored lights and had a little fun during football season. “Last year, when the Kansas City Chiefs made the
playoffs, we went and programmed the lights to be red on Friday,” he says. “It was something fun to do. I didn’t tell anyone I was doing it, and I started getting texts on
24 Irrigation & Lighting November 2023
Landscape lighting can change the mood of an area drastically. Whether working with a residential or commerical space, consider what it will be used for before developing a design. Photos: FX Luminaire
Saturday about the positive response from people in and outside the neighborhoods.” Whether it’s for commercial or residential spaces, lighting enhances curb appeal, increases safety and im- proves functionality of outdoor areas. Here, we illuminate the similarities and differences to consider when install- ing commercial landscape lighting projects.
COMPETING LIGHT SOURCES
In the commercial realm, lighting designers often face a unique challenge: competition with light pollution. Be- fore Pletcher sold the business, he lit a church in a shop- ping plaza. Te church was surrounded by bright street lights and illuminated signage from neighboring busi- nesses. Knowing that no design could compete with the
irrigationandlighting.org
ith its ability to transform outdoor spaces, landscape lighting has become an essential aspect of modern archi- tecture and design at home and in public areas. When it comes to land-
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48
