Research On The Architectural Lighting Design Based Upon The Visual Communication Theories

We live in a world of light, light has been associated with buildings and urban planning ever since the start of human civilization, as early as the circular roof lighting on the ancient Roman Pantheon and as modern as artificial lighting effect of the Water-Cubic. At the same time, we are also living in a world of visuals. Visual Art has now been transformed from the elite ancient religionary paintings to the more down to earth easy accessible media images. Through the development history of architecture and art, we can clearly see both architectural lighting design and the visual communication design have experienced great changes and developed into using visual symbols through different media to communicate design ideas. This essay focused on the employment of visual communication design in architecture. It explored the fundamental concept in the relationship of architectural space and lighting. It also redefined the lighting in architectural design as a visual expression.This essay first stated the theory of the two and finds the fundamental unity of the two. Then author analyzed the major concepts through the historical development of visual communication design, and combined with examples a conclusion has been drawn, which is that architectural lighting design has been a catalyst transforming architecture to a more audience friendly visual expression. This catalytic product has perfectly mixed the architectural expression with Bauhaus, Craft arts, new artistic movement, modernism, post-modernism, pop art, digital interaction and green design. The article then discussed in detail of visual symbol, visual feeling and visual forms of architectural lighting and the factors and meanings of them. Followed by the practical employment, the essay showed some innovative and cutting-edge lighting expression in architectural design. Finally, the essay, through analyzing the above information, gave out the conclusion that lighting design should not only create significant forms but also realize communication of information accurately and effectively.