Whenever we tackle an outdoor project, the challenge of lighting arises, something that at Arquifach we take very much into account. Our homes are located in dream locations. In beautiful towns on the Costa Blanca such as: Calpe, Altea, Benissa, Teulada, or Moraira; which require us to pay special attention to the spaces that will surround the project. When we have chosen well and the natural environment gives us tranquility and calm, it is vital to take advantage of that context in the design of our project. Outdoor areas can be used for leisure or rest, or a mix of both.
How can we design outdoor spaces?
By distributing and delimiting areas according to their use and using elements that contribute to us. Plants and shrubs can facilitate the use of spaces. Adding lawn or paved areas will also help establish visual boundaries and assign roles to each area. It is all about, above all, making the most of the sunny days that our beloved Costa Blanca offers us.
The light on the Costa Blanca is special. With more than 300 days of sunshine a year and a dreamlike temperature, lighting outdoor areas allows us to enjoy them, both day and night.
How to light the outdoor areas of our home?
When it comes to perfectly lighting outdoor areas, some doubts usually arise. Such as the number of spotlights your patio requires. The amount of lumens it needs. Or even, the type of luminaires that suit it best. Our perspective as architects leads us to approach the design from an optimal point between functionality and design. Energy saving will always be present in the choice of lighting type. Nowadays, one of the best options is LED lighting.
Advantages of LED Lighting
Energy savings: LED lighting is the technology with which we will reduce energy expenditure between 70% and 90%. They are more resistant and have greater autonomy. Therefore, replacement will be less. It also reduces light pollution and avoids the use of copper from old luminaires.
Wide design options: LED lights offer us a range of options in terms of colors, tones, and direction of the light beam. They can be spotlights with a specific direction, such as the floor, the ceiling, or objects like statues or trees. Or they can have a linear shape and offer homogeneous lighting. The total space must be considered for the design, so that different atmospheres can be created, each with its personalized touch.
Which LED lighting to choose?
If we are talking about outdoors, the recommendation is that the lights have a protection of at least IP65. This determines their durability against the effects of weather such as rain, high temperatures, humidity, etc. Below you can read the list of the most common types:
- LED strips: although their installation is somewhat complicated, they offer homogeneous lighting and their size allows them to be camouflaged so that they blend in with the environment.
- LED wall lights: unlike strips, wall lights are visible, and therefore they usually have different designs to choose from. They are often used to illuminate walls.
- LED beacons: they are used to illuminate specific points. They offer a softer light, perfect for more private and chill-out atmospheres.
- LED spotlights: They consume 80% less, have reduced maintenance costs, good luminous efficiency, do not generate heat, and start instantly. They also offer different designs to suit our space.
How can we design outdoor spaces?
How to apply lighting to our outdoor areas? Through design, because outdoor light, like indoor light, requires prior planning. You have to visualize the space and find the specific points that require light, or that will be enhanced by lighting.
The importance of surrounding yourself with good architects: Arquifach
Building a home is a process whose success depends on many factors. The best way to ensure it is to count on architects who offer guarantees. A guarantee that is based on experience. It is important to choose an architecture studio that guides you throughout the process from the initial design to the delivery of the final documentation to inhabit the house, that has experience in the area and qualified personnel to carry out the comprehensive management of the project, but above all that designs according to your needs and expectations.
