Light bouncing off of surfaces and entering our eyes is a way in which we experience the world. So, I think it is fair to say that lighting is important. It is something that we experience throughout our lives in all our waking hours. In our homes, at work, on transport, and in social and leisure venues. All of these places will have ways in which they are lit and will all have their unique way of doing it. This will be different depending on its intended use, a gym will be different to a library it will also be different depending on its location. A space could be below ground, or it could be in the middle east or the arctic, there are so many factors that will affect how a space it going to be best lit. During my journey as an interior designer I would like to research and explore ways in which I can create unique and fitting designs for spaces.
Natural light is so important for our health both mental and physical (Tregenza and Wilson, 2013). Sunlight can trigger the brain to create serotonin improving our mood and making us happy. Conversely lack of sunlight can cause a dip in serotonin and cause our mood to drop. Sunlight also provides physical benefits increasing vitamin D production and in moderation is good for the skin. The use of natural light in architecture can help to make rooms feel bigger and the colours seem truer (How And Why Should You Incorporate Natural Light In Architecture, 2018). It helps the room to feel fresh and comfortable I think this it is often noticeable when there is a lot of natural light in a room as it does genuinely make you feel better. In my own work I would like to use natural light to develop comfortable environments that can create a happy living space.
Artificial lighting in architecture is so important as it is so flexible and adaptable. It is far more than just choosing the placement of its fixture; it has such value in creating mood and atmosphere. In your home you will often use different colour lighting for different areas. For example, in your bathroom you will often use cool light which has more blue light in it, this promotes alertness and a fresher, cleaner environment which is conducive to the use of a bathroom. At the other end, the use of warm light which contains more red wavelengths will be used in places like a living room to create a warm and comfortable environment. These examples of artificial light are at its most basic uses in a residential environment. Artificial lighting is used in so many industries to do far more. It can be used to create imagery, to highlight areas and can be used in a variety of colours. In my own work I would like to explore using lights in a non-conventional way. Breaking down the conventions we have about lighting and finding what could be done differently to create new and exciting environments.
Light is really important in creating mood and ambience. The quality and the intensity of the light change the perception of the environment (The importance of artificial light in architectural design, 2018). We often see light in nature creating mood, a sunny clear day and blue skies will create a happy environment as opposed to dark grey skies which will create a melancholy and dramatic look. I tried this myself, I took a photo of myself and edited it in 2 different ways. In one I have increased the brightness and increased the levels of red. In the other I have decreased the brightness and increased the shadows. The simple changes create two different images with completely different moods and tones. When applying to this to my own design it should definitely be considered what application it is going to have to create the right sort of affect. Shadows can be added to create a dramatic scene or spotlighting can be used to draw attention.
High brightness and red hue 
Low brightness with shadows
I already think this is a fascinating topic but more from the physics side of light and how it is adapted and experienced. In my own work I would like to explore how I can use light to adapt the perception of an environment (Tregenza and Wilson, 2013). Calling on and researching more into the science behind light to gain understanding of its possibilities. Could the light be bent or changed as it travels through different mediums before it reaches the eye? I think it would also be interesting to try and make natural light as flexible and adaptable as artificial light. With artificial light I would like to experiment with lots of aspects of it to create environments. I would also like to create lighting that is adaptive or changes to create an immersive experience that could take the subject on a journey. This is my main goal for design; to create an experience, to create something that makes people think, and I do believe that lighting could play a major part in this whether it is natural or artificial.
References
Tregenza, P. and Wilson, M., 2013. Daylighting. 3rd ed. United Kingdom: Taylor & Francis, pp.3-300.
Go Smart Bricks. 2018. How And Why Should You Incorporate Natural Light In Architecture. [online] Available at: <https://gosmartbricks.com/natural-light-in-architecture/#:~:text=For%20centuries%2C%20designers%20and%20architects,parts%20which%20are%20artificially%20lit.> [Accessed 2 January 2021].
The Decorative Surfaces. 2018. The Importance Of Artificial Light In Architectural Design. [online] Available at: <http://www.thedecorativesurfaces.com/en/artificial-lighting/#:~:text=Artificial%20light%20has%20the%20capacity,stimulates%20mental%20and%20physical%20activity.> [Accessed 2 January 2021].
Images
2018. How And Why Should You Incorporate Natural Light In Architecture. [image] Available at: <https://gosmartbricks.com/natural-light-in-architecture/#:~:text=For%20centuries%2C%20designers%20and%20architects,parts%20which%20are%20artificially%20lit.> [Accessed 2 January 2021].
COMPAC, 2018. The Importance Of Artificial Light In Architectural Design. [image] Available at: <http://www.thedecorativesurfaces.com/en/artificial-lighting/#:~:text=Artificial%20light%20has%20the%20capacity,stimulates%20mental%20and%20physical%20activity.> [Accessed 2 January 2021].
Harry Castle 