Creating distance with light
Our visual perception is significantly determined by vertical planes. As a result, walls and their illumination particularly in reception areas become a central element of design for prestigious spatial impressions. Wallwashing makes rooms appear deeper and higher. Uniform lighting with lens wallwashers is suitable for wall surfaces with smooth textures such as plaster.
Added value of lens wallwashers:
- high horizontal and vertical uniformity
- clear, deep room appearance
- soft and even impression of wall surfaces
Rule of thumb for arranging lens wallwashers
For uniform vertical lighting, the distance to the wall (a) of lens wallwashers should be around one third of the room height (h). For good linear uniformity, the luminaire distance (d) of lens wallwashers can be up to 1.3 times the distance to the wall (a).
a = 1/3 x h
d ≤ 1.3 x a
Tip for luminaire selection:
In rooms with heights up to 3m, parts of the ceiling are still always seen by the observer. Recessed luminaires blend discreetly into the architecture here and emphasise the impact of the wallwashing.
Highlighting materials with light
The possibilities are numerous for designing wall surfaces via specific selection of the materials. In reception areas, the surface finish should communicate the company identity, should have a quality appearance and attract attention. For textured wall surfaces such as natural stone, the grazing light from wallwashers is ideal.
Added value of grazing light wallwashers:
- three-dimensional effect of the wall structure
- dramatic effects due to precise, strong shadowing
Rule of thumb for arranging grazing light wallwashers
To particularly emphasise the texture of structured surfaces, grazing light wallwashers can be mounted with a distance to the wall (a) of just 10cm.
a ≥ 10cm
Tip for luminaire selection:
The dramatic impact of grazing light wallwashing is increased if the luminaire is mounted in a cove, thereby concealing it from the observer. The shielding angle (α) depends on the position of the suspended ceiling or the size of the light cove. A narrow aperture between the wall and drywall ceiling reduces the light beam on the floor.
