24 January 2025

Facade lighting for luxury homes

FACADE LIGHTING DESIGN FOR MODERN LUXURY RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE. KEY FEATURES TO KNOW

Premium-class houses and elite residential real estate represent luxurious and comfortable architecture, in which every detail from form and content to technical implementation meets the wishes of the client and even exceeds his expectations. In such projects, by default, compliance with current global trends and high quality of all components are implied. Term “premium” does not always directly correlate with the area of the house, although most often elite real estate projects (if we talk about country houses) are about 600-700 m2.
In Russia, the concept of a house “class” appeared not so long ago, about 10 years ago. Its appearance coincided with the launch of the program to improve the energy efficiency of multi-story residential buildings. In addition to location and neighborhood status, premium houses corresponding to class “A” imply new modern approaches to construction and design, as well as high-quality technical implementation. Such objects always provide a high level of comfort for residents, which can be achieved through the use of modern technologies. These objects are also distinguished by economical and environmentally friendly solutions.

When it comes to luxury residential real estate projects, the first thing that comes to mind is the use of high-quality, durable construction and finishing materials. But it is also important that the external “form” corresponds to the internal content, energy-efficient and high-tech engineering solutions.

 

FACADE LIGHTING FOR LUXURY RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES
In addition to design, architectural, technical solutions, modern devices and gadgets (audio-video systems, VR, smart panels, etc.), professional control systems (smart home), elite real estate is distinguished by professional lighting solutions. For example, interior lighting solves not only aesthetic and design problems, but also functional. People buy country house not only to spend time in the interior, but also to enjoy fresh air and nature on its own personal landscaped territory, away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
It is pleasant to relax in the countryside not only during the day, enjoying the sun by the pool or admiring the landscaping in the garden, but also at night. Therefore, the evening appearance of the house is no less important and therefore requires individual lighting solutions. In the last 5-7 years, the architectural lighting of facades of premium private homes has been transformed together with architectural solutions and in accordance with current trends and design approaches.

 

Let’s look at the CURRENT FEATURES OF FACADE LIGHTING FOR LUXURT RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES.

1 – Any modern quality lighting design project nowadays requires the use of energy efficient solutions. For the lighting of premium homes, this requirement has been relevant for the last 15 years at least. In addition, there are many different power consumers in large-sized buildings (from 1000-1500 m2) and the use of led equipment provides significant savings.

2 – In premium-class home lighting, all solutions are thought out and justified. In today’s quality lighting projects, you won’t see buildings flooded with light or superimposed “bows” or “stars” placed thoughtlessly on the facade. Now most often, lighting devices are miniature and practically invisible during the day, and in the evening only their lighting effect is visible.
Lighting designers work with architects on architecture, facade plasticity, highlighting significant elements of buildings with light. The evening appearance is not just a pleasant abstract picture of an illuminated building. Much attention is paid to functional lighting, which also ensures safe movement in the dark – usually these are entrance areas, entry to the garage, terraces.

3 – In premium homes, lighting also works with building materials and color. Expensive natural elements of facade finishes must also look striking and expressive when it’s dark. Lighting designers achieve the desired effect with the color temperature of the light sources, light angles, special optical effects and accessories (filters, lenses, screens and even mounting elements).

4 – For modern homes of strict minimalist shapes with geometric architectural elements, which are now at the peak of popularity, work with shadows rather than light. Thanks to the presence of shadows (unlit parts of architecture), a more interesting and voluminous evening appearance of the building is obtained. For example, with the help of backlighting behind columns or mesh structures, you can get a beautiful graphic light and shadow pattern on the plane. You can also form a dynamic shadow on the facade from vegetation or small architectural forms, diluting the monotony of the surfaces, similar to the sun creating the shadows during the day.

5 – Premium facilities require premium technical solutions, so the choice is made in favor of quality lighting equipment, components and technologies. In this case, preference is given to the principle of “less but better”. Superfluous light is not necessary for either the person or the object. It should be only where it is really necessary. Truly “premium” look not the brightest objects. With the help of dimmed light placed locally, you can form the right atmosphere and make the object more interesting.
Premium lighting solutions can be compared to fashion or image formation – to look expensive and spectacular you do not need to put on all the best clothes and expensive shiny jewelry, it is better to properly form an image from a minimum set of quality, matching things and complemented with tastefully selected accessories suitable for a certain person in accordance with his features, occupation, status and tasks that this image should solve.

6 – Lighting scenarios for facade lighting are developed for premium-class homes. This task can be implemented by switching on luminaries in groups or specific zones, as well as by dimming. Thanks to lighting scenarios, a house can correspond to a mood, specific tasks or events. Lighting control systems help make scenarios simple and easy to use.
Lighting scenarios are not only about switching on/off or dimming white light, but also about the ability to control shades of white – from amber to cold white (if the project provides for lighting equipment with such technical solutions), as well as the use of colored light. Many people are afraid that color can spoil the appearance of the house and make it look like a shopping mall. But if the architecture allows, you can provide for colored light, for example, only in certain areas of the facade and of varying intensity. It is not recommended to use saturated shades so that a private house does not look like a public space, but instead played with new and exciting colors. International lighting designers have been using colored light even on classic buildings for several years now, turning it on on holidays or marking symbolic events with a certain color.

7 – When designing facade lighting for premium-class private homes, light designers take into account its impact on the environment, vegetation and biodiversity. The light fixtures on modern buildings are as invisible as possible, they are selected and placed according to the concept of Dark Sky. This approach allows to preserve the ability to see stars and dark, obscured sky, as well as reduce the impact of artificial light on nature. In facade lighting for suburban residences try to minimize the light flow towards the sky; the luminous flux is directed downwards or consists of planes (visors, cornice, niches etc.) limiting its spread into the upper hemisphere. The most commonly they use warm white/amber light, which is not only pleasing to the eye and perceived as warm natural shades of sunlight, but also has a less negative impact on the environment.

8 – Lighting of facades of premium segment houses solves the problem of creating a holistic perception of space and object (territory and house) and its harmonious combination with the environment. It is wrong to design architectural illumination of a building without taking into account the surroundings. Otherwise, there is a high chance of visual dissonance or oversaturation of the space with light, the excess of which can have a negative impact on human health and the environment.