Boston Lights

As a designer lighting is something we implement and experience everyday in our work and life.  I have always been interested in lighting and recently was exposed to the Designers Lighting Forum (DLF) New England, a source for lighting education.  

“Established in 1968, the Designers Lighting Forum of New England is a non-profit organization dedicated to lighting education in an informal setting.  We inform the Design Community about the newest lighting technologies and cutting-edge lighting applications through professionally-led seminars and site visits to actual installations.  As one of the most diverse organizations in the Northeast, we offer networking opportunities with other lighting designers, architects, interior designers, engineers, consultants, manufacturers representatives, educators, students, and anyone with an interest in or love for lighting.”  http://www.dlf-ne.org/ Free for students to join! 

Recently I attended Boston Lights Exposition at the Marriot Copley organized by DLF and sponsored by an array of lighting manufactures.  It refreshed and reviewed my lighting knowledge while also expanding my awareness of lighting resources and vendors.  Besides fixture vendors there were companies sharing information on controls, example Lutron, and research of LED lamps, example local Danvers company RemPhos Technologies. 

I was very impressed with the some of the booth presentations on the exhibit floor, Italian company Viabizzuno had an awesome presentation of images and videos showcasing their work with designers such as Peter Zumthor and his lighting work at the Therme Vals Spa in Switzerland.  Viabizzuno also offers complimentary architecture products to work with their lighting fixtures that can create hidden light wells for any design, the 094 system creates a flush look with any gwb wall.  The Philips Lightolier booth had interactive Organic LED fixtures on display.  What is an OLED?, “A typical OLED is composed of a layer of organic materials situated between two electrodes, the anode and cathode, all deposited on a substrate.”

I attended a seminar that shared collaborative efforts between lighting designers and architects to create successfully lit spaces.  Presenting were architects Isaac Franco and Sarah Lindenfeld from Safdie Architects and Paul Zaferiou an architectural lighting consultant from Lam Partners.  They reviewed the recently constructed US Institute of Peace in Washington, D.C. and the Kauffman Center for the performing Arts in Kansas City, MO.  They shared their process evolution and design experience combining the architecture and lighting together, which has shaped these new architectural landmarks.  At the Institute of Peace the team has created glowing atriums with a custom designed and tested roof structure combined with lighting.  They achieve their ideal goal by testing different options through mockups and BIM modeling.  As you work your way inside the different rooms the light sources are hidden and the idea of glowing spaces continues. 

This was just one of a handful of seminars they offered at a reasonable price, so next year check out Boston Lights.  Before then check out what dlf is doing you might learn something fun and new to put in your designer toolbox. 

-Sarah