Exterior & Architectural Lighting Design
Composing night-time identity for architecture and public spaces
Lucretia delivers professional exterior and architectural lighting design for building façades, landscapes and public environments. Our approach integrates architectural form, pedestrian experience and surrounding context to create distinctive night-time identities through precise, energy-efficient illumination. Every lighting scheme is carefully developed to balance visual impact, performance and long-term sustainability, while fully complying with Australian electrical and compliance standards.
For media façades and digital display systems, please see Digital Display & Signage Design.
Our Design Process
Site & Context
We analyse pedestrian and traffic flows, viewing distances, sensitive surroundings and night-sky considerations to ensure responsible, precise and context-driven lighting design.
Concept & Zoning
We develop a cohesive day-to-night lighting identity, structuring façade and landscape lighting layers and defining baseline, event and feature lighting scenes.
Optics & Control Strategy
We select precise optical distributions, mounting positions and intelligent control systems (DALI / DMX / KNX / Casambi) to achieve seamless visual performance and flexible scene management.
Technical Integration
We coordinate closely with architects, engineers, landscape and municipal teams to resolve cabling, corrosion protection, glare control and long-term durability (IP / IK / weather resistance).
Implementation & Commissioning
We conduct on-site focusing, scene programming and system commissioning, followed by full verification, optimisation and O&M documentation for long-term operation.
Project Types (Exterior / Public Realm)
• Building façades and roof features (cornices / crowns / curtain walls / architectural details)
• Urban public realm (squares, high streets, waterfronts, pocket parks)
• Landscape and gardens (tree lines, groundcover, water features, stairs, railings)
• Bridges and city landmarks
• Campuses, cultural venues, sports parks and heritage precincts
• Media façades and interactive installations (LED Mesh / LED Glass / pixel-based works)
Deliverables
• Lighting masterplan for façades, landscapes and public realm, including zoning, circuiting and control strategy
• Detailed photometric calculations for illuminance, uniformity, glare control (UGR), light trespass and spill, with power density and energy compliance reporting
• Luminaire selection schedules with optics, wattage, CCT, CRI, IP/IK ratings, aiming data and mounting details
• Lighting control system architecture, scene programming logic, time/event scheduling and interface coordination (DALI / DMX / KNX / Casambi)
• Construction details, fixing and shielding assemblies, corrosion protection and environmental durability specifications
• On-site aiming, commissioning records, verification reports and final as-built documentation with O&M manuals
• Full digital outputs in Revit/BIM, DWG, IES/LDT and PDF formats
Exterior Lighting Principles (Examples)
City & building in harmony
Use hierarchy, outlining and material-based lighting to reinforce architectural massing and urban order; avoid indiscriminate brightness and visual pollution.
Public experience first
Prioritise safety, wayfinding and visual comfort through appropriate vertical illuminance, uniformity and strict glare control.
Ecology & neighbours
Control CCT, output and operating hours to limit light spill, reduce sky glow and protect residential amenity and natural habitats.
Sustainable & serviceable
Adopt high-efficiency optical systems, zone-based control and clear maintenance access to minimise energy use and whole-of-life cost.
Media & dynamics
For media façades and interactive installations, define brightness limits, pixel density and content governance to maintain visual order and energy compliance.
Why Choose Lucretia
Unified Delivery
Façade, landscape and media lighting are designed, engineered and delivered by one integrated team, reducing interface risk, misalignment and construction conflicts.
Systems Integration
Full integration of DALI, DMX, KNX and Casambi with municipal, BMS and AV systems, enabling seamless switching between daily, event and festival lighting modes through centralised control.
Engineering Robustness
Outdoor-grade specifications with IP66–67, IK impact resistance, and proven salt-spray and UV-resistant finishes. Cabling strategy, drainage, corrosion protection and long-term maintenance are resolved at design stage.
Compliant Handover
Complete photometric reports, construction documentation and O&M manuals prepared to local electrical, energy and safety standards, supporting smooth authority approvals and asset handover.
Cross-Discipline Strength
Backed by Lucretia Sign (media & display systems) and Lucretia Space (materials & fabrication), ensuring consistency across lighting, structure, media and architectural expression.
Start Your Project
Ready to define a clear night-time identity for your building or public realm? Book a consultation and our design team will respond within 24 hours with an initial technical assessment and project information checklist.
Our Projects
Some of our best design insights come from what we’ve already built—take a look through our earlier projects for ideas waiting to be reimagined.
