In LEDforum 2013, CN Sun, Principal of GUANG Lighting Design, had a speech on "LED Lighting in Hotels and Grand Residences". In the presentation, he mentioned an important idea -- awareness of light, and pointed out the benefits of control system.

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Functions of Light

After this inspiring speech, Sun had an exclusive interview with BeLight. Regarding the difference between grand residences and hotels, Sun indicated that the nature of hotels is commercial so the visual experience is therefore important. Generally speaking, light contrast in hotels is bigger than grand residences; it is also more dramatic. Flaws can be covered by the light. However, these characteristics are not able to offer daily functions, such as sufficient illuminance for reading. Henceforth, we can adopt control systems to create different lighting scenarios to fulfill all kinds of requirement.

Grand residences can be divided into public and private space. Most of them that GUANG has done are public spaces, such as lobby. In these public areas, the main point is not to fulfill the light functions, but how to bring out the brilliant and artistic impression of the space. In Taiwan, lighting design of private spaces is usually conducted by interior designers while sometimes lighting designers would work for guesthouseswhich have both private and public space. “Guesthouses are like huge residences that functions mainly for banquet,” said Sun. “In such a multifunction space, it wouldn’t be better if we can change light scenes for different needs by control system.” Once again, he emphasized the future of LED Lighting.

Light in our life

Despite the fact that LEDs can’t create visual experiences as warm as traditional incandescent light bulbs, Sun still believes LEDs can perform better and better in low color temperature zone since the LED technology is improving quickly. On this basis, it is highly possible that LEDs can play a more important role in daily life in the future. While LED gradually replaces conventional light source, it’s very important to emphasize on what’s the feeling that light brings us. Just as what Sun stressed, to think about the aesthetics, quality of light, and what we need in our daily life is not only to create a better light environment, but also to remind the LED industry of “the quality of light”. Only through this reconsideration, we can make LED become a better light source rather than simply something that is energy-saving and bright.

Sun said: “it’s not easy to use numbers to express a concept or a feeling relating to light; however, if we start with our life, it might be easier to find the answer.” We can’t live without light and light is closely connected with our well-beling. The only way to upgrade the lighting industry is to think about how to use light from the perspective of our life. In this way, lighting design can really meets people’s needs and not anymore some colorful party effects. “Lighting is a revealing of life in an artistic way,” said Sun. “It is not an art too highbrow to be popular, but a sense of beauty.”

How to move lighting industry from “bright” to “qualia of light,” Sun regards lighting designers as the bridge between the right and left brain: “When we are talking about the combination of light and life, it’s not about new lighting fixtures but practical ones,” said Sun. In addition, these “practical ones” are not only to fulfill specific standards such as color temperaturesor watt but also people’s needs. This is to think RIGHT, a thinking of light which is based on humanism perspective.