Light series 2: Adam and Eve's Retail Store

Adam and Eve's is a fun, local lingerie and novelty shop that serves as a very interesting study for how various lights effect the style, feel, and operation of a space.

When one first enters the store, they are greeted by a central display that is places beneath a chandelier. This chandelier is the only lamp of its kind within the space and serves as an effective method of making the mannequin the major focal point as well as give the space a sense of "sensuality". Surrounding the grand mannequin is a variety of other eye catchers. Many of which are accented by focal track luminaries. These directional luminaries are specific to special displays and also highlight new merchandise.

Track lighting and florescent lights are utilized throughout the store to emit both ambient and focal luminance while store front windows also receive a flood of daylight. Track luminaries also help with organization of the space by attracting visual order both on wall displays as well as floor displays.

There is also a interesting use of neon light in signs and ultraviolet light highlighting displays. The owner of the store,Lisa, informed me that the neon lights were great visual simulators that were used to give a "exciting and gawtty" feel to the customers. She stated that we often associate neon lights with exotic club signage and night club attractions, and due to the nature of the store... this method served appropriately.

One of the most prevalent issues involving the store lighting was the control of heat emission from the combination of daylight , fluorescents, and track lighting. Lisa explained that often in the summer and spring months, there is a great deal of daylight that shines in from the front facade of the store. The heat from the sun becomes even more intense when accompanies by the heat that emits all day from the powerful track lighting and large fluorescents. She complained about the energy it takes to cool the store and the high absorption of heat by the window displays. Glare only tended to occur when reflecting off of plastic mannequins and mirrors. Although the mannequins weren't obviously distracting, light reflected from track lights often discomforted the eye.

Possible solutions include building shade over the front facade to shed away some direct sunlight. There is the option of introducing darker hues to the space to help with the absorption of extra light and heat and the decreased use of fluorescents during the seasons where daylight is prevalent. To reduce Glare from mirrors, I would suggest simply using recessed lighting of placing directional lights away from the view of the mirror to avoid direct shinning into the customers' eyes.