Architectural space is perceived and enjoyed largely through the visual sense. Buildings are constructed primarily to house human tasks and functions which, again, have a strong dependence on vision. Since sight requires light, architectural lighting, the use of light in buildings, is critical to the performance of everyday activities and to the appreciation of the built environment. History Throughout history, great significance has been attached to light.
Religious symbolism is replete with references to it.
Jesus called himself the light of the world. In the legal realm, an entire book of the Roman law was devoted to sunlight. The footcandle, the unit for illuminance in the imperial system, is the oldest physical unit still in common usage. Through most of this long history, the chief goal of architectural lighting was to introduce as much light as possible, whether daylight or human-produced, into a building. Currently, the possibility exists to provide too much light, so the emphasis has switched to optimization and control.