The Art of Shadows in Lighting Design
When lighting a space, one of the most crucial elements is the interplay of shadows and light. Rather than eliminating one over the other, the goal is to sculpt and experience space through their interaction. This philosophy was eloquently discussed by Poul Henningsen, a renowned Danish author, critic, architect, and designer, in his 1944 article on the three types of shadows.(Also referred to as PH)
The Three Types of Shadows
Large Shadow: This shadow gives a space its character and form. It is essential for defining a room. In an overexposed space, the large shadow disappears, resulting in a shadowless, unpicturesque environment.
Hand Shadow: This is the disturbing shadow that often moves over your working surface, obstructing your view. While it also disappears in overexposed lighting, which can be advantageous, it’s generally undesirable in a well-lit space.
Small Shadow: These are the fine shadows that appear when a needle touches fabric or a pencil meets paper. They help us measure small distances accurately and orient ourselves. In an overexposed space, these shadows are lost, making it harder to perceive fine details.
The goal in designing lighting fixtures or spaces is to maintain both large and small shadows while avoiding the hand shadow.
important of the small shadow when navigating a pen over paper
no shadow, makes it harder to know, when the pen meets the paper.
The soft shadow, is enough for work, and is more pleasant than the hard shadow.
Direct vs. Indirect Lighting
Direct Lighting: This, such as from an uncovered bulb, creates sharp large shadows, uncomfortable hand shadows, and pronounced small shadows.
Indirect Lighting: Using techniques like uplighting ceilings, we eliminate large shadows, hand shadows, and small shadows, resulting in a shadowless environment.
This balance of shadows was a guiding principle in the design of my B40 lamp series. The design focuses light downward to create subtle small shadows while ensuring glare-free illumination in all directions, thereby preserving large shadows that define the space and its objects.
The Importance of Light Source Size
The size of the pendant or light source relative to the space is also critical. A large light source can cancel out the large shadows, diminishing the character of the space.
The Spectrum of Light and Shadow
PH also emphasized the importance of a balanced light-to-shadow spectrum in a space. A room should not be shadowless, as seen with indirect lighting, because everything becomes unclear and undefined. Conversely, solely using direct light creates harsh contrasts, making everything appear black and white.
In a beautifully lit space, all tones should form a gradient, akin to the keys on a piano, allowing the eyes to transition smoothly from the darkest corner to the brightest area. Missing tones create discomfort and glare as the eye moves from dark to light. Proper lighting should sculpt spaces gradually and smoothly, enhancing both functionality and aesthetics.
By understanding and applying these principles, we can create spaces that are both visually pleasing and functionally effective, where light and shadow work in harmony to define and enhance our environments.