Hong Kong Builder
19
The hall of a modern house using an illuminated niche for decorative lighting, with indirect wall fittings in rough plaster for general illumina- tion. Light coloured walls do full justice to the installation.
ENTRANCE LIGHTING
Few people take the trouble to make their homes easily distinguishable by night. Those who do, such as the doctor or dentist, remain vividly in the mind's eye. It is, however, equally important for the ordinary house- holder to make it easy for visitors to find his house by illuminating the name or number. For the side entrance a water-tight bulkhead fitting or well glass fitting on a bracket, with switching performed from indoors, is an additional safety and convenience. Contrary to the general belief, the running cost of such exterior lighting
is quite low, seldom exceeding a dollar or two a year, for a 25-watt lamp is usually sufficient.
THE HALL
The lighting in the hall should convey an atmosphere of warmth and welcome, for it is here that the visitor receives the first impression of the house. This feeling can be enhanced by the use of flame-sprayed lamps, while in addition small portable lamps or luminous features will give an even better impression.
In many houses where the architectural design of the hall makes it impossible for the stairs to be lighted from
either the landing or the hall, it is most important that additional lighting shall be provided for what is one of the chief danger points in the home. It may take the form of wall brackets or panels let into the wall itself. This latter method is extremely decorative and when de- signing a new house should be considered early in the plans to avoid complicated structural alterations at a later date.
Where a hallmirror is used, adequate lighting should
always be provided, and this should, of course, be in keep-
ing with the general illumination; for example, where there is a central candle fitting, one candle bracket on each side of the mirror would be the best way of provid- ing local lighting.
Alternatively, should the lighting be of a concealed type, essentially modern fittings in the form of glass panels, of which there are many designs, or architectural lamps would be most suitable.
Passages leading from the hall are often neglected, although adequate lighting with two-way switching would greatly increase their convenience and safety.
Adequate stair lighting from three illuminated panels employing tubular lamps. The lighting beneath the staircase is also a permanent feature of this hall, architectural lamps being concealed in a curve formed by the outer casing of the stairs.
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