New York based designer Todd Bracher’s collaboration with 3M Architectural Markets exemplifies the synergy when science and design converge to create an engineering marvel. The team has harnessed best of LED lighting and tamed its limitations to expand the aesthetic and functional power of this energy-efficient light source.
In just a few days, Bracher and 3M Architectural Markets will debut at the London Design Festival its revolutionary Lightfalls, a state-of-the-art architectural lighting system that capitalises on the laws of physics to distribute light from a single LED source over a large space to create a “Virtual LED.” The concept fascinates me as well as the design so I bring you this exclusive interview with Todd Bracher as we peer into his design mind and learn more about the creative and scientific process behind the creation of Lightfalls.
Lightfalls by 3M Achitectural Markets designed by Todd Bracher
One of the drawbacks to LED lighting is that it's omnidirectional. It seems you've created a lighting fixture that spreads light—a breakthrough that addresses one of the limitations in LEDs. Was that part of your inspiration, reasoning and thought process in the design of Lightfalls?
You are correct. LEDs are omnidirectional and that was part of the inspiration behind Lightfalls, by asking how can we control the light, do we have the ability to do control it better and more efficiently than before? That is the wonderful partnership with 3M, their optical team explained to me that ‘light is 100% predictable." We know what we want to achieve so we can engineer a solution to completely control the light. We knew we wanted to bring a lighting solution to the market that provides an architectural solution not just look beautiful. We wanted great efficiency, simple installation, physical scale at an economical cost, and flexible design options for the specifier. So together 3M and I developed a method called Lightfalls which does exactly that.
Close up of Lightfalls by 3M Achitectural Markets designed by Todd Bracher
Please tell us about some of the applications/uses of Lightfalls that you envision?
The beauty behind Lightfalls is that you can light large spaces with little installation effort, little costs involved with electrical work as it can have as little as one powered LED over a good 10- foot section. Which means for the architect they can have a large accent piece for relatively little cost and low installation time. I envision Lightfalls used in ceiling and wall applications where the desire is to have a wow factor while providing superb ambient light for low cost. The cost is low as you need only a single LED in some cases where to normally light a 10-foot fixture you would need multiple LEDS, multiple power supplies etc. Lightfalls is designed to be very easy to install which also lowers the cost as there is really no wiring as it is a completely passive system and not electrical other than the LED.
Closeup view of single light in Lightfalls by 3M Achitectural Markets designed by Todd Bracher
How would you describe the lighting effect of Lightfalls? And how did you create it?
The lighting effect is a result of physics. It is 100% explosive and dynamic. We also have developed a ‘dichroic’ filter that shifts the color of the light and allows it to separate through the system resulting in a play in light never seen before. When dimmed down, the result is rich. 3M only uses the highest quality full spectrum LEDs that burn wonderfully. The light is truly the best available and Lightfalls presents it beautifully. Lightfalls was born from asking ‘what if’? As a sort of experiment, we tried to push the limits of what is possible... and feel that now we understand this is possible... what else can we achieve— that question is even more interesting.
Bracher also designed a specially commissioned space by 3M Architectural Markets at the trade show 100% Design during the London Design Festival.
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