Outdoor lighting, tips and recommendations from lighting designer Xuclà

 

 

The world of outdoor lighting is governed by different rules and considerations; the challenge for designers is to bring life to terraces, courtyards and gardens after dark. These spaces come into their own during the summer months.

Barcelona based designer Xuclà has over the years collaborated with VIBIA in the design of several outdoor lighting models, the starting point is to introduce atmosphere, creating an environment with indirect light that plays with light volumes.

“When it comes to choosing the right fitting it’s key to know what the lamp is to be used for, where it is to be placed, whether it’ll be combined with other pieces of furniture, if it’s for the garden or the terrace and what kind of light is required.”

Lamps can be either disguised within the environment, or assigned a formal presence creating greater harmony between the night and day configuration, as happens with BREAK.

 

 

 

The extent of the area and the features to be highlighted usually determine the number of lamps required. The incorporation of LED technology makes the presence of these lamps less cumbersome, more integrated within the environment like with the PALO ALTO fitting. “LED technology allows getting lighter pieces by slimming lighting supports and integrating them more with the landscape,” points out the designer.

 

 

 

Garden and terrace lighting are different by nature, in the garden the lighting effect and the specific areas to be lit should have more prominence, as with BOXES; the terrace needs a more intimate light, with decorative lamps or wall sconces such as BREAK.

 

 

 

Lighting should be subtle and indirect, preferably without seeing the light source. It is the same concept as in a living room, but outdoors. The most promising trend is “the contribution of decorative lamps we can live with outdoors, without breaking the magic of the night”.