Architecture + Entertainment = Architainment: The Burgeoning Phenomena Of Experiential Environments: This is the title of a session in the LDInnovation Conference at LDI 2024 to keynote the focus on architectural lighting at LDI this year. Steven Rosen (FIALD, IES), president & creative director at Available Light, an award-winning experiential architectural lighting firm, founded in 1992 and stemming from Rosen's interest in applying theatrical lighting techniques to alternative environments. In the session, he will explore the rapid growth in the application of entertainment lighting techniques across many architectural genres including retail, museum exhibition, and commercial architecture.
"With on-demand streaming services, immersive video games, and mesmerizing virtual reality platforms, staying home, alone, in the dark has never been more seductive. While humans are inherently social creatures, producers and designers have discovered that creating extraordinary architectural attractions that encourage human interaction is a successful strategy for enticing people to venture out and gather. In this session, we will explore the rapid growth in the application of entertainment lighting techniques across many architectural genres, including retail, museum exhibition, and commercial architecture," says Rosen, who notes that "Experiential Spaces = An intriguing locale + compelling narrative + multiple sense-modulating techniques." Or in other words, "A visitor experience that connects observer participants with an emotional connection to a concept, object, or story. Bonus points for a scenario that also connects visitors to one another."
As Rosen point out, "Since mid-2022, the national Architecture Billings Index (ABI) reveals that the construction industry has been experiencing negative growth. But put the spotlight on experiential design projects and situation is far less bleak. The construction of new, and the conversion of legacy “big box” spaces into palaces of entertainment — both physical and digital — has been breathtaking. Recently, Disney announced plans to invest $60 billion over the next 10 years to modernize their theme parks and cruise ships. You can be sure that Universal, Six Flags, and other competitors will follow suit. Organizations like Meow Wolf, Moment Factory, MSG, and The Van Gogh Immersive Experience have spawned a whole new industry of eager competitors. And just like has always happened, developers working on a small local scale continue to emulate the mega-companies in search of attracting the consuming public," says the LD.
"This activity is a boon for entertainment lighting professionals looking to break out of their traditional venue presentations," Rosen continues. "But, as Experiential Environments grow up and glow up, a new generation of designers must embrace sustainable technology and techniques in a quest to reduce a project’s carbon footprint. From more efficient gear to being powered by renewable energy to embracing responsible cradle-to-grave product issues, designers must advocate for a more earth-friendly approach."
Focus on Architectural Lighting at LDI2024