Detailed discussions of lighting related technologies.
I’ve discussed previously how sci-fi movies of the past provide terrific guidance as to the future of lighting, but this might be taking that a bit too literally: Modular Lighting has introduced “Scotty“, a recessed “downlight” version of their highly innovative “Spock” fixture (which I covered in this post). I put “downlight” in quotes very purposefully: This fixture is nothing like the downlight your grandfather used.
In the realm of plain ol’ white light, there is a desperate need in the industry for basic standardization of LED lamp modules. This would be akin to ye olde Edison screw base…but the 2010 version. Without such standardization, the adoption rate of LED technology for general illumination will be stifled. Who wants to install expensive fixtures that use flavor-of-the-month LED technologies, custom circuit boards and drivers, non standard geometries, and “disposable” non-relampable fixture designs. Most specifiers that I’ve spoken with certainly don’t want to…and that is why you are not seeing many projects using LEDs for general illumination, even though the LEDs … Continue reading gaga for zhaga
WET Design, the designers and fabricators of the most bad-ass fountains ever, have a snazzy new full-screen Flash website that includes a new video of the Dubai Fountain. 6,600 submerged lights, 25 color projectors, hundreds of submerged robotically-controlled nozzles and enough compressed … Continue reading dubai fountain
Thin-film light sources have been around for awhile, despite how futuristic they seem to be. Their adoption has been relatively slow for two reasons: First, they have fairly limited light ouput, which restricts them to mostly decorative applications. Second, they are more difficult to implement in architectural designs, usually requiring a lot of custom design. Not that that are difficult to use…they are just not as simple-minded and quick as copying yet another downlight symbol on a reflected ceiling plan. Lifetime varies, depending on how bright they are driven, which is another consideration.
Yet still, the opportunity for creative new explorations of lighting is obvious, such as our previous post on a concept for light emitting wallpaper.
GKD Metal Fabrics is a supplier of interwoven metal meshes for large-scale architectural use.
GKD Mediamesh, a metal fabric product with integral LED video system, is an excellent example of the integration of green design + digital media in architecture. The walls can be used as architectural sun screens, cutting down on the solar heat load entering a building, while simultaneously retaining the views from inside the building and acting as a video screen from the outside.
What in the world are the machines shown above?
U2’s concerts might run long on the media hype, but they are certainly a tour de force of design, staging, and technology. Their latest tour includes an electro-mechanical wonder as its centerpiece, a 360° viewable LED screen that expands and contracts over the band.
Materialise is a rapid prototyping and rapid manufacturing firm that produces 3D printed objects ranging from automotive parts to dental appliances. Materialise specializes in processes such as fused deposition modeling, laser sintering, and stereo lithography. Such technologies can directly “print” … Continue reading Materialise .MGX Lighting Collection
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