Lighting in Design Q2 2019

Ed Space

Editor: Gregg Cocking (lighting@crown.co.za) • Advertising manager: Carin Hannay (carinh@crown.co.za) Layout: Adel JvR Bothma • Circulation: Karen Smith Cover: The Johannesburg Holocaust and Genocide Centre, photograph by Natalie Payne. Published by Crown Publications cc PO Box 140, Bedfordview, 2008 - Tel: +27 (0)11 622 4770 Fax: +27 (0)11 615 6108 - Website: www.crown.co.za ABC 1 st quarter: 3 475 • Printed by: Tandym Print All issues of Lighting in Design can be viewed on our website. Visit www.lightingindesignmagazine.co.za Gregg Light fixtures are increasingly being used to augment individual experience by tailoring data to space. Artemide’s Geo Li-Fi fixture, for example, uses smart Li-Fi LEDs, which can transmit geolocated media. The light can track a person’s move- ments within a space to monitor their preferences and send targeted information. The lighting industry is currently a very exciting place to be. Innovation continues unabated and for many, it is no longer just about providing a source of illumination to a project, it is a collaborative, problem-solving solution to a challenge. Long may it continue. W hilst we weren’t fortunate enough to visit Euroluce in April, we did keep a close eye on the trends coming out of Milan. Euroluce is a biennial light fair that takes place in Milan alongside Salone del Mobile , the Milan Furniture Fair. This year’s edition hosted more than 400 exhibitors from around the world and showcased a new direction in lighting: multitasking fixtures for all-around comfort. Judging from this year’s exhibits, shown April 9 to 14, the lights of the (near) future will incorporate features that not only illuminate space but also enhance user experience. Some incorporate soundproof panels to make noisy environments more comfortable; others are integrated into bookcases, tables and walk-in closets; and many stand in dialogue with other technologies, furniture and even the natural world. New applications of human-centric lighting theory give users the ability to customise their lights according to specific circadian rhythms, geographic location or activities. The ultimate aim is to increase the well-being of the user through a sensitive approach to technology. “People want to use technology more efficiently to benefit from it in everyday life,” said French designer Charles Kalpakian. “User comfort must be the ultimate goal for technology.”This concept was at the heart of Euroluce 2019. Besides providing illumination, lamps now multi-task and contribute to home comfort by integrating a variety of other features. Several offerings at this year’s fair incorporated sound-absorbing panels for acoustic insulation and comfort. Originally designed primarily for work environments, these fixtures now show up in residential spaces tomake get-togethers around the dinner tablemore comfortable, for example. Another trend at Euroluce 2019 was portable wireless lighting. Rechargeable through a simple USB cable, these lights now have longer battery life compared with past models – for instance, Tobias Grau’s Salt & Pepper light can last up to 100 hours. They can be placed far from power outlets and can be moved from room to room or even outside. Balconies, patios and yards now can be illuminated without outdoor wiring. And just because these lights are portable doesn’t mean they aren’t high tech: dimmers regulate both the temperature and the intensity of the light. Several manufacturers have also created apps to control light from afar. These allow you to turn the light on and off and to regulate the intensity and light tem- perature – from warm and calming, to cool to boost focus. The practical application of the theory of human-centric lighting was well repre- sented at Euroluce. Lightcycle by Dyson, for example, allows users to personalise lighting based on age, daily habits and local sunlight. The app also features pre-set lighting for various activities.

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LiD Q2 - 2019