A nighttime spectacle in your garden – the art of reflected light
When the sun goes down, your garden doesn’t have to go to sleep. On the contrary, it is after dark that nature reveals its other, mysterious face to us. Garden lighting is not just a matter of safety or visibility of paths. It is a powerful tool in the hands of a landscape architect, which allows you to create the space anew, bringing out of the darkness what is sometimes invisible during the day.
In our studio we treat the night scenery of the garden as an integral part of the project. How do we create this magical atmosphere? Here is our philosophy.
The philosophy of shadow and glow: We love reflected light
Our overriding principle is that we expose the plant, not the fixture. We believe that in an elegant garden the light source should remain discreet, almost invisible. It is not the lamp that should be the star of the evening, but the plant on which its glow falls.
We rely on reflected light. What does this mean in practice? We direct the stream of light to leaves, the texture of bark, stone walls or the surface of water. They, reflecting the rays, become natural lanterns. This avoids the effect of “glare” and aggressive points of light, creating instead a soft, dreamy glow that envelops the garden.
Temperature matters: Why 3000K?
Light has its own “temperature” and it determines how we feel in a given space. We consistently use warm, natural light with a color temperature around 3000K in our designs.
Why do we avoid cold colors?
- 3000K is a color that is gentle on the eye and promotes relaxation and tranquility.
- It brings out the true texture and color of plants – green becomes juicy, and wood and stone take on a noble appearance.
- Cold light makes the garden look unnatural, flat and “hospital-like.” Warm color builds intimacy and coziness of a home fire moved under the bare sky.
Architecture of light: zones and scenes of view
Professional planning of a lighting system is not about random placement of lamps. It’s a thoughtful strategy for zoning your garden. We create scenic scenes that you can enjoy whether sitting on the terrace or looking out the living room window on a winter evening.
With zone control, you have full control over the lighting of your garden: from full illumination during a party, to subtle lighting accents perfect for a romantic evening.
Safety hidden underground: 230V and low-voltage installations
In our projects, we work on systems with different voltages: safe low voltage (12V and 24V) and standard mains voltage (230V). While 12/24V systems give great flexibility and are safe for the user even in case of accidental wire damage, 230V installations require an uncompromising approach to safety standards.
The quality of what you can’t see (i.e., the cables underground) is a guarantee that your installation will last for years without failure. Here’s how we take care of the workmanship standards for 230V installations:
1. protective armor (Suitable cables)
We do not use random materials. Only YKYżo type cables go into the ground. These are specialized cables with insulation resistant to moisture, soil acids and harsh environmental conditions. Their cross-section is selected individually to the length of the route and the assumed load.
2. safe depth and a “cushion” of sand
How a cable is laid out is crucial to its durability. We follow strict procedures:
- Depth: We lay cables at a depth of min. 70-80 cm or 50 cm (under paved paths). This protects them from accidental damage with a shovel during garden work.
- Depreciation: the cable never lies directly in the trench. It is laid on a 10-centimeter layer of sand and backfilled with another layer of sand. The cable should never have been laid taut, it must undulate slightly so that it has room to move if the soil is stressed.
3. warning to future generations
Above the cable, halfway down the excavation, we always spread blue warning foil (for voltages up to 1kV) or red foil with the words “CAUTION CABLE.” If ever in the future someone excavates in this place, he will first hit the foil, which will protect the installation from being cut.
4. certified installation
We perform all installation work at 230V in accordance with PN-HD 60364 and under the supervision of an authorized electrician. In areas particularly exposed to pressure, we use additional HDPE protective pipes.
Summary
Your peace of mind is most important to us. That’s why we combine an artistic vision of night scenery with engineering precision.
Do you dream of a garden that is also stunning after dark? Contact us and let’s create together your dream garden with the perfect lighting scene.