Effectiveness of Artificial Lighting Techniques on Architectural Facades of Commercial Buildings in Baghdad City at Night

Abstract

Since the beginning of the 21st, Baghdad has witnessed a remarkable change in the visual perception of urban space, obtained through the diverse activations of artificial lighting techniques in public streets, particularly on the facades of commercial buildings. This has resulted in various treatments characterized by their effectiveness in enhancing the perception of buildings and their impact on the commercial function in the city. The research problem emerged from the lake of scientific knowledge regarding the type of modern artificial lighting techniques and their effectiveness on the architectural formation of facades of commercial buildings in Baghdad at night, as well as their effects on the viewer. Accordingly, the study dealt with the impact of artificial lighting on human perception of the commercial building facades at night, and searched the approved classifications of artificial lighting and their techniques. The aim was to provide a fundamental information base for activating artificial lighting techniques, which helps designers to find innovative solutions that add new expressions and functional lighting to commercial buildings. The study assumes that artificial lighting techniques have a clear impact on both expression and functional levels of commercial building facades at night. The most significant findings of this article are that artificial lighting techniques play an active role in adding a dynamic quality to facades, thus enhancing the architectural value of buildings. Additionally, choosing the most appropriate lighting techniques not only enhances commercial value but also has noticeable effect on social interaction, place identity, and the vitality of the surrounding environment.