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“LET THERE BE LIGHT” AN ILLUMINATING HISTORY

The speed of light is nothing compared to the speed at which trends are evolving, as new technologies drop costs and energy consumption, and open new horizons in design. By: Candace King and Tammy Sutherns

The Alice Towers in Sandton. Increasingly, lighting is being used to beautify and add impact to building exteriors and outdoor spaces.

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TOP AND BELOW: Moses Mabhida Stadium incorporates the latest in hi-tech and sustainable lighting. The arch overhead is made up of 1.8m LED strip lights, which are 70% more efficient than fluorescent alternatives.

he history of light and light sources in towns and cities across the globe, for an Murdoch first lit his house with gas in has come a long way: from cavemen extra measure of security and guidance at Redruth, Cornwall in 1792, followed by experimenting with fire and ancient night. In 1128 in Venice, under the Doge the main building of the Soho Foundry civilisations using natural light Domenico Michiel, a few small lamps were steam engine works in 1798. Throughout sources,T to and the electric lamp. placed on the walls of the houses to burn all the 1800s and into the 1900s gas lighting One of the greatest human discoveries night and “give courage” to wayfarers. became commonplace, and it was the was the use of fire as a source of heat and To this day, many cultures and religions German inventor Frederick Albert Winsor light, an estimated 400 000 to 1.9 million around the world including Judaism, (originally Friedrich Albrecht Winzer) who years ago. Around 70 000BC early man Christianity, Hinduism, and Chinese folk patented it and installed gas lights on began using naturally occurring primitive religion still use oil lamps for religious and London’s Pall Mall in 1807. oil lamps such as coconuts, sea shells, egg symbolic purposes, as well as spiritual rituals In 1846, Canadian physician, surgeon, shells and hollow stone, as well as burning and ceremonies. geologist, and inventor Abraham Gesner materials soaked in animal fat. As early as the 4th Century BC the developed a process of refining a liquid By the 7th Century BC the Greeks had Chinese had invented a system of bamboo fuel from coal, which he named kerosene. replaced hand-held with terracotta tubes that allowed them to use natural gas The distillation process was a cheaper lamps, and up until the late 18th Century oil for fuel and light. But it wasn’t until the alternative to whale oil, and the demand for lamps, torches and were commonly late 1700s that gas found a footing in the kerosene grew rapidly. During the 1850s, used, fuelled with olive oil, beeswax, fish West. This was when Scottish engineer and Polish pharmacist Ignacy Łukasiewicz was oil, sesame oil, nut oil and others. Oil lamps inventor William Murdoch developed a way also involved in the research of crude oil were even adopted for public illumination to exploit gas’s flammability for lighting. distillation and it’s debated whether Gesner

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Aesthetics are a major concern in modern lighting. A favourite design at Phase Africa is the Burst Pendant Light, which can opened wide or folded down.

ABOVE LEFT AND BELOW: The architecture of the Nelson Mandela Bridge is showcased with a 5 725m² capacity for lighting, including colour or Łukasiewicz should be called the recreational venues, signage and retail true father of kerosene. locations and facilities. Most cities in the US and Europe Just as Gesner’s kerosene essentially boasted gaslit streets during the 19th helped saved the whale, lighting applications Century, and this is also the time that the today are becoming more eco-friendly and sodium vapour lamp arrived on the scene. sustainable, with such technologies as solar But it was the discovery of lighting and energy-saving light bulbs. that took the world by storm. As lighting in commercial space has Though the history books credit Sir evolved, so businesses have become more Thomas Alva Edison with inventing the willing to feature beautiful designs and light bulb, Edison actually built on the innovative creations. Noleen Kutash from contributions of other developers, making Phases Africa says modern design is a improvements to the idea of incandescent huge trend at the moment. One of her light. The history of electric lighting began in favourite creations is the Burst Pendant the late 1800s with the incandescent lamp Light, manufactured by a South African and the carbon , and the artist in Cape Town. She says, “I think this is and fluorescent lamp during the 1900s. From stunning. I’m proud of this artist for having the 1950s onward we see the electrodeless created such an innovative design.” lamp, the electroluminescent (EL) lamps and This hanging pendant light can be seen displays, light emitting diodes (LEDs) and in three different settings. It’s made from organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). Panda-friendly bamboo ply and is handmade so that each part of the light shade is unique. FASHION FORWARD The design is intended to evoke a sunburst, Today, lighting has evolved drastically. In the but it can be flat-packed for transit. The past, sources of light were essentially used finish on the Burst Pendant Light is a blend of for warmth, heat, cooking, illumination, beeswax and plant oil, with a clear finish. guidance and security. Today, lighting has Cultural spaces and heritage sites have become a fashionable trend, with lighting also begun to use lighting to showcase their applications used to beautify areas, buildings, structures, illuminating them with different exteriors and interiors, office blocks, colours and innovative lighting. Take the

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The latest options in hi-tech corporate lighting include low-energy LED options and wireless control.

Nelson Mandela Bridge in Johannesburg solutions. One of the big movements has in six to 18 months in electricity savings City: opened in 2003, the bridge cost been a trend towards LED technology, which alone. The timing of the payback depends R38 million to build and is the largest cable- offers a low-energy light source. on how many hours per day the lights are stayed bridge in southern Africa. It also Candela LED, based in Cape Town, in use. And with Eskom’s 25.9% price hike incorporates architecturally themed lighting offers practical solutions for companies in coming in April, the payback time will be to make it even more impressive. The space the lighting industry. The company’s owner/ even less.” has a 5 725m² capacity for lighting, which director Jeremy Feigelson says, “The first As the LEDs last up to 50 000 hours, now includes colour lighting and spot lights reason property owners and businesses 50 times the lifespan of an incandescent that show off this iconic architectural piece. are converting comes down to simple bulb, Feigelson says the buyer saves on economics. Despite the initial outlay needed replacements and labour too. Environmental SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS to covert to LEDs, they can save you up to bases are also covered. “LEDs use half Commercial properties, faced with new 90% on your current lighting costs.” the power of fluorescents and compact building regulations, electricity rate hikes Feigelson says one of their best fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and contain no and the growing green revolution, have sellers are the Cree GU10 halogen harmful chemicals or metals. In contrast, also started looking for alternative lighting replacements.“The LEDs pay for themselves fluorescents and CFLs contain

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Thomas Edison, developer of the lightbulb.

and, if not properly disposed of, can The stadium uses several types of lighting: reflector system. The control system makes it contaminate landfills and water supplies. most prominently, 548 flood lights provide easy to manage which lights activate when. They’re also very fragile.” field lighting, using special reflectors and The arch is made up of 1.8m LED strip The switch to LED has also been diffusers to reduce maximum demand and lights, which are 70% more efficient than the about the quality of light, Feigelson says. energy consumption. fluorescents. Incoporated into the original “Compared to fluorescents and CFLs, LEDs Concourse lighting is also used, consisting design, they’re controlled by a computerised emit a very natural, warm light. They’re of metal halide fittings with a 70W to 150W system which allows for various modes and versatile and the amount of warmth or output and fluorescents ranging from 18W settings at any given time, and also operates coolness you require can easily be tailored to 55W. The fluorescents have an electronic the lighting of the People’s Park. for your office or home.” control gear which is 8% more efficient than Lighting is no longer just functional, There’s growing innovation in all standard fluorescent fittings. Meanwhile, but has become something of an aesthetic aspects of alternative lighting solutions. bowl lights consist of 1 100 T5 fluorescent phenomenon. Different technologies Matthew Kain from Qwik-Switch says the fittings, which are 10% more efficient than allow for sustainable solutions for lighting, company has been been implementing standard T8 linear fluorescents. but innovation and creativity allow for wireless lighting control as a huge cost The offices are lit by T5 fittings with experimentation and enhancement of what saver, which is also far a more convenient an electronic control gear and an efficient South Africa has to offer. form of control. He explains, “We offer a LIGHTING MILESTONES FROM THE 20TH CENTURY AND BEYOND comprehensive solution, allowing access • The Roaring Twenties: The first frosted light bulbs and adjustable power beam bulbs for and control from wireless switches as car emerge. well as web and mobile phones. Wireless • The Dirty Thirties: The invention of little one-time flashbulbs for photography and the control offers many advantages, such as fluorescent tanning lamp. scheduling office lighting for energy saving, • The Warring Forties: The first soft-light incandescent bulbs. scene controls for boardroom presentations • The Nifty Fifties: The emergence of quartz glass and later, the halogen light bulb. and the convenience of off-site remote • The Swinging Sixties: Better ellipsoid reflectors and mirrors for even brighter bulbs. lighting control.” The Qwik-Switch product • The Disco Seventies: Engineer Edward E Hammer developed the first compact fluorescent is also developed and manufactured bulb, a spiral-shaped bulb that would fit in the average lamp. in South Africa. • The Greedy Eighties: New low-wattage metal halides emerge. • The Naughty Nineties: Dutch electrical company Philips invents the amazing 60 000+ hour SCORING POINTS magnetic induction light bulb. New environmentally friendly bulbs like the full spectrum Larger structures, like the Moses Mabhida light bulb gain popularity. stadium built for the 2010 Fifa World Cup, • The Noughties: Philips unveils the extraordinary Light Blossom, an LED street lamp with not only take advantage of the aesthetics solar panels and “petals” that open to act as wind turbines and generate electricity. of lighting but remain sustainable too.

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