Architectural Lighting

BAJAAO's approach to architectural lighting design focuses on three fundamental aspects of the illumination of buildings or spaces. The first is the aesthetic appeal of a building, an aspect particularly important in the illumination of retail environments. Secondly, the ergonomic aspect: the measure of how much of a function the lighting plays. Thirdly is the energy efficiency issue to assure that light is not wasted by over-illumination, either by illuminating vacant spaces unnecessarily or by providing more light than needed for the aesthetics or the task.

Each of these three aspects is looked at in considerable detail when the lighting designer is at work. In aesthetic appeal, the lighting designer attempts to raise the general attractiveness of the design, measure whether it should be subtly blended into the background or whether it should stand out, and assess what kind of emotions the lighting should evoke. The functional aspects of the project can encompass the need for the project to be visible (by night mostly, but also by day), the impact of daylight on the project and safety issues (glare, colour confusion etc).

The face of theatre and stage lighting is ever-changing. Our consultants stay on top of it so they can bring you cutting edge solutions. We were one of the first to use LED house lighting in a 600 seat state-of-the-art high school theatre in Rajasthan. Today's LED lighting is getting better by the day.

With several years of lighting design experience in theatres, television, churches and concerts, we understand that each project has its own needs. In some cases it’s about lighting for broadcast and IMAG, or even high-definition systems. Other venues need cost-effective special effects and high energy impact. Oftentimes it’s about basic systems for general purpose, educational resources or community theatre.

BAJAAO consultants welcome these challenges and treats each job as a separate project with its own personality. Position placement, angles, fixture choice, power indication, dimming requirements, rigging specs, distribution layout, detailed control systems and their interfaces are just a few of the many considerations for lighting system design.

Lighting systems have to be integrated with video, audio and acoustic systems, and aesthetics must be considered. We work to try and offer solutions to stage backgrounds and sets that can aid greatly in the overall lighting impact in a very cost- effective manner. Our group will work as a cohesive team to ensure the most dependable, safe and user-friendly design with continuity between all systems.

We are still out there today lighting concerts, broadcast productions, church platforms and theatrical stage shows. This keeps us up to date and in tune with the latest and greatest solutions in our industry.

We use the following critreria to ensure that our lighting design is perfectly suited to the design space.

• Use architectural finishes that are dark and have a matte finish to minimize reflections.
• Consider the impact of spill light and glare from lighting equipment and reflective surfaces on the audience.
• Consider the audible hum some lights emit when designing lighting positions and acoustical treatments.
• Provide enough luminaries to allow the production designer maximum flexibility.
• Consider the difficulty of relamping when designing lighting positions.
• Use double doors, dark vestibules, or tunnel entrances to prevent light spills into the theatre house caused by late arrivals.
• Use lighting treatments in the lobby that influence traffic flow.
• Use illumination from large, low-luminance sources, wall lighting, and accent lights on artwork and plants to create a calm environment in the theatre lobby, foyer, or entrance.
• Install a system for communication among the control board operators, workmen, stage manager, and lighting designer.
• Conceal support structures, such as catwalks and ladders, because their appearance may not be compatible with the design of the theatre.
• Ensure that the lighting design enhances the architectural design (thrust stage, arena, open stage areas, etc.) and can be easily maintained.
• Consider the lighting needs and desired lighting control of different users in the auditorium (backstage work, maintenance and cleaning, orchestra musicians, lectures onstage, etc.).
• Listen to all parties (actors, technicians, owners, etc.) that use or are involved with the theatre to ensure the best design solution.