LIGHTING OF ROOMS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 10 January 1931, Page 5

LIGHTING OF ROOMS

THE MODERN TREND AN AH) TO DECORATION The last few years have seen a great change and a marked improvement in the design and craftsmanship of residential lighting fixtures (says the New York “Herald Tribune”). The interest of the public has been aroused not only to the practical advantage of electric lighting, but to its aesthetic possibilities. Whereas formerly little thought was given to this most important- problem by the average home builder, today we are witnessing an interest even among owners of the most modern homes. The architectural profession has taken the lead in this new movement. Today we find architects planning not onlv the location, but the design of lighting fixtures, even before the contract is signed. They have learned that to leave this important matter until the home is nearly finished results in the hurried selection of inappropriate units which have a very detrimental effect upon the appearance of the work both within and without.

TREND IS TOWARD NEW FORMS

A badly-made lantern, out of scale, of bad proportions and not in character with the house will have a disastrous effect upon a well-planned doorway, and many a beautiful room has been spoiled by introducing cheap and unsightly brackets. The tendency to-day is to break away from the old forms of lighting fixtures, which are based on other means of lighting, such as the candle and oil lamp. The wisdom, for instance, of making electric fixtures with artificial candles especially has been questioned. Designs can be made with all the spirit of the old styles, but using electricity in such a way that the intensity of the modem filament is shielded and the light properly distributed. Shields of mica, paper, catalin, glass and other materials are being used to distribute evenly the light source.

EACH ROOM DISTINCT PROBLEM

In planning residential lighting each room must be considered with the greatest care. First in importance is the amount of light required and the direction in which it should be sent. The light should be adequate, especially for rooms which will be used for entertaining, but the residence loses much m charm if we endeavour to light it too brilliantly. . Next in importance probably is tne scale of the fixture. This naturally depends upon the size of the room to be lighted, but we should also consider the proportions of the fixtures, which are governed by the shape of the room. The style then will be determined by the architectural features, and the next logical step is to select the materials to be used. It always should be borne in mind that no material should be forced to masquerade as another. Brass must not be made to look like pewter, nor cast iron to resemble wrought iron. A logical plan of procedure should be adopted to assure the best possible fixture installation. The tendency is "rowing among the best architects to set aside an adequate allowance lor tins work at the time the contract is signed. To arrive at this figure and to locate the outlets the architect calls m a competent lighting fixture designer when he is laying out the electrical plan. This service all good designers gladly give without obligation to the architect or owner. Preliminary studies of the designs mav he made at this time to be developed later for the owner s approval. A good lighting fixture designer, if given the opportunity, can help the architect place the outlets so that the very best results may be obtained with the materials at hand.