Lux Lighting Design

Lux test

Lux Lighting Design — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:56:18 +0000

This is a test on the lux blog

Discovery of a Third Photoreceptor System in the Eye

Lux Lighting Design — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 18:25:10 +0000

Light affects many types of non-visual biological processes including our internal circadian clock which controls daily sleep cycles. Many of the body’s non-visual responses to light are in some part controlled by a recently discovered third type of photoreceptor in the eye discovered by Ignacio Provencio.

The two main classes of photoreceptors are rods and cones. The third class that has been discovered is a photoreceptor ganglion cell containing a photopigment called melanopsin. The body needs rods, cones, and melanopsin in order to be able to constrict the pupil in response to light as well as to develop and maintain a circadian rhythm. Without melanopsin, the rods and cones would be able to compensate for only some of the missing receptors but they cannot fully compensate.

The importance of melanopsin falls primarily in the study of people with visual blindness or visual impairments. Depending on the type of disease or disorder that has caused blindness, the eye may still contain some of the photoreceptor ganglion cells containing melanopsin. This means that despite having no visual response to light, a person could still be capable of physiologically responding to light through the eye. In many cases of blindness, it is important for the eye to be exposed to several hours of light during the day because the eye plays such a prominent role in maintaining the internal circadian rhythm. However it is important to note that each eye disease is different, and in some instances light could make it worse. There are different types of treatments to help with sleep cycles for people with certain types of eye diseases that may not allow them to expose the eye to light.

Light affects the body in many other ways as well, including the production of the hormone melatonin and even the regulation of heart rate. It is crucial to understand the effects of light on the body for all types of interior environments.

What Happened Here?

Lux Lighting Design — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:09:13 +0000

Surface Conduit?! This is what happens when the drywall contractor is scheduled before the electrician!

Rough Neighborhood?

Lux Lighting Design — Tue, 14 May 2013 19:24:20 +0000

Guess they don't trust their neighbors!!

Overview on Sensors

Lux Lighting Design — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:36:42 +0000

There are many different types of sensors that can be used in a home or commercial building for energy & water conservation, security and ease of operation of lighting systems. In comparison to the overall cost of the project, sensors are in inexpensive way to make any lighting design more effective.

Two of the most common types of sensors used for controlling lighting are motion IR sensors and door contact sensors. Motion IR sensors can be used to automatically turn lights on and off when occupants enter or leave a room. Many provide options for tuning sensitivity of detection and timing to determine how long the lights will stay on after a person leaves the space. Door contact sensors can be easily installed in a door jamb to turn a closet light or cabinet light on when the door is opened and turn off the lights when the door is closed.

There are also daylighting sensors that are extremely effective in conserving energy and controlling UV and IR. Daylighting sensors take a reading of the amount of daylight coming into a room through doors and windows. Based on the amount of daylight in the room, the electric light sources will be adjusted accordingly. For lights that are typically left on all day and/or night, the levels will be adjusted so that the overall lighting level in the room can be the same at all hours if desired. In spaces that need more personal control, an override switch can be installed on the room for users to easily access. Motorized shades can also be controlled by the sensors to protect sensitive items such as artwork.

Other types of sensors that can be incorporated into a control system/home automation system are rain sensors, driveway probes, water sensors, and humidity sensors. A great example of saving resources is by using a rain sensor to turn off a sprinkler system on a rainy day. All types of sensors can be connected to a control system via a keypad or contact input station. Here are just a few photos of some examples of sensors that can be seamlessly incorporated into a control system or used as a stand-alone component:

Door Contact Sensor

Motion Sensor

Motion Sensor - Ceiling Mounted

Driveway Probes

Rain Sensor

Water Sensor

Painting With Light

Lux Lighting Design — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 20:26:06 +0000

Fiz-Iks is a group based out of Japan and is comprised of international artists in the fields of photography and animated video . They primarily focus on light paintings which are created by using a variety of different light sources in front of an open shutter to create a unique effect that cannot be duplicated by any other method. They create these fantastic still images and animated videos in both indoor and outdoor environments that make for the most interesting backdrops for their works of art.

Here are just a few examples of their work:

Image from http://fiz-iks.com/gallery

Art Exhibit: “Electric Paris” in Williamstown

Lux Lighting Design — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 19:05:14 +0000

Paris was named the City of Lights during the enlightenment period, long before gas lights ran up and down every street. Gas lamps in the 1850s were quickly followed by the adoption of electric street lamps in the 1870s in Paris. The city was one of the early adopters of artificial light both indoors and outdoors.

S. Hollis Clayson, an art history professor at Northwestern University, put together an art exhibit called “Electric Paris” which includes various art forms such as paintings, early films, and advertisements. The exhibit looks at the effects of artificial lighting in the arts and media in Paris through the years. Some of the artists featured are Edgar Degas, Pierre Bonnard, and many others. The exhibit will be running through April 21st at the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute at 225 South Street in Williamstown, MA. For more information, visit www.clarkedu.com

Edgar Degas’s circa 1879 pastel “Entrance of the Masked Dancers” from “Electric Paris.”

Historic Back Bay Project

Lux Lighting Design — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 17:56:37 +0000

Historic Back Bay Building is updated by Lux Lighting Design with energy efficient European mini-LED lighting for highlighting sensitive antique wall murals. Quality decorative lighting was also provided for aesthetics and more pleasant light levels in hall and entry.

What Happened Here??

Lux Lighting Design — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 21:09:54 +0000

The light valance on the left looks great and provides indirect and direct lighting. But the lighting on the right only provides uplighting and highlights an A/C grille at that! (Place your finger over the right side in front of your eye and you will see a more attractive lighting effect here.)

Boston Design Center Designer’s Club Opening

Lux Lighting Design — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 18:27:39 +0000

Guests toured 342, the Boston Design Center’s new designer’s club, at the opening event on October 25th. Doreen Le May Madden of Lux Lighting Design is shown here with the architect, builder and representative from the BDC. Lux Lighting Design was responsible for the lighting design and contribution of lighting product for this project.