Review: The Book of Light

Wednesday, 23 February 2011 4:43 PM

The square-shaped coffee table Book of Light, published by Lutron, is crammed full of advice and comments from some of the interior design and architecture industries' foremost lighting experts.

Each chapter of the book begins with a question, and what follows are quotes ranging from the practical to the philosophical. Here are a few of our favourite examples:

• Nick Gowing, architect, REd: "Try to hide fixed lighting – concealed lighting is so much more effective and dramatic."
• Suzanne Imre, editor, Livingetc: "Don't be fooled that dark always means moody – get it wrong and it can simply look depressing."
• Andrew, Butchart, Lightplan: "For a general lighting circuit using normal GLS lamps, use a dimmer and dim it by ten per cent. The light output will be very similar, you will save energy but most importantly you will double the lamp life."
• Fiona McLean, McLean Quinlan Architects, on the most important piece of lighting advice she's ever been given: "To remember an object or space, in effect, does not exist until there is light – daylight or artificial – and therefore light is the single most important design element to consider."

All in all, The Book of Light makes for an interesting read and throws up some interesting issues – for example, how to use lighting in an environmentally friendly way. While it could do with more pictures, we would recommend it to anyone who wants to find out more about lighting and the way in which industry figures interpret and use it.

For your free copy of the Book of Light, simply fill in the form at LutronBookOfLight.com.

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