LED-ing the way forward

zoom

Beau McClellan is recognised as one of the world’s leading lighting designers.

zoom

Kai Piippo, managing design principal for Stockholm based company Ljusarkitektur, offers his view on the future of lighting technology.

The push for more environmentally responsible technology has lighting designers turning their focus to LED-based fixtures.

LED technology has come under much scrutiny in recent years in its capacity to be recognised as a holistic lighting solution, but as the drive for environmentally friendly technology continues to grow some lighting designers are pushing their LED agenda arguing it is the way forward as the most energy efficient and reliable lighting solution available.

Leading international lighting designers, industry experts, architects and key industry decision makers converged on the Dubai International Convention Centre in May for Light Middle East with many of them advocating LED technology had come far enough to be recognised as a light source for the future.

In this feature, S&S turns the spotlight on the industry's best asking them, "is LED the future of lighting and why?"

McClellan's burgeoning reputation as one of the world's leading lighting designers has been further enhanced in recent years, with the designer winning four Red Dot Design Awards in 2007, and being named runner-up for the Light of the Year Award in 2008.

He is also currently a nominee for the Design Preis 2008. McClellan describes himself as a designer working to change the focus of the lighting industry through the implementing of LED technology.

His designs are well recognised throughout the Middle East and currently he is working on the world's largest LED chandelier, which will be unveiled in Qatar later this year.

"The chandelier I am working on is for an office building for Al Hitmi Property Development," McClellan says.

"The concept of the chandelier was inspired by nature, so I have designed it to be both modern and functional, while still working with environmentally friendly measures.

"The chandelier is the largest of its kind in the world measuring 64 metres long and every single light has its own pixel address. The software I am using has been designed by software engineers in Montreal.

"These designers have undertaken some large projects, including the design of Bon Jovi's LED curtain backdrop for their current tour, which incorporates video technology. The software they have designed for my chandelier employs the same technology, but it allows me to work with the lighting in a very specific way. So I am using similar technology to what's used in stage lighting applications."

Why the shift to LEDs?

The most important technology to impact lighting design in the last six years has been LEDs. The technology represents the future in ecological terms, in terms of its possibilities, in terms of its design, and control and that is the direction I am going with in terms of developing my designs.

Are companies changing their attitude towards lighting technology?

I think the new eco-legislation being implemented globally is a great initiative to get companies to pull their socks-up and invest in ‘green' technology. There certainly is a shift occurring globally.

Some experts claim LED technology is limited in its true capabilities. What's your view?

I tend to disagree. LED technology is constantly improving in terms of its technical capabilities. As far as I am concerned, LEDs represent the future of lighting.

What benefits do LEDs offer lighting designers?

I'm a fan of LEDs not only because they are more efficient than typical light sources, but from a design point of view they are small, lightweight and powerful. I've developed a number of large chandeliers in the past and a major dilemma I've encountered is how do you change the light bulbs? With the use of LEDs I don't have that problem because they have a longer life span and are much easier to work with.

What factors do you consider when designing for the Middle East market?

I try and give the LEDs as much light and power as possible and to do that I give them heat sinks, which removes the amount of heat they are exposed to.

In the Middle East you have to contend with harsh conditions, such as heat and dust, which makes it essential to enclose the LEDs in a protective ring.

I also consider other environmental factors when developing my designs. For example the mirrors on the chandelier I design have a special anti-static coating so dust won't stick to the surface.

Additionally, we have designed a small robot that runs along the inside of the chandelier to remove any exterior dust.

Print | Email | Discuss this article |

READERS' COMMENTS

View all comments (0)

Have your say

Click here to post a comment

Add your Comment All posts are sent to the administrator for review and are published only after approval. ArabianBusiness.com reserves the right to remove any comment at any time for any reason. Please keep your responses appropriate and on topic.
Name *
Remember me on this computer
Email *	(Your email address will not be published)
City
Country
Subject *
Comment *
Notify me of further comments
Security Code *
Please click post only once - your comment will not be published immediately.

MORE FROM ARABIANBUSINESS.COM