lIGHT SERIES 2 RETAIL: STARBUCKS

There are some places where the lighting and layout of space is so successful that they make you want to enter just to be in the middle of the excitement. I feel that Starbucks has a very warm and comforting atmosphere which is partly responsible of the interior lighting design. There are a variety of lighting fixtures which add luminance contrast, variety, and interest. The main source of lighting is recessed luminaries which are located in the high ceiling as well as in the drop down ceiling which follows the perimeter of the bar. They are wide direct lighting and contain a warm incandescent lamp. The next type of lighting used is track lighting, which contains narrow direct lighting to focus the user’s attention on the retail products, coffee, pastries, and artwork. The track system provides a false ceiling height which is successful in also making the space feel more comfortable and intimate even though the actual ceiling is quite height. There is a nice subtle gradient caused by the lamps in the track fixtures that start at the source of the light and washes down the wall. The space above the track system is dark because of the lack of light. The last type of light are the set of three pendant lights located at the end of the espresso bar. These give off very little light but act as a sculptural piece of intrest and mark and important location in the store.
I don’t feel like there are any problems with the lighting in this space. This is actually where I work and has only been open for one week now. People realy enjoy the ambience of the space and stay for hours, reading and visiting with one another. There is enough light to highlight features, grab interest, and work functionally. The light is perfectly balanced with the shadows to create a relaxed and intimate environment.
The pattern of light and shadow create moments of visual interests which creates excitement in the space. The ceiling is filled with shadows because of its height but the false ceiling created by the track system provides light that encompasses the perimeter of the shadows above.