KENYATTA UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

Department of Architecture and Interior Design
Bachelor of Architecture/Architectural Studies
Year Two; Semester Two (2017/2018)

ARC 210: BUILDING SCIENCE II - LIGHTING

Tutor: - Arch. Robinson O. Manguro

LESSON 01: INTRODUCTION TO LIGHTING AND ITS PROPERTIES

What is light?
Light is that part of the electromagnetic spectrum that is perceived by our eyes. The wavelength
range is between 380 and 780 nm. The cones come on during the day and we see colours,
whereas at night the rods take over and we only see shades of grey.

Light is a form of radiant energy that travels in waves made up of vibrating electric and magnetic
fields. These waves have both a frequency and a length, the values of which distinguish light
from other forms of energy on the electromagnetic spectrum.
Visible light, as can be seen on the electromagnetic spectrum, represents a narrow band between
ultraviolet light (UV) and infrared energy (heat). These light waves are capable of exciting the
eye's retina, which results in a visual sensation called sight. Therefore, seeing requires a
functioning eye and visible light.
Light in Architecture
Light is the most important factor in the appreciation and understanding of Architecture. The
relationship between light and architecture is grounded in the principles of physics; it is about
energy and matter but in this particular case it also implies an emotional effect on people.

The perception of space is directly connected to the way light integrates with it. What we see,
what we experience and how we interpret the elements is affected by how light interacts with us
and with the environment. Regarding architecture, in whatever dimension it can be analyzed,
either as space, as material or as color, it is essentially dependant on the lighting situation that
involves both the object and the observer

Light can be looked at from 3 dimensions

Light for visual functions
 Illumination of task area in conformity with relevant standards
 Glare-free and convenient
Light for emotional perception
 Lighting enhancing architecture
 Creating scenes and effects
Light creating biological effects
 Supporting people’s circadian rhythm
 Stimulating or relaxing
Giver of light
Louis Isadore Kahn (born Itze-Leib Schmuilowsky) (March 5 [O.S. February 20] 1901 –
March 17, 1974) was an American architect,[2] based in Philadelphia. After working in various
capacities for several firms in Philadelphia, he founded his own atelier in 1935. While continuing
his private practice, he served as a design critic and professor of architecture at Yale School of
Architecture from 1947 to 1957. From 1957 until his death, he was a professor of architecture at
the School of Design at the University of Pennsylvania. (wikipedia)

Louis Khan is known as the giver of light and was a proponent of natural light. Here are some of
his famous quotes on light

Louis Kahn Quotes

“Architecture appears for the first time when the sunlight hits a wall.
The sunlight did not know what it was before it hit a wall. ”

“Architects in planning rooms today have forgotten their faith in natural light.
Depending on the touch of a finger to a switch, they are satisfied with static light and
forget the endlessly changing qualities of natural light, in which a room is a different
room every second of the day. “

“Also marvelous in a room is the light that comes through the windows of a room and
that belongs to the room. The sun does not realize how beautiful it is until after a
room is made. A man’s creation, the making of a room, is nothing short of a miracle.
Just think, that a man can claim a slice of the sun. ”

“No space, architecturally, is a space unless it has natural light.”

 First Unitarian Church Salk Institute of Science

Jatiyo Sangshad Bhaban Pantheon

“Architecture is the learned game, correct and magnificent of forms assembled in the light”
Le Corbusier

Notre dame du haut Chapel at Ronchamp

Definition of Terms
Watt (abbreviated W) is the unit corresponding to the rate of energy consumption (or power)
in an electric circuit needed in this case to light a light bulb.
Illumination The distribution of light on a horizontal surface. The purpose of all lighting is to
produce illumination.
Lumen A measurement of light emitted by a lamp as seen by the human eye that is
given off by the light bulb.. As reference, a 100-watt incandescent lamp emits about 1600
lumens.
Lux (symbol: lx) is the SI derived unit of illuminance and luminous emittance, measuring
luminous flux per unit area. It is equal to one lumen per square metre
Footcandle A measurement of the intensity of illumination. A footcandle is the illumination
produced by one lumen distributed over a 1-square-foot area. For most home and office work,
30–50 footcandles of illumination is sufficient. For detailed work, 200 footcandles of
illumination or more allows more accuracy and less eyestrain. For simply finding one's way
around at night, 5–20 footcandles may be sufficient.
Color Rendition Some bulbs make things they are illuminating look a different color than they
really are. This property is called Color Rendition. Generally, bulbs with good color rendition
are used. Color rendition can be measured by the Color Rendering Index1 (CRI), which is a scale
ranging from 0 (very poor color rendition) to 100 (nearly perfect color rendition). In cases of
extremely poor color rendition, that bulb’s CRI value can be negative. Incandescent bulbs are
defined to have perfect color rendition.
Efficiency is the amount of light that comes out of a light bulb compared to the electrical
energy that goes into it. Energy efficient bulbs waste less energy in producing light than less
efficient bulbs. Efficiency is an output over an input
Efficacy is related to the efficiency of the light bulb. It is also an output over an input. The
output is the lumens of light and the input in power in watts. So, the expression we use to
describe the efficacy of our light is “Lumens Per Watt” or lumens divided by watts. Keep in
mind, the bigger the efficacy, the more efficient the bulb.
Efficacy can also be described as the ratio of light produced to energy consumed. It's measured
as the number of lumens produced divided by the rate of electricity consumption (lumens per
watt).
Glare The excessive brightness from a direct light source that makes it difficult to see what one
wishes to see. A bright object in front of a dark background usually will cause glare. Bright
lights reflecting off a television or computer screen or even a printed page produces glare.
Intense light sources -- such as bright incandescent lamps -- are likely to produce more direct
glare than large fluorescent lamps. However, glare is primarily the result of relative placement of
light sources and the objects being viewed.

Formulaes

Footcandles (fc) = Total Lumens (lm) ÷ Area in Square Feet

1 Lux (lx) = 1 Footcandle (fc) x 10.76

Lux = Total Lumens ÷ Area in Square Meters

Lighting Systems
Light can be produced by nature or by humans. "Artificial" light is typically produced by lighting
systems that transform electrical energy into light. Nearly all lighting systems do so either by
passing an electrical current through an element that heats until it glows, or through gases until
they become excited and produce light energy.
Incandescent light sources are an example of the first method, called incandescence. Current is
passed through a filament, which heats until it glows. Because this method is considered wasteful
(most of the energy entering the lamp leaves it as heat instead of visible light, other light sources
were pioneered that rely on the gaseous discharge method, including fluorescent, high-intensity
discharge (HID) and low-pressure sodium light sources.
A typical lighting system is comprised of one or more of these light sources, called the lamps.
Fluorescent, HID and low-pressure sodium lamps operate with a ballast, a device that starts the
lamp and regulates its operation. Lamps and ballasts in turn are part of the luminaire, or light
fixture, which houses the system and includes other components that distribute the light in a
controlled pattern.

Lighting system
Designing the Lighting System
To produce a new lighting system in a construction or renovation scenario, it must be designed.
The designer must determine desired light levels for tasks that are to be performed in a given
space, then determine the light output that will be required to meet those objectives consistently,
taking into account all the factors that degrade both light output and light levels over time.
Equipment must then be chosen and placed in a layout to produce the desired light distribution.
The designer must also consider a range of quality factors in his or her design choices and
equipment selection, including color, minimizing glare, safety and if required, aesthetics.

Managing the Lighting System

To properly manage an existing system, many types of professionals may be involved, from
electrical contractors to facilities manager - - for our purposes in this case, we will call them
lighting managers. The lighting manager must ensure that the existing lighting system
consistently provides the most effective lighting at the lowest operating and maintenance cost.
This may entail retrofitting or upgrading the system to reduce energy costs and/or increase
performance, a planned maintenance program to keep the system operating at peak performance,
and other activities that will ensure that the lighting system is continuously doing its job.