A building, it’s features or even the task area, for example, should be the star of the show with the lighting playing a pivotal support role, while remaining safely behind the scenes.

 

Façade Lighting is a way of illuminating the external face of a building or structure to highlight architectural features, create a particular ambience or reinforce the identity of the building or it’s contents. Here’s our guidance on Façade Lighting.

Why is Façade Lighting so important?

First impressions are everything, with most people forming a lasting impression within the first few seconds. The façade of a building is often the first thing people see, therefore creating the perfect illumination is crucial.

This type of lighting can be intricate and requires experienced and qualified lighting designers to avoid dark spots, poor uniformity or drawing attention to undesirable areas of the subject, which can make or break a scheme design.

There are many considerations such as material, illumination shape, symmetry, contrast, and colour temperature. Different luminaires and their optics are best suited to particular materials, for example, a grazing optic is best placed with a textured façade.

Façade Lighting Techniques

We’ve put together a quick guide to façade lighting, with some of the best techniques and product examples to help guide you through the minefield of options. 

Solid Façades

When lighting solid faces or surfaces, it’s important to pay attention to the material you are working with, for example, is it brick work? Concrete? or even an aluminium composite? The best illumination is likely to come using a washing technique, this is where the distribution covers a large area at once. We recommend the mighty Moto, an Italian flood that offers endless opportunities. Small yet versatile, this fixture offers RGBW, full control options and is the perfect choice for large scale wall washes and showstopping illumination.

Vertically Divided Façades

Depending on the subject, there are a number of techniques that can used for achieving optimal vertical illumination. For example, to enhance columns up or down lighting placed either side from recessed fittings can perfectly highlight the subject, while leaving the fore- and back ground untouched.   

We recommend using high power uplighters with a narrow beam as they create a dramatic contrast between light and dark, enhancing the vertical features of the property. Our Tula, Ellis and Inground fixtures have a variety of optics to choose from which guarantee to produce a powerful output and stunning visual.

Horizontally Divided Façades

As it says on the tin, this technique utilises linear luminaires to produce both up and down illumination to create horizontal lines. Best placed along building lintel beams, window ledges and architraves.  

Linear fixtures such as Tocca, Cinep and Veron are the perfect products to create harmonious and eye-catching scheme. The horizontal lines created will increase the 3D visual of the façade when placed near canopies or cladding.

Don’t forget to check your Colour Temperatures!

Another key aspect when illuminating any scheme is colour temperature and ensuring that it meets the aesthetic of your site. Brickwork, as an example, often provides a better visual with warmer colours such as 3000K and 2700K and produces a feeling of comfort. In comparison cooler temperatures such as 5700K look more appealing when illuminating smooth finishes, such as marble or polished concrete. The most used CCT would be 4000K which provides the perfect balance for mixed material structures.

Low colour temperatures are used to create human centric environments as well as protecting insect and wildlife in surrounding areas.

We have a wide range of luminaires suitable for façades lighting within our range and a wealth of projects within midst. The Kingfisher Team is ready to assist with all aspects of your lighting system and can also offer a 3D visualisation design service so you can determine the right lighting for your site. Contact our team for more information.

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