More and more often there is a section “Architectural Lighting” in the projects of Residential Complexes (RC) of various levels. People believed that it increases the status and recognizability of the complex. Developers in advertising brochures mention façade and architectural lighting as an additional plus of their object. The question arises, will it be a “peculiarity” if all Residential Complexes are illuminated? Julia Lyubakova, lighting designer of QPRO engineering company, told Stroygazeta how architectural lighting affects the impressions and preferences of buyers/residents.

The trend for facade lighting of residential complexes originated in Moscow, where the real estate market is very vast, and developers are looking for different ways to attract buyers and stand out from the other ones: leading architectural bureaus are invited to design architecture and landscaping, concepts of residential complexes oriented to target groups of users are developed, etc. The trend is gradually spreading to other regions. But it should be noted that the volume of construction, its budgets, and the level of quality of the residential environment even in new complexes under construction in the regions are often lower. Therefore, the issue of implementing architectural lighting as a means of increasing the status of the object and its attractiveness to buyers is even more controversial.

Problems of architectural lighting for residential complexes

Analyzing the emerging solutions of architectural lighting for residential complexes in Russian cities, we can identify a number of problems leading to the fact that it does not always work as a tool for improving the quality of the environment and creating an aesthetic evening image.

The first problem is ignoring the role of the illuminated object without considering surrounding buildings and the city. For example, during the construction of new areas, many residential complexes are supplied with architectural lighting. Instead of structuring the environment and placing accents, the opposite happens – all objects merge and become equal, the composition is not readable. If we turn to the Concept of a unified light-color environment of the city of Moscow, which contains, in addition to specific solutions for Moscow, the basic methodological principles used in lighting master plan, we will see that residential areas are included in the so-called “light fabric” of the city, as opposed to the “light frame” , which includes key elements: the core of the historical center, important public areas, high-rise dominants and the main transport routes connecting all of this. That is, the residential area is a background; it should not be highlighted with light everywhere. The accents in it can be public buildings: shopping centers, sports complexes, etc. According to the Concept, residential buildings are subject to architectural lighting if they have special architectural or compositional significance (they are high-rise dominants, part of panoramic views of embankments, located “on the planning axes of areas, axes and bends of radial and ring highways and embankments, on the elevated terrain of squares, highways, embankments and boulevards, at their intersections”). In a residential environment, first, it is proposed to pay attention to high-quality utilitarian lighting of pedestrian spaces and lighting of the first floors.

The second problem is related to the first: lighting of residential buildings that do not have architectural significance. Since housing is mostly mass development, there is nothing wrong in using simple, restrained or even standard architectural solutions. From a lighting point of view, there is often little to work with on the facades of residential buildings due to the need to limit light from the windows, coupled with the simplicity of the architecture. As a result, the same standard solutions appear, but in lighting: highlighting the walls, the upper tier; or solutions in which lighting does not work with the architecture, but artificially adds details to the facade: contour self-luminous lines, “stars”, “bows”, etc. These solutions do not only often look unaesthetic, but in fact do not satisfy the demand for recognition of the evening look and emphasizing the architecture. Moreover, even a simple facade can be interesting in the evening if you think about where and why light can be integrated and how it will interact with the finishing materials.

The third problem of architectural lighting for residential complexes is budget. In principle lighting is not a priority expense item for developers, and architectural lighting is generally considered as a decorative element where they can save money on. But saving does not mean excluding it from the project but doing it on the most budget-friendly equipment. Because of this, you can often see luminaries on new buildings that are no longer working or working incorrectly, which creates a feeling of unkemptness and negligence instead of the expected attractive evening look.

Solving architectural lighting problems

In order architectural lighting really work for the benefit of the image of the residential complex and the city, it is necessary, first of all, to pre-design analysis and understanding of the significance of the object in the environment. An important tool in this regard could be a city lighting master plan, which would contain clear rules about which buildings in which areas require architectural lighting. The goal should not be simply to attract attention to individual real estate objects, but, first of all, to create a harmonious urban composition and light navigation. Moreover, architectural lighting is not the main factor that potential buyers focus on. For example, at the Repa development forum in 2023, a study by the UMMC-Developer company was presented on the question of what buyers really need and for what innovations in the project they are willing to pay 10% more than the base price of the apartment. In addition to potential buyers, the possible content of the residential complex was also assessed by professionals: developers, architects, landscape designers, etc. As a result, the most significant for both users and professionals turned out to be external improvement and decoration of apartments, and third place was shared by landscaping and small architectural forms. Innovations related to facades were far from a priority among respondents.

If the building does not have architectural and compositional significance, it is worth turning to techniques that work with functional light as architectural light: lighting entrance areas, common balconies, staircases can create an aesthetic evening appearance of the house. At the same time, the goals of saving financial and energy resources, as well as reducing light pollution, are also achieved. Such lighting solutions, essentially integrated into architecture, require elaboration at the early stages of building design and collaboration between architects and lighting designers, and are the most rational, at the same time aesthetic and environmentally friendly.

Particular attention should be paid to the lighting of entrance lobbies and first floors, especially if they are filled with public functions. This is the area of the facades with which the pedestrian directly interacts and on which his impression of the environment largely depends, while the architectural lighting of the upper parts, especially high-rise buildings, can only be seen at a considerable distance.

When it comes to lighting design solutions for the first commercial floors of residential complexes, it is worth noting the importance of the lighting design code. Often, owners and tenants of premises decorate shop windows and entrance areas in accordance with their taste preferences or the corporate style of the company. As a result, the ground floor area may look chaotic. For example, the business-favorite technique of colored contour lighting of windows, colored and flashing signs can spoil the impression of the highest quality landscaping and a beautiful facade. Therefore, to create a harmonious evening appearance and the status of an object, it is important to create regulations for the design, including lighting, of commercial premises and monitor their implementation.

To summarize, I would like to note that for architectural lighting of residential complexes the main principle should be “Less, but better” (less, but better) – the slogan of Mies van der Rohe’s minimalist architecture “Less is more”, modified by industrial designer Dit Rams).

From the point of view of improving the quality of the environment and improving the image of an object, it is better to increase the rationality and accuracy of decisions, use more reliable and high-quality equipment, and consider visual comfort, than to strive at all costs to distinguish an object from its environment.