Architectural lighting of building facades: varieties and features

Architectural facade lighting, like artistic facade illumination, is achieved through a variety of equipment. The main types of lighting devices include:

• **Facade Floodlights**: These provide a solid wash of light, often in a single color, such as white, but there is a wide range of options available. They are relatively cost-effective, typically costing up to $100 per unit (lamp, floodlight, luminaire, etc.). However, there are indirect costs associated with them, including electrical wiring and control line installation, maintenance, and the replacement of burnt-out bulbs, which can make facade lighting relatively expensive.
• **Neon Tubes**: Neon tubes create the impression of shapes, silhouettes, or symbols suspended in the air. They were a popular choice in the 1960s. While they can be used for thematic establishments with specific design requirements, they come with maintenance costs, including tube maintenance, replacement, and refilling (as well as height-related work, as an added bonus).
• **LED Strips (LEDs)**: LED strips are ideal for contour lighting on buildings, creating illuminated letters and signs. In contrast to traditional bulbs that cost 1-2 cents (40-80 cents) each, even if you have thousands on the entire facade, LEDs are much more durable and longer-lasting. They may cost more initially (up to $100 per unit), but they are cost-effective in the long run.
• **Garlands**: Garlands serve as festive or thematic decorations for facades. Their main drawback is their disposable nature. After the season, they can be difficult to untangle and reuse.
• **Laser projectors (3D laser, 3D лазер)**: They create plots or drawings with thin lines, use the RGB color model, and are controlled by digital software. They are typically installed in a special thermobox with separate climate control. These technologies can be expensive, and the question arises of who will operate them and manage their maintenance.
• **High-power digital projectors (mapping)**: These projectors are capable of projecting video sequences. They are the only way to compete in originality with stencil projection for architectural facade lighting. However, this topic deserves a separate discussion, preferably over the phone, due to its complexity.

Yes, the company Matsemi, an exclusive supplier of stencil projectors from Warton Lighting Technology, is developing a direction for decorating building facades that stands out from the conventional methods of building illumination described above – stencil projection. The essence of stencil projection, sometimes also referred to as “gobo” projection, is the use of slides or stencils onto which any image can be applied.

Modern lighting of building facades using screen projectors

Let’s briefly explore the features of building illumination using stencil projectors:

– They provide a continuous fill of light in any color with adjustable light output. This means that you can illuminate the building without the need to lay electrical wiring along the facade, and you can control it from a distance.

– Taking into account the needs and preferences of the client, a drawing of any complexity and content can be projected onto the facade. This allows for the application of both volumetric figures and 3D images to the building, as shown in the gallery above. Importantly, these projectors do not burn out in parts. They either work well, or if the facade is not illuminated, you can simply replace the projector (remember, they come with a two-year warranty).

– They provide the opportunity, quite literally, to paint on the building. You can outline the contours of the building or apply patterns. In other words, your building’s facade is the canvas you’ve dreamed of. Importantly, replacing the entire facade’s image costs as little as $100 to $200 for everything, and it can be done by any adult (no education required).

– Ornate effects, such as “falling snow” or a “rippling wave,” will bring your facade to life and capture the attention of many. Do you understand the power of dynamic images? When images or drawings on the facade move, people passing by will photograph your building, post it on social media, and send it to their loved ones. Isn’t that what you want?

– Expressive silhouettes of the shapes you desire beautifully and gently flow across your building, illuminating the necessary element without human intervention, in any weather and at any temperature.

– Finally, and most importantly, stencil projection for architectural facade lighting is the most cost-effective solution in the long term: it doesn’t harm the facade, can be applied to various buildings, is easily changeable, and doesn’t require heavy constructions or high-altitude work.