The Lindy Guide to Lighting

I’m sorry to report that we as a society screwed up public lighting.

We jumped too fast into LED streetlights without stopping to think about how ugly they’d look. Governments were concerned about the cost savings, environment, safety and visibility rather than by the ambiance or feel of the environment. Now every city looks harsh and sterile at night like a hospital or Wal-Mart.

We already have the trouble with LED headlights beaming straight at us. Things have deteriorated with lighting in the public space the last few years.

I was reminded of this change when I visited Lisbon. What struck out to me was how comfortable the city felt at night. They never replaced their sodium lights with LEDs. Humans get used to thinks. You forget how beautiful the orange glow was. It makes you feel like the main character in a movie.

They do make LEDs that mimic the old Sodium colored lights. But no one, to my knowledge, has actually replaced the bright light LEDs. Once a major infrastructure investment is made, like switching to bright white LED lighting, it's difficult to reverse or modify because the sunk costs are substantial, and bureaucracies tend to resist revisiting these decisions. And eventually people forget what the previous lighting looked like, humans get used to things fast, and so there is lack of demand for sodium-colored LED replacements

That’s a shame because light is a powerful manipulator of our mood.

Horizontal Light

This week, Mariah Carey, pop star and perpetual diva, went viral for complaining about overhead lights. Is it just a rich person whining about something that doesn’t matter? Yeah, it is. Mariah’s been wealthy forever, and she probably hasn’t dealt with harsh lighting in years. But there’s something to it.

@mattrogerstho

MARIAH CAREY on LAS CULTURISTAS this Wednesday #mariahcarey

I took the horizontal lighting pill a while ago. Got rid of the overheads, went all-in on lamps, and everything changed. My space felt better. My mind felt better. I didn’t look back. Mood lighting isn't just for the rich. it's a game changer.

@joshandmattdesign

Petition to ban all overhead lighting 😩🙏🏼 #interiordesign

Horizontal (or angled) light is Lindy.

Humans evolved in environments where the primary source of light was the sun, and much of that light was horizontal. During early morning and late afternoon, the sun sits lower in the sky, producing horizontal light that is softer and more scattered. This period coincides with humans' natural peak activity times during our evolutionary past. That’s when humans were most active during our evolutionary past. It's when our bodies were primed for work, hunting, gathering, and movement.

Early humans were likely diurnal (day-active), but with behaviors adapted to avoid extreme conditions like the midday heat. Studies of modern hunter-gatherer societies, such as the Hadza in Tanzania or the !Kung San in southern Africa, show that people often structure their day to be more active in the cooler mornings and late afternoons.

In nature, the period when the sun is directly overhead, providing the most intense, overhead light, is brief. This happens around solar noon when the sun is at its highest point in the sky. After humans developed civilization and moved past hunting and gathering we developed other sophisticated ways to avoid the overhead light.

Architecture and Siesta

Traditional cultures dealt with overhead sunlight in two ways: 1) Architecture and 2) Culture. If you find yourself walking in Venice, Morocco or other hotter climates you’ll find almost uncomfortably narrow streets.

Extremely narrow streets remain cool, provide shade and are well-ventilated even during intense heat. The ground only receives direct sunlight for less than 10 minutes, when the sunlight falls in a slender strip at a 90-degree angle.

But other times the solution isn’t architectural, it’s cultural. Many traditional cultures, developed a midday rest period or "siesta" that coincides with the sun being at its highest point in the sky. The siesta typically occurs in the early afternoon, when the sun is at its peak and the heat is most intense.

@the.everythingist

We just arrived and they were about to close 😵‍💫 #spain #barcelona #travelblog #europe #catalunya #traveladdict #traveltiktok #siesta

Modern people don’t take siestas in the western world much anymore. Although, maybe they should. Human circadian rhythms naturally create a dip in energy levels in the early afternoon (typically between 1-3 PM). This is why many people experience a "post-lunch slump" regardless of whether they ate something or not. A short rest period during this time can help to combat the body's natural tendency to feel sluggish. Our natural refuge from the overhead light of the sun.

Overhead Lighting Can Be Useful

So, should we be like Mariah Carey and banish all overhead LED or fluorescent lights? No overhead lights in the gym or office? I don’t think so. These lights, while harsh, can serve a purpose for people like you and me.

Right now, I’m writing this under a harsh, blindingly white fluorescent light. Does it make me happy? Absolutely not. But it’s pushing me to hammer out these thoughts fast and efficiently.

The second I’m done, I’ll step into natural, softer, horizontal light and switch to a calmer place. But for now? I’m in the zone. Sometimes, you need a little discomfort to get things done. No one goes into war with a smile.

There is a movement happening to banish all overhead lights in the workplace. Look, I get it. Overhead lights can suck, especially if you’re under them all day. But the alternative could be worse. Ideally, you should be under the overhead lights for times of productivity and then take refuge in horizontal light for idea generation and calm.

In This Newsletter

It’s a shame about what happened with public street lights. It’s something we cannot control. But we can control lighting in our own homes and spaces. Let’s dive deeper into a theory of lighting.

1) Light on Two Sides: Ever notice rooms with light coming from one side feel like a cave and you’re never really comfortable sitting in them?

2) Pools of Light: Unlike uniform, bright lighting, which can feel sterile and overwhelming, pools of light create areas of focus, warmth, and intimacy. These pockets of softer, concentrated light draw people into specific zones,

3) Small Panes, Small Windows: Small panes divide light and views into smaller segments, which can soften the intensity of sunlight and create a more textured play of light and shadow in the space.

Light on Two Sides

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