Amogh N P
✦ In loving memory of Amogh N P — Architect · Designer · Visionary ✦
B.Arch Curriculum · Semester 5 · Elective

Lighting Design

Light is the medium that makes architecture visible. This dedicated lighting elective goes deep: the nature of light and the photometric quantities that measure it; daylighting and the daylight factor; the artificial sources — and the lumen-method calculation that sizes a scheme; the luminaires and controls that deliver it; the architectural techniques — cove, wall-wash, grazing, luminous ceilings — that shape it; and the physiology of vision that, in the end, judges it all.

5Units
6Outcomes
4Credits
FreeForever
Start with Unit I All student courses
Unit IV · Shaping the space

Types of Lighting

With sources and fittings in hand, the designer composes — in layers and techniques. General (ambient) lighting fills the room; local (task) lighting serves the work point; accent lighting draws the eye. And the architectural techniques shape the space itself: cove lighting that lifts the ceiling, wall-washing that flattens a wall or grazing that rakes its texture, up- and down-lighting, recessed fittings, and luminous walls and ceilings that turn a whole plane into soft light. Try the technique explorer to see each effect.

CoveWall-washGrazingLuminous ceilingLive explorer
Open the lesson

The syllabus

Five units, from the photon to the night façade.

Transcribed from the official B.Arch syllabus. All 5 units are live as full interactive lessons, each with original diagrams, a self-assessment quiz and a studio task.

1

Unit 1 — Daylighting & the Nature of Light

Live

The nature of light — wavelength and the visible spectrum; the photometric quantities (luminous flux, intensity, illuminance, luminance) and the inverse-square and cosine laws; the daylight factor, the design sky and daylighting requirements.

CO1
2

Unit 2 — Artificial Lighting

Live

The artificial light sources — incandescent, halogen, fluorescent, sodium, metal-halide and LED — and their efficacy, colour and life; task and special-purpose lighting; the lumen-method calculation; and glare.

CO2CO1
3

Unit 3 — Luminaires & Fixtures

Live

The luminaire — its forms (recessed, surface, pendant, track, cove, wall-washer, sconce) and the CIE classification by light distribution (direct to indirect); and lighting control systems — switching, dimming, sensors and DALI.

CO3
4

Unit 4 — Types of Lighting

Live

General and local lighting; applied and accent lighting; architectural lighting — cove, valance, wall-washing and grazing, up- and down-lighting; recessed lighting; and luminous walls and ceilings.

CO4CO6
5

Unit 5 — Vision, Interior & Exterior

Live

The physiology of vision — rods and cones, photopic, scotopic and mesopic vision, adaptation and contrast; light measurement and units; the cultural and social aspects of lighting; and exterior, façade and landscape lighting with light pollution.

CO5CO6

Course outcomes

What you should be able to do after completing all five units (CO1–CO6, from the syllabus).

1
Understand

Understand the basic principles of light — the photometric quantities and daylighting.

2
Apply

Apply artificial-lighting design — source selection and the lumen-method calculation.

3
Understand

Understand luminaire types, light distribution and lighting control systems.

4
Apply

Apply the types and techniques of lighting — general, accent, architectural and luminous.

5
Analyse

Analyse lighting in interior and exterior through the physiology of vision and measurement.

6
Create

Create a lighting scheme for an interior or exterior space and present it.

Topics follow the published B.Arch elective syllabus (L1 · T0 · S5; 200 marks) — the dedicated, deeper companion to the lighting units of Interior Design and Building Services. Every diagram is original Studio Matrx work; lamp figures are version-volatile and given as ranges. We flag the myths — lux is not lumens, warm light is a low Kelvin number, and CRI is independent of colour temperature.

Light makes architecture visible.

Photometry, daylighting, the lumen method, luminaires, the architectural techniques and the eye that judges them. Read the five units, study the diagrams, then test yourself.

Open Unit I Back to Students

Studio Matrx is a tribute to Amogh N P. The curriculum is free, forever.