Certain architectural lighting form factors, such as the line of light, the ring, the cylinder, and the drum, become repetitive and boring. Beta-Calco brings an element of thoughtful design to every fixture they put on the market. This elevation of design lifts the basic to something special, and it can instantly take your project from commonplace to extraordinary.
Here are three ways Beta-Calco elevates lighting elements from basic to amazing.
Le Louvre
I really can't start a conversation about elevating basic form factors without touching on Le Louvre. Linear lighting has been a flat stick of light for a long time. Beta-Calco decided to change the game with Le Louvre. The design of Le Louvre, is ingenious for two reasons. The first is subtle, but it leads to the second.
By making the lens cavity concave, the viewing angle is limited to the lens, immediately reducing glare and making the fixture more visually pleasant. (This same technique is used well in the Tunnel family.) However, the concave shape makes it very easy to mount the totally unique louver into the channel.
The louver system elevates this line of light from purely functional to an architectural piece. Here are a few things to know and remember about the louvers.
The louvers' different finishes are more than simply aesthetic. Each carries a different Unified Glare Rating (UGR) and will also affect light transmission. (As such, they all have their own IES multiplier.) So, this becomes a balancing act between reducing glare and getting the light output/efficacy required for the project.
Le Louvre is available recessed, surface mounted, and suspended. The suspended version has an indirect option, and indirect uplights are available with a variety of optics. The update in the last year is the ability to do systems and shapes with Le Louvre, thanks to the new corner louvers.
Ring Blade and Switch
There's no shortage of rings on the market today, but even as we seek to get away from the linear form factor, so many rings look the same. Beta-Calco refuses to settle for the "same" the Ring Blade and the Switch, a fresh take on the ring form factor that addresses several design concerns.
The first consideration is performance. A ring that creates real usable light is often in proportions that are bulky in the space, or they are compressed into very thin rings that can be a source of glare if too much light is pushing through them. The Ring Blade and Switch families employ a waveguide material. This allows the lens to be edge-lit and direct a ton of usable light outward with remarkably low glare.
That's a ton of possible light out of a ring fixture! Making Ring Blade or Switch totally appropriate for spaces ranging from libraries to atriums. Of course, those outputs can be reduced to levels more appropriate for a typical 8-12ft ceiling height.
Switch and blade are available in 100% downlight or 50% up and 50% down distributions. 90 CRI is standard, and of course, it comes with the thin form factor, remote driver only, but with options for a canopy-mounted driver or a fully remote assembly.
Spective
Spective, like Le Louvre, seeks to elevate the line of light to an architectural statement piece within the space. The lensing of Spective is a softening diffusion lens that blends and distributes the downlight element. But there's an added effect. By spacing the lens from the body of the fixture, a small bit of reflected light bounces back to the underside of the body of the fixture. This invites a splash of subtle color along the body of the fixture. I love this little bit of purposeful design. It makes the fixture both a functional luminaire and a beautiful, luminous object.
Spective also offers an indirect uplight. While the direct downlight maxes out at 600 lumens per foot for glare control, the indirect uplight can deliver up to 1400 lumens per foot, making it a totally viable option for open office lighting, corridors, and a host of other applications.
There is so much more from Beta-Calco. Complex pendants, exterior cylinders, multiple linear form factors
Beta-Calco excels in elevating basic lighting form factors and creating architectural elements. If you head to their website, you'll see multiple examples of how they elevate the standard lighting fixture to something extra extraordinary. We have an extensive sample library at SDA. Use the Contact Us button to book your next presentation with Beta Calco.
