The defination from wikipedia,

Architectural lighting design is a field within architecture, interior design and electrical engineering that is concerned with the design of lighting systems, including natural light, electric light, or both, to serve human needs.

The design process takes account of:

• The kind of human activity for which lighting is to be provided
• The amount of light required
• The color of the light as it may affect the views of particular objects and the environment as a whole
• The distribution of light within the space to be lighted, whether indoor or outdoor
• The effect of the lightened system itself on the user

The objective of lighting design is the human response, to see clearly and without discomfort. The objective of architectural lighting design is to further the design of architecture or the experience of buildings and other physical structures.

The three most common forms of architectural lighting are cove, soffit and valance; all three are integrated into the room’s structure. Cove lighting is located in a ledge, shelf or recess high up on a wall, and the light is bounced toward the ceiling or upper wall. Soffit lighting is located in a soffit or cornice near the ceiling, and the light radiates downward, washing the wall with light. Valance lighting is located in a wood, metal or glass valance (horizontal shield) mounted above a window or high on the wall, and the light bounces both upward and downward. The technique of bouncing light off walls and ceilings is known as indirect lighting, which is favored by many lighting professionals because indirect lighting minimizes shadows and glare. Architectural lighting is most often used as ambient lighting.

Architectural lighting presupposes that there’s architecture.

Fluorescent tubes of light illuminating an underground sewer system or an industrial warehouse, for example, do not exactly constitute architectural lighting. A commercial square LED pendant hanging in your office, for instance, may or may not be architectural lighting. It depends on whether the pendant meets certain standards, which we’ll cover below.

So, architectural lighting is an intersection of art (architecture) and technology (lighting). The architecture being illuminated or lighted may be commercial or residential. Other fields of endeavor, such as design, also come into play. Of course, so do physics, engineering and the psychological and physiological effects of light.

Strictly speaking, architectural lighting is illumination for building design and function.

1). Design Spaces with Fewer Limitations

Lower voltage does not mean lower light, or less versatility.

LED light can do everything a traditional light can do except take up as much space! This removes architectural design restrictions when planning placements for lighting, like plenum space, conduit locations, or ceiling height, or insulation contact concerns.

If your commercial lighting needs include “streamlined,” “clean,” and “flush,” then LED lighting is your solution.

LED flat panels take up far less space than their CFL linear panel light equivalents. LED downlighting and their accompanying drivers are much smaller and give off far less heat.

2). Simple to Retrofit Your Existing Lighting System

Brandon Lighting understands there is a real expense to replacing existing fixtures with new. That’s why Brandon makes a myriad of LED bulbs that can retrofit into existing fixtures. Often the capital required for a complete fixture change is possible, making LED lamp changes more economical.

A common question when switching traditional lighting to LED’s is, “do LED’s have the same lumens and warmth as my traditional lights?”

3). Using LED Architectural Lighting is Safe and Environmentally Friendly

The simple fact that LED lights do not produce heat makes them safe for numerous applications where a traditional heat producing bulb would be a fire hazard. These bulbs also integrate a unique heat sink to dissipate any residual heat production from the lamps themselves, making them a far safer option for the home or office than a traditional or halogen bulb.

Additionally, while many commercial lighting projects factor in lighting expense, energy expense, and flexibility, the components used in creating the light—like toxic gases—are often overlooked.

4). Provide Aesthetic Appeal with Greater Versatility

One of the very best reasons to use LED architectural lighting is simply for the aesthetic appeal that they provide.

The light cast by LEDs is unadulterated and brilliant and is nearer to copying genuine daylight than some other accessible lighting. LED lighting has superior CRI, which means the colors in your space render more true to their actual color.

Additionally, while many fixtures are built around the bulbs ability to light a space, fixtures built around LED’s can take on smaller, more dynamic sizes, including everything from tape to sharp, ultra-thin geometric designs.