 "Light As An Emotional Experience." – DESIGNER HARTMUT ENGLE ON THE PHILOSOPHY OF BLUEMOTION "The emotional experience of light is a vital part of human life. This is why we wished to design a system that would present a range of unusual optical and aesthetic expressions. We wanted a repertoire for experiencing light in new ways, to make the light feel as if it were alive. With BLUemotion we accomplished this by adding an emotional quality to each element while also attending to practical aspects so that the system as a whole would exceed comfort expectations, particularly in the office environment. We approached each functional component of lighting as an independent thing with its own characteristic purpose and aesthetic. And we leaned toward having those elements freely visible to occupants. We want people to see component parts and materials and how together they form the light aesthetic, to experience how the thing works, to more fully experience light in its varying moods. For example we incorporated the T5 lamps as a visible graphical element in some of the designs. This is an unexpected, to some extent mysterious, revelation. In one case the mystery is executed using a semi-translucent reflector glass sheet, creating a completely new light aesthetic. In another we employ a special color-tinted glass to mimic blue sky in an office – people experience a pleasing shade of blue, yet a sunny white light is experienced in the room! A third approach reduces the visible volume of the structure to a single glass sheet suspended in the room. Unlit, the surface mirrors the elements of its surroundings. Powered up it becomes a minimalist graphical sculpture, lamps clearly visible yet absent of any glare. For those places where more direct light is desired, a fabric shield alters the BLUemotion aesthetic in a special way. A thin convex light foil appears to float in the room, creating a soft shape for the fixture which in turn produces soft light and shadows. Happily, we can say BLUemotion demonstrates that lighting technique can be merged with – and in fact can elevate – the visual value of materials and the emotional aspects of experiencing light." |
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