There was a time when building a house in Japan was originally a carpenter's job, and it was said that architects who worked on houses were lowly. Nowadays, many architects have been involved in building houses in collaboration with construction companies.

I wrote about the history of lighting in the previous column (https://www.inthelightinteriors.com/post/episode_56), but with economic growth, the lighting is brighter and the color temperature is also It's getting more expensive. Fluorescent lamps have become popularized with economic growth that began in the 1960s, but as the economic growth of the right shoulder has stopped and the time is changing to be more efficient LEDs, the brightness and color temperature of the li

"I live in a bright space that is no different from the daytime." One of the symbols of a rich life that many Japanese people have sought is lighting. The history of lighting began with oil lamps and candles in ancient times. Then, in the 1810s, oil lamps and gas lamps were invented, and in 1879, Edison invented incandescent light bulbs. The fluorescent lamps used in the current mainstream ceiling lights were born around 1940.

As I wrote in the column (https://www.inthelightinteriors.com/post/episode_30) before, the role of lighting in space is very important. Even if you don't feel much need during the day when there is a lot of sunshine, the role of lighting is important in places that require lighting even during the day and places where you spend time at night. It is no exaggeration to say that it determines the impression of the space.

"Bespoke" is called "bespoke" because it comes from the English word "be spoken", and it is made while the people and customers in the store have a careful dialogue. Custom-made shoes, such as brands such as John Robb and Edward Green, are also called custom-made shoes.

The convenience store, which shines particularly brightly in the cityscape at night, has LED lights placed in parallel to the road in a fully glazed store. Compared to placing the elongated lighting vertically, even with the same amount of light, it will be much brighter from the outside.

We Japanese generally think that once something gets old or broken, it’s better to throw it away and get a new one. In contrast, for people in Europe and the U.S., the idea is that 'it’s fine as long as it still works,' or 'if it breaks, just repair it and keep using it.

Lighting is inconvenient if you don’t have it, but as long as it’s bright, people usually don’t have much to complain about. In homes, the quality of the atmosphere often comes second, and the vast majority of people think that as long as it’s bright, that’s enough. However, just as the concept of 'right light in the right place' exists for home lighting, it’s better to plan and arrange lighting according to your lifestyle.

I think more people find it beautiful to see the warm light emitted from a beloved lighting fixture than a sterile space illuminated by unnoticeable light. Likewise, many people would prefer walls and floors with gradations of light and shadows rather than uniformly lit walls and floors.

The world is becoming increasingly convenient and comfortable day by day, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that people are becoming happier. Just as many adults often tell younger people, 'Things were better in the past,' humans are surprisingly nostalgic creatures.

Nearly a century has passed since In Praise of Shadows, yet the role of lighting in spaces remains largely confined to merely illuminating. This is simply because the prevailing perception—that lighting is merely a tool to make things bright—has not changed.

John Ruskin, a 19th-century British social thinker and art critic, who influenced William Morris and became a spiritual pillar for the Arts & Crafts movement and subsequent activists.

In a recent issue of the magazine Casa Brutus, there was a feature on architect Tadao Ando, which included a section titled 'Life and Books.' In it, he wrote about the importance of reading books and his regrets about not having read enough throughout his life.

For seniors who are retired, opportunities to go out or interact with society are often limited, meaning they naturally spend more time at home. For such seniors, living in a home with high-quality interiors and a sense of the seasons and nature—a 'comfortable and inviting home'—holds great significance.

Fashion and interior design are closely connected, as both reflect a person’s outward appearance and inner self. However, while people often say that inner qualities are important, the truth is that most tend to invest more attention and money in their outward appearance.

"If you’re particular about building a home, you’d want rooms filled with what feels 'comfortable' and 'stylish' for yourself and your family. An essential element in creating such a refined and cozy space is the 'focal point.

Renovation that reflects the residents’ lifestyle and adds value beyond the existing space. To achieve comfortable living in an older home, it is important to assess the condition of the existing building, plan optimally, and enhance the quality of the home.

If an item you want is available both on Amazon and at your favorite shop, wouldn’t it be more exciting to go to your favorite shop to buy it, even if it’s a bit more troublesome?

The role of lighting in a home is even more significant than in hotels or restaurants, as mentioned earlier. A home is a space where your tired body and mind can rest and you can truly feel at ease. In spaces lit by the harsh light of fluorescent lamps, like offices or schools, neither the body nor the mind can fully relax.

During the evening hours at home, it is meaningful to create a lighting environment that transitions from the orange of sunset to the dim, subtle glow of candlelight, rather than the daylight-like light emitted by fluorescent lamps. This approach brings the environment closer to a more natural setting.

As people age, many may wish they could return to their youth, and many may also think that newer things are better. However, by simply changing the way we view and think about things, we may come to realize that both old objects and getting older aren’t so bad after all.

Adolf Loos, one of the pioneers of modernist architecture, is known for coining the sensational phrase 'ornament is a crime.' Born in 1870 in what is now the Czech Republic, he moved to the United States at the age of 23 (1893), and later worked mainly in Vienna and Paris.

Electric lighting is something we use without much thought, but rethinking it can completely transform our daily lives. Light not only illuminates what we want to see but also softens the visual noise of a space. A dinner enjoyed by candlelight, for example, can create a truly special moment.

Lighting is an essential element of any home. Many so-called iconic lighting pieces also have a strong presence as objects because of their beautiful forms. However, the true purpose of all lighting is, at its core, to illuminate something.