Garden Lights Using Glass & Water Features
Category: Garden Lights & Landscape Lighting
Garden Design Project: GLTGAL001
The lighting scheme was introduced into this garden during construction.
The remit was to create a multi-faceted lighting experience on a limited budget, with an emphasis on creativity.
Traditional landscape lighting techniques were incorporated into this garden lights project such as front lighting, back lighting and up lighting.
These produced striking Shadow effects and Silhouetting to highlight structural planting and flower beds.
Steel ball water features were added to provide daytime and night time effects and were in keeping with the modern minimalist look of the garden.
The second, traditional fountain, water feature, really comes into its own at night, especially as the planting around it, although non traditional and somewhat incongruous, creates a stunning ethereal effect.
The up lighting is provided by submersible lights which change colour and showcase the effects of light on moving water.
The use of unconventional materials, such as glass balls, which again are in keeping with the modernist theme of the garden, offer an opportunity to be creative with lighting effects.
Sitting on an expanse of decking and up lit with hidden LED lights of different colours they sparkle and glow as night falls and the effect increases as darkness encroaches.
Mature ivy spreads across the rear boundary fence and is an imposing day time feature.
Again with a remit to be creative, and a desire to blend man made light within natural forms, the garden lights created an eerie, dripping light effect.
An existing pair of curved brick planters surrounding a raised patio area was transformed into magical rivers of glass.
Using hidden mirrors and glass shards of different hues under lit with colour changing LED's the image of moving water is created.
These blue hues provide a cooling effect during summer months but during the winter months the glass shards are replaced with reds and oranges and a warming flame effect is created.
Not wanting to be ignored, this scene highlights the possibilities of illuminating buildings.
Even these modern brick structures assets were embellished using dimmable up lighting.
The added bonus here is a wash effect to the lawn area.
The crowning glory of this lighting scheme was the use of Automated or Smart lighting controls.
This cutting edge technology allows the owner to program each light or water feature to behave independently or in unison with other groups of garden lights.
The advantage is that an unlimited number of scenes or effects can be created.
These scenes can be changed at anytime without the need to add or subtract light fittings or water features.
Simply controlled via a light switch sized console, as illustrated, or via remote control or even via a mobile phone, the look of the landscape can be altered to suit any occasion or the changes of seasons.
This suburban garden was designed to appear minimalist and modern during the day and looks not dissimilar to many other gardens of its type.
As darkness falls however, this landscape becomes something altogether different.
Submitted By: David Hesketh
Website: www.g13automatedlandscape.co.uk
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