Lighting in the urban context case study: Exterior decorative lighting of St. Marko's Church in Belgrade

Abstract

In the past few years more attention has been devoted to exterior decorative lighting in Belgrade. Unfortunately, illuminance is very often the only quality factor for lighting design. Lighting quality is a broader concept than illuminance (quantity of light), determined by a number of factors out of which some can and others cannot be quantitatively determined. Buildings and spaces with urban, architectural and/or style values impose certain requests for lighting design, which can either emphasize or degrade these values. The lighting designer has the obligation to respond to the imposed requests and in this way support the building concept, as well as its role in the urban context. Various possibilities of artificial lighting enable better, more effective and more interesting impressions of buildings than experienced in daylight conditions. Some of the significant possibilities of artificial lighting, which can satisfy requests imposed by urban architectural or style elements, include: The possibility to emphasize elements of style, building details or ornaments, which resemble the most important values on a building or facade. This enables elements of exceptional value to be clearly noticeable (in a greater extent than in daylight conditions); Decorative lighting allows the possibility of presenting the hierarchy of architectural or style elements, which is a contribution to the emphasis of the main idea and building spirit; ® The possibility to emphasize proportions and/or balance of the facade, making solids and voids clearly distinctive; If emphasis of the building concept is the lighting aim, it is possible to realize different impressions from the ones experienced in daylighting (lighting the facade plane which is drawn in and remains in the shadow during the day); When lighting modern architecture, decorative lighting has the possibility to promote the main idea, emphasizing proportions, valuable building parts and/or the rhythm of the facade; Glass facades in daylight conditions reflect the surroundings creating an attractive effect, especially due to the intensity and color change of daylight. In night conditions, glass facades are adequate for negative lighting, enabling the transformation of the facade into a transparent surface exhibiting the building interior. St. Marko's Church in Belgrade is chosen as a case study, due to the fact that the quality of its exterior decorative lighting provided this building an attractive night presentation, strengthened its role as a city landmark and its significance in the panoramic view of the city. The range of possibilities, which can contribute to the presentation, and significance of a building in an urban context are presented through an analysis of different factors, which influenced the quality of exterior decorative lighting of St. Marko's Church. Excellent lighting quality was achieved through lamp color appearance and rendering, as well as through the position of the luminaries. The lighting rhythm follows the rhythm of the facade and allows moderate contrasts. Particular spot lighting is devoted to highly valuable details. The result is a luminance distribution which contributes in great deal to the recognition and expression of the building, as well as to the visual comfort of the observers. The dynamic expression and rhythm, which represent the two main characteristics of the facade of St. Marko's Church, are stressed by warm color of light and adequate luminance distribution on surfaces different in value. Dome lighting, greatly important for the panoramic view of St. Marko's Church, contributes as much to its experience from the immediate surroundings, as well as from the street view. The decorative lighting of St. Marko's Church represents a contribution to its appearance and the presentation of its architecture.

In the past few years more attention has been devoted to exterior decorative lighting in Belgrade. Unfortunately, illuminance is very often the only quality factor for lighting design. Lighting quality is a broader concept than illuminance (quantity of light), determined by a number of factors out of which some can and others cannot be quantitatively determined. Buildings and spaces with urban, architectural and/or style values impose certain requests for lighting design, which can either emphasize or degrade these values. The lighting designer has the obligation to respond to the imposed requests and in this way support the building concept, as well as its role in the urban context. Various possibilities of artificial lighting enable better, more effective and more interesting impressions of buildings than experienced in daylight conditions. Some of the significant possibilities of artificial lighting, which can satisfy requests imposed by urban architectural or style elements, include: The possibility to emphasize elements of style, building details or ornaments, which resemble the most important values on a building or facade. This enables elements of exceptional value to be clearly noticeable (in a greater extent than in daylight conditions); Decorative lighting allows the possibility of presenting the hierarchy of architectural or style elements, which is a contribution to the emphasis of the main idea and building spirit; - The possibility to emphasize proportions and/or balance of the facade, making solids and voids clearly distinctive; If emphasis of the building concept is the lighting aim, it is possible to realize different impressions from the ones experienced in daylighting (lighting the facade plane which is drawn in and remains in the shadow during the day); When lighting modern architecture, decorative lighting has the possibility to promote the main idea, emphasizing proportions, valuable building parts and/or the rhythm of the facade; Glass facades in daylight conditions reflect the surroundings creating an attractive effect, especially due to the intensity and color change of daylight. In night conditions, glass facades are adequate for negative lighting, enabling the transformation of the facade into a transparent surface exhibiting the building interior. St. Marko's Church in Belgrade is chosen as a case study, due to the fact that the quality of its exterior decorative lighting provided this building an attractive night presentation, strengthened its role as a city landmark and its significance in the panoramic view of the city. The range of possibilities, which can contribute to the presentation, and significance of a building in an urban context are presented through an analysis of different factors, which influenced the quality of exterior decorative lighting of St. Marko's Church. Excellent lighting quality was achieved through lamp color appearance and rendering, as well as through the position of the luminaries. The lighting rhythm follows the rhythm of the facade and allows moderate contrasts. Particular spot lighting is devoted to highly valuable details. The result is a luminance distribution which contributes in great deal to the recognition and expression of the building, as well as to the visual comfort of the observers. The dynamic expression and rhythm, which represent the two main characteristics of the facade of St. Marko's Church, are stressed by warm color of light and adequate luminance distribution on surfaces different in value. Dome lighting, greatly important for the panoramic view of St. Marko's Church, contributes as much to its experience from the immediate surroundings, as well as from the street view. The decorative lighting of St. Marko's Church represents a contribution to its appearance and the presentation of its architecture.