Retail Lighting: Carytown's Eurotrash

I love shopping in Richmond's Carytown district. This "mile of style" boasts hundreds of locally owned shops, boutiques, restaurants, and specialty stores (Carytown website). One of my favorite boutiques in Carytown is Eurotrash, which offers European styles and unique clothing lines to Richmond shoppers. 

On a recent trip to Eurotrash, I spent quite a deal of time in the store, both perusing the boutique's latest arrival of fall fashions, as well as taking note of the space's unique lighting design solutions. The friendly staff was more than happy to allow me to snap some pictures of the space.

Because Eurotrash's large storefront window (its only accessible fenestration) is North-facing, the boutique never receives direct sunlight. Instead, it receives consistent, diffused daylight throughout the day, which is supplemented by several types of artificial light sources.

Track lighting just above the front window's display area provides additional illumination of the merchandise. Its reflection in the window also adds visual interest to the display, drawing shoppers into the store from the sidewalk:

You can see from this picture of the store's rear display and dressing areas that Eurotrash features no recessed lighting. Instead, a circular track system, frosted glass medallion fixtures, and chandeliers above the dressing rooms (blocked in the view below) provide ample light and visual interest throughout the space. Additionally, the use of white paint (ceiling and walls) and reflective surfaces further bounce light throughout the store.

2 large mirrors (like the one pictured below) serve double duty as they both allow shoppers to admire themselves in the store's clothing as well as reflect light coming in from the storefront window throughout the rest of the space.

The lighting is fun, contemporary, and well balanced. I love how the chandeliers have been hung so they can just be seen above the dressing rooms' low walls:

In this close-up of a chandelier above the dressing rooms, you can tell the light put off by the lamps (bulbs) is quite soft and diffused. This helps eliminate harsh shadows that can be unflattering when trying on clothing:

Same can be said for the frosted glass medallion sconces. Diffused light is the name of the game at Eurotrash. The designer of the space clearly took into consideration what kind of light is needed to make shoppers look good and more likely to purchase merchandise!

Another shot of the track lighting systems, storefront window, and large mirrors reflecting light around the room:

I have always admired the layout of Eurotrash's store and how bright, clean, and airy the space feels. I now understand that the store's lighting solutions play a large role in why I feel that way, and why I end up spending so much money there!

My Hideous Kitchen Lighting

I live in a darling apartment in Richmond's historic Fan District. Two of my favorite things about my place are the large windows and high ceilings in every room. Windows on the building's East and West facades receive the most sunlight throughout the day, as my apartment is situated closely between two other buildings on its North and South sides. Unfortunately my bedroom windows look out to the brick wall of the condos next door, but that's okay since I'm only at home to sleep (thanks for that, grad school).

The picture below was taken in my kitchen around 1:30 pm on a day in mid-September. Daylight is flooding the space and no electrical lights are needed (you'll see why this is a good thing in a moment). The window in the background is East-facing. You can see the empty planter on the sil beneath the North-facing window in the foreground. We've attempted to grow herbs in it several times, but the building next door blocks the direct sunlight needed to keep our basil and parsley plants alive :(

See how lovely it is during the day? Bright and cheery:

And here, dear friends, is what I consider the most beautiful (read: horrific) light fixture on the planet: our large, finicky, and hideously ugly fluorescent overhead light. The plastic lattice-work, the yellow-tinged light cover, the shape, the sickening glow it casts throughout the kitchen - it's all bad. Bad bad bad. Plus, you can never count on it actually turning on, which we've complained about to our property management company several times. But of course, whenever someone is sent over to inspect it, the work turns on flawlessly. 

This is what said hideous light looks like turned on during the day. My kitchen walls go from off-white to straight up yellow:

We have under-cabinet task lighting that puts off a ton of light. This is really quite helpful at night, when the hideous overhead fixture simply casts its yucky yellow glow instead of actually illuminating the kitchen.

Most of our food preparation happens here. I seldom need to turn the under-cabinet light on during daytime hours:

And here is the hideous light in all its glory. This shot was taken at approximately 9:30 pm.

Thankfully, this incandescent pendant light puts off a crisper, more even light. Notice how the walls around the pendant actually look white - this leads me to believe that the Color Rendering Index of the lamps (or light bulbs to the layman) is higher than that of the fluorescent tubes in the yucky yellow light.

When I eventually buy a place of my own, I know that, after my experience in this kitchen, I will absolutely have an invested interest in the lighting of my kitchen!

Historic Trolley Shed - Former GRTC Terminal

As a graduate student in my second (and final!) year, I will be spending the majority of both semesters working on my thesis project. This semester will focus on the research necessary to be able to execute the design project in the spring, and while I am still not entirely sure what on earth I'll actually be designing (I'm leaning toward a casual, "inhabitable" Richmond history museum), I have found the site I'd like to use and am extremely excited about it!

Meet The Greater Richmond Transit Company's former headquarters or, more specifically, "Lot G," its old paint and auto body shop. This 16,000 historic trolley shed is more than 100 years old and is located at the corner of Cary and Robinson Streets in Richmond's fan district. I'm not sure what year this shed was built, but have seen a map from 1895 that includes it.

This picture shows the building's East (front with garage doors) and North facades. With all of those large windows, you know that building is receiving some serious natural light!

Speaking of natural light, this image from Google Earth shows an overhead view of Lot G, with its 42 skylights:

Once inside the shed, I was blown away at just how much light entered the space. These interior shots were snapped at approximately 4:00 pm on an early September afternoon:

There are a few artificial lights suspended from the building's truss system, but I rarely noticed them until I re-examined these pictures after leaving the building.

So, I'm in love with this space, but I have a very long journey ahead of me when it comes to flushing out my thesis project. The amount of natural light that floods the shed during the day is one of the many reasons I'm excited to use this building, but I need to consider the fact that natural light can destroy art and artifacts - which I plan to display in my "inhabitable" museum. So dealing with natural light in a museum setting will absolutely pose a design challenge. Also, adding additional artificial light sources will be essential as this museum will need to cater to visitors after the sun has set. I plan on incorporating different types of spaces (exhibit area, restaurant/cafe, retail, etc) and treating each of them with appropriate lighting solutions will be essential.

More to come on the development and evolution of my thesis project... 

Kate

VMFA Lighting Tour

On Thursday, September 9th, my lighting professor (Hi Rob!) arranged a tour for our class of the new wing of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts with SMBW senior architect, Andrea Quilici. SMBW partnered with London-based architect, Rick Mather, on the expansion, and Andrea's tour focused primarily on the lighting design techniques and solutions featured throughout the space.

I learned that the VMFA, originally built in 1936, is the 10th largest museum in the United States (go Richmond!). Rick Mather's entry to a design competition won him the commission - primarily due to his intentions to add a European-style plaza at the main entrance, a sculpture garden with subterranean parking garage, and a desire to create clear, directional architecture. Once inside the museum, Andrea explained how natural light plays a large role in this idea of directional architecture, as it is used as a reference point and source of (re)orientation throughout the museum. Andrea spoke at length of "art fatigue," and how one can become quite overwhelmed in a museum upon being bombarded by exhibit, after exhibit, after exhibit. SMBW and Mather made sure to include several lounges, or areas in which a visitor can rest and recharge, by re-connecting with the outside environment. Skylights, windows, and light alcoves provide these moments of re-orientation, reminding patrons that life still exists beyond the walls of the museum.

The large atrium serves as the new wing's central axis, and its two enormous windows provide a clear view straight through the belly of the museum. The floating ceiling is peppered with skylights and its architectural details are highlighted at night with colored LED lights (more on this later). 

Around 5:00 pm, sunlight pierced through the shades on the large, rear window of the atrium, creating an incredible pattern of light on the museum's floor. Despite the sharp contrast between light and shadow depicted below, the atrium was still incredibly light and airy, thanks to the large, unshaded window on the opposite end, as well as multiple skylights.

This is the bare wall situated immediately to the right of the cafe (pictured above). The shades had been raised and a pool outside casts its reflections of sunlight onto the wall. The glimmering light from the ripples is a piece of art in itself!

Expanses of glass articulate each level of the museum, breaking up space via multiple reflections of natural light. The picture below was taken from the first floor of the museum next to the glass elevator. Even in the museum's basement, one can re-orient him/herself after emerging from an enclosed/secluded gallery into the more open area with a quick glimpse of natural daylight.

From the basement, one can appreciate this cool grid beneath the stairs. While the light appears completely blue in color....

... it is really comprised of blue, red, and green LED lights!

Andrea pointed out the various ways that light is used to illuminate art throughout the museum. Below are LED lights that have been set into a built-in track both below and above framed pieces. Andrea mentioned that these were actually installed incorrectly, and should be less easily noticed by museum patrons.

Our tour began at 6 pm and lasted approximately 2 hours. By 8 pm the sun had set, allowing us to appreciate the artificial lights used throughout the atrium. Purple LEDs articulate the curved ribbon walls and floating ceiling, creating a really neat, visual effect:

We learned so much on this incredible tour. I'm excited to incorporate many of the lighting practices and solutions Andrea discussed in a studio project we're working on right now.

Kate

Sprout Market & Cafe

Last Thursday after class, two of my classmates/favorite people ever, Emily Shea and Sarah Beth (yes, they both have double names) and I grabbed lunch at Sprout Market & Cafe near campus.

From their website:

Sprout is one of the newest members of the localvore movement in Richmond Va, serving lunch and dinner six days a week and offering to-go options, beer, wine and quick-eats from our market. Localvore is the diet of eating locally, and Sprout is committed to dealing direct, whenever possible, with the farmers, growers, tofu makers, artisans, etc. that provide the food we serve.


Discussing/critiquing food is not the purpose of this blog, however, I feel obligated to share how absolutely delicious my honey roasted eggplant sandwich was (yum!).

We walked into Sprout around 11:45 in the morning. I poked my head into the various rooms to assess the lighting situated and snapped a few pictures to post here. It was a gorgeous morning - completely sunny without a cloud in the sky - and daylight POURED into the space. I don't think a single electric light was on in the restaurant, which was great, as they simply weren't needed.

Light pouring in through the windows created great spots of brilliant highlight and deep shadows. Look at the incredible shadows on the booth back and table from the bars across this window.

This enormous skylight allowed tons of light to flood the restaurant's dining room. In the background, you can see the front market area, where the cash register is located. It, too, had a crisp, clear, and airy feel due to all of the windows located around the space.

In addition to the beautiful shadows, the sunlight also articulated the great grain on the reclaimed wood booths and tables. Gorgeous!

I noticed these glass sconces throughout the space while we were there, but never thought to examine them as light fixtures, since they weren't turned on. I'd love to go back to Sprout (for dinner. or desert. or both!) at night to see how they illuminate the incredible wood around the dining room. I would hope they cast a warm glow to match the comfy ambiance of the restaurant rather than something too bright and harsh. I'm also curious as to whether these lights and any additional lighting (overhead, recessed cans, etc.) provide ample light for dining at night.

I just loved how the light brought out various tones in these three, wood chairs. The deep shadows behind them plays up their unique shapes as well.

And this is my measly attempt at a watercolor. I don't use them enough and am trying to pepper my sketchbooks with them. They say practice makes perfect, but I'm just hoping that practice will make... less bad.

Stay tuned for Sprout post Part Deux - nighttime dining!

Kate

Welcome to Light, Lite!

Although I feel like I could easily personally welcome everyone I expect would ever read this blog (primarily my lighting professor Rob, a handful of my classmates, and potentially my parents), I still want to extend a warm welcome to any and everyone who has ventured to this site to see and hear my take on lighting in various interior spaces. Hello!

My name is Kate, and I am a second-year graduate student, working toward my MFA in Interior Design at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. This blog is the result of an assignment given to our class to document the lighting in at least five interior spaces in different buildings - residential, educational, hospitality, etc. I have named my blog "Light, Lite" because I predict that's exactly what you'll get through reading this blog - my dumbed-down (and, hence, "lite") take on lighting design as I attempt to document the good, the bad, and the ugly that I encounter in my day-to-day life.

That's me and my roots welcoming you to Light, Lite from our studio. And also realizing one must write backward for words to show up correctly in Photo Booth pictures :)

Kate