Easy on the eye

Gone are the days of being cooped up in an office that is air conditioned to the point of freezing, and lit with harsh, glary lighting. Employers are becoming increasingly aware of how the quality of the office environment can affect employee health and safety, and increase work efficiency.

These offices demonstrate how lighting contributes to a more pleasant workplace. The designs were undertaken by the Sydney office of Lighting Design Partnership (LDP). Director of the Auckland office Mike Grunsell says a contemporary and minimalist lighting composition was required for the lobby of 83 Clarence Street in Sydney.

"Avoiding the usual plethora of downlights in the ceiling, the idea of continuous slots to house the linear fluorescents was developed. The architects then extended the slots into a criss-cross pattern that integrates the air diffusers."

The timber wall is lit using narrow beam downlights, creating vertical highlights that are visible from the street. This provides a defined sense of entry at this corporate workplace.

The desk area pictured is at Fuji Xerox's head office in Sydney. The principal objective of the office is to showcase Fuji Xerox equipment, which is displayed in situ within the offices on the ground floor, and in multifunctional training spaces on the upper floor. The lighting was designed to accentuate the various textures on the walls and emphasise the paper-inspired qualities of the interior furnishing.

As a member of the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) of Australia and New Zealand, LDP is kept up to date with developments in lighting technology. The IES works to advance the art and science of illumination, and provides information to interested parties.

For more information on Mike Grunsell and LDP Ltd, visit the website: www.ldp.net. For details on IES Incorporated, visit the website: www.iesanz.org.

Story by: Trendsideas