ENJOYING A SPECTACULAR VIEW
Enjoying a spectacular view, be it mountain, sea, city, or other landscape, is definitely an experience that most of us enjoy: it may be the sense of relaxation, peace, joy, or sheer beauty, but it is undeniable that something inside us stirs and creates a feeling of quiet comfort and pleasure.
Sometimes we enjoy these views from valleys, beaches or terraces, in other cases we are inside structures such as hotels and restaurants that offer magnificent windows through which to admire the splendor.
However, there’s a problem that often occurs: at sunset, during the night, and sometimes even during the day, there is an annoying intruder, which totally blocks the full enjoyment: the reflected light. The window, potentially a filter for maintaining a pleasant climate and combining the beauty of the outdoors, becomes a reflective mirror.
In the Eden Hotel in Rome (Photo 2) or the Bulgari Resort Dubai’s Hōseki Restaurant (Photo 1), Metis Lighting worked carefully on managing the indoor artificial lighting maintaining low illuminance levels for balancing. At the same time, all the used lighting fixtures are highly concealed or shielded. Reducing glare and its reflection, contributes into creating an ‘’invisible light’’ effect that doesn’t obstruct the outdoor view.
Richard Kelly, the great master when elaborating the lighting design of Philip Johnson’s famous Glass house (Photo 3), decided to minimize the interior illumination and add some subtle outdoor lighting gestures, restoring the continuous view between enclosed space and surroundings filtered by light.
Being conscious of the light effect through the whole day is highly important for permitting to the users or inhabitants of the illuminated space a good perception of interior and outdoor space and dimension. Light afterall, should enhance emotions, not unpleasant visual noise.
Photo 1: Bulgari Resort Dubai’s Hōseki Restaurant – Courtesy Bulgari Hotels
Photo 2: Eden Hotel Rome – Niall Clutton
Photo 3: Glass House at night – Steve Brosnahan
