Lights, camera, action!: Occhio

Lighting in architecture is just like a theatre production: however accomplished the design may be, it will barely register without skilful staging. Just as a director dictates the action on stage, ambient lighting determines the dramatic composition of a space.

To this end, Occhio stocks a multitude of spotlights in a wide range of shapes, colours and installation options; these include the likes of the Più lighting series, which is available in flush and non-flush formats or as track spotlights with different installation depths; as individual units or in pairs, and in a range of different finishes from matt white to rose gold. The spotlights in the lui and io series are available in a similar multitude of models. This allows complete freedom of design at the planning stage and ultimately permits architecture and light to complement one other harmoniously.

Intelligent lighting design enables wide use of Occhio luminaires and spotlights as ambient lighting, even within strict budgetary constraints. Instead of planning luminaires in a fixed grid, lighting spots may be deliberately placed to provide signposting and zoning, for example. Occhio also recommends the incorporation of walls as reflectors. ‘We take the design approach of emphasising vertical surfaces in the room in particular, as this represents the most efficient form of lighting from a perceptual point of view,’ explains Helen Neumann, Occhio’s Head of Lighting Design. Walls would thus be perceived as significantly brighter than a light floor, for example. Through this approach, an atmospheric lighting design is created that will also save energy.

Occhio has also shown its dedication to the function of ambient lighting by adding the Occhio pro product group to its portfolio. Here, the lighting specialist is offering a range of technically stripped-down and thus cost-efficient lighting for commercial spaces in addition to its established signature luminaires. Occhio pro is part of the new Occhio+design concept, which includes project-specific product additions to Occhio’s overall portfolio.

Features of Occhio pro include ceiling luminaires and suspended luminaires from the Mito, Mito linear, and Sento series, along with spotlights from the Più, io, and lui series. Occhio pro lighting variants omit features that are less relevant to commercial projects, such as gesture control or »color tune«. Omitting driver electronics and sensors from the lights enables direct connection to a range of different external electronic control units. Occhio pro luminaires are thus fully compatible with building technology and bus systems like DALI and KNX, but, as an alternative, can also be controlled via the Bluetooth-based Occhio air app or Casambi. Despite all this paring-back, no concessions have had to be made on design and light quality, however, and the light intensity (lumen) generated by the Occhio pro models remains at the top end. Thanks to new cooling technology, lui pro power spotlights, which have been specifically designed for the building project sector for example provide three times more light intensity.

So, its not only in the spotlight that Occhio proves itself effective. Curtains up, then, on the ensemble of architecture, interiors and lighting!

© Architonic