Interior or Internal Tensile Structures are a great way to elevate a space by creating a captivating visual experience. Although interior tensile structures have immense aesthetic value on their own, effective lighting techniques such as dynamic lighting can help to create a more visually pleasing design that highlights the best features of the interior structure and creates an immersive space.
In this blog post, we will explore how dynamic lighting can give your interior structure an extra bit of flair to help elevate it’s design and we’ll also discuss the benefits of effective lighting for interior tensile structures.
What are Interior Tensile Structures?
Interior or internal tensile structures refer to any structure that is stabilised by tension rather than compression. In comparison, other tensile structures are usually found as standalone structures or as the external façade of a building.
This means that any tensile structure that is inside of a building can be referred to as an interior/internal tensile structure and includes examples like interior fabric structures or cable suspension systems designed to support artistic designs made from materials other than fabric.
Our Interior Tensile Architecture Projects
We have completed various internal tensile structure projects including a bespoke interior art installation system for the Design Museum in London which included a bespoke lightweight cable suspension system that would allow a variety of multimedia exhibitions to be dramatically displayed in the atrium space
Read more about with this project with our Case Study on the bespoke internal tensile architecture at the Design Museum
Another, similar project that we have completed was the interior Fabric Sails that we designed and installed for BP’s International Centre for Business and Technology. The project involved 72 beautiful tensile fabric leaves which were suspended from tensioned webnet panels and almost invisible stainless-steel cables.
Read more about this project with our Case Study on the stunning Fabric Sails at BP
Benefits of Interior Tensile Structures
There are numerous benefits to Interior Tensile Structures, they provide an aesthetic design that can help breathe life into empty spaces with high roofs. This makes them great for commercial spaces such as large office buildings, shopping centres or exhibition spaces.
In addition to their design and visual benefits, interior tensile architecture also provides functional benefits for a space. Some of these benefits include noise reduction and light control.
When coupled with architectural techniques like biophilic design, interior tensile structures can even improve the metal and phycological well-being of employees or visitors by creating a more calming and natural environment.
What is Dynamic Lighting for Interior Tensile Architecture
Dynamic lighting for interior tensile architecture is more than just a method of lighting for a tensile structure. It involves the strategic placement of lights, varying intensities, colours, and movements which help create a captivating visual experience.
By utilizing lighting technology such as LED systems, programmable fixtures, and smart controls, designers can create spaces with an adaptable lighting that is capable of changing according to diverse needs and moods.
According to Fabric Architecture Magazine, LED Lights are currently the go-to lighting choice for a lot of designers and architects but there has also been a noticeable increase in the use of ultraviolet lighting coupled with fluorescent ink print graphics.
Key Elements of Dynamic Lighting
- Enhancing the mood or feel of a space – Dynamic lighting can significantly influence the mood and atmosphere of a space. Through the manipulation of colour temperatures and intensity of the lighting used, it can evoke emotions, create focal points, or provide a more layered visual experience within the interior tensile architecture.
- Providing spatial definition – For fabric structures where physical boundaries may be less defined, dynamic lighting aids in highlighting different features of tensile architecture using contrasting colours. By lighting up specific zones or architectural elements, it can also create a sense of depth
- Adaptability of the lighting – The versatility of dynamic lighting allows the tensile architecture to be adapted for different purposes or settings. For instance, in a tensile structure for events or functions, the lighting scheme can transform from an engaging ambiance for a social gathering to a focused and professional setting for presentations or performances.
Applications of Dynamic Lighting for Interior Tensile Architecture
The integration of dynamic lighting in interior tensile architecture allows architects and designers to tailor tensile structures to meet the specific needs of the room or space where it is installed. We’ve outlined some examples of how to incorporate dynamic lighting to achieve different interior architecture designs and aims.
Interactive Installations
Interactive installations are probably the most advanced approach to integrating lighting with interior tensile architecture . These installations respond to human interaction, sound, or even environmental changes, providing an engaging and immersive experience. In tensile structures, this can be in the form of interactive light displays integrated into the fabric itself.
Biophilic Lighting Design
Biophilic design is all about the connection between humans and nature. Dynamic lighting inspired by sunlight patterns or the changing colours of the sky during different times of the day can create a harmonious and calming environment within fabric structures.
Earlier we mentioned our Fabric Sail project with BP, this was Biophilic design as the sails were inspired by plant leaves. The natural light and shadows they form help create an amazing visual effect and extra lighting strategically placed to highlight various leaves and create a jungle like effect throughout the space.
Artistic Expression
Dynamic lighting serves is the perfect canvas for artistic expression. Designers and artists can utilize these lighting and tensile architecture to create awe-inspiring art installations. By using various techniques and artistic designs, the structure can also be adapted so that the installation can become a living piece of art.
Our project at the Design Museum in London which we mentioned earlier in this article is an amazing example of this as it was designed to support a variety of multimedia exhibitions.
Important Considerations for Lighting and Tensile structures
While dynamic lighting presents numerous opportunities, there are also some important considerations to take into account. We’ve outlined some factors that may affect an interior tensile structure project that involves advanced lighting techniques.
- Integration and Maintenance – Seamless integration of lighting systems within fabric structures requires thorough planning and execution. Additionally, the maintenance of these systems can pose challenges, especially over time.
- Fire Resistance – Although the materials that we use have a high level of fire resistance, lighting is effectively a heat source, and this is important to take into consideration for fire safety reasons.
- Energy Efficiency – Despite the effectiveness of dynamic lighting, it can impact energy efficiency due to amount of lighting needed.
- Sustainability – It’s important to consider that lighting can impact the sustainability of a project, most of the time this is negligible, but some projects have very strict net-zero goals or need to meet a certain level of sustainability, so it is always important to take this into account.
How Arc Structures can help you with your Interior Tensile Architecture Project
As experts in both interior and exterior tensile architecture solutions, you can rely on us to help facilitate your next project from the design phase through to installation and maintenance. Our previous work, which we’ve discussed in this article, is a testament to our capabilities when it comes to creating captivating yet practical interior tensile architecture.
Get in touch to day to find out how we can help you build your next interior tensile structure.