Luminous Surfaces

Luminous Surfaces Equal Ambient Luminescence

In 1952, Richard Kelly, considered the founder of modern lighting design, defined his "three elemental kinds of light effect", or layers of light, one of which he labelled "ambient luminescence".

Ambient luminescence refers to the comfortable background lighting of life. In its ideal form ambient luminescence from architectural lighting produces “shadowless illumination” and a sense of space in the same way nature’s luminous surface provides, in his words, “the uninterrupted light of a snowy morning in the open country."

Architecture
+ Light

Until now, technology restrictions limited the use of luminous surfaces to create ambient luminescence in architectural design to very specialized applications. Cooledge removes those restrictions with technologies and products that enable large scale, digitally controlled luminous surfaces to become part of the architecture, replacing the points and lines of light that are typically added as an afterthought.

Control on the
Scale of Nature

For the first time it is possible to create luminous surfaces on a scale that truly provides ambient luminescence and are at the same time fully controllable, whether the desire is to complement daylight systems, replicate natural rhythms, change with the seasons, or simply alter your mood.

Cooledge enables control on the scale of nature.

Imagine a space where...

Immersive illumination delivers surprising levels of light

The environment can be tailored to your exact requirements with responsive digital control

You feel like you do when you’re on the beach (or wherever your beach is…)

Lighting Designed for People

Studies have shown that people today spend up to 90% of their lives indoors, yet for most of our history we lived under the wide open skies.

Nature has not only shaped how we see the world but also human physiology and our emotional responses to the lighting in our environment.