Light to look at is the type of light that orients and directs us in a space without the use of sounds, images or words.

From the moment we step out into the street in the morning, we are exposed to many different stimuli. Many of them: the horn of a car, the barking of a dog or a siren are perceived as everyday and will generate reactions in us such as putting us on alert. Our brain automatically makes its interpretation that something is happening and we look to see if we can figure out how to get to safety if necessary.

Other stimuli are advertisements: image and text that try to attract us directly. In this way we see how creatives and advertisers try to be groundbreaking and innovative to cause surprise in the passerby.

The light to look at is one more stimulus that we can find in the street, in establishments or large buildings or in our workplace. It is capable of directing or guiding people without the need for sounds, images or texts.

Light for looking is one of the three types or concepts of lighting established by the designer Richard Kelly in the 1950's. He made a clear distinction between general, functional and ambient lighting and explained it by talking about light for seeing, light for looking and light for contemplating.

The light to look at is the one that is in charge of directing our attention, being able to direct our steps, to orient us in a space, whether interior or exterior. It is a communicative light, we could say that it speaks to us without words. Light has the ability to guide or direct us through the areas that make up homes, stores, museums, our work areas. Examples of this are the so called signaling lights, single emission wall lights, Up & Down wall lights and other luminaires that without saying anything explicitly are able to tell us without words which is the way we should follow.

Palma Nova. Estudi Cano & Peev.

The Cliff House

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