It makes it a much more interesting space. On the sides of the building, where the sloping roof met the second floor, the ceiling was so low that the area was virtually unusable. And on the landing itself, he cut away three feet of the floorboards, exposing the massive wooden joists underneath. The rough simple palette of the old wood provides a counterpoint of age and makes the space look not as gleaming. The stratagem also served the double purpose of allowing indirect light to filter down to the first floor, particularly important since the area directly underneath is being used as a computer workstation.
Subdued lighting is much more appropriate.
It's easier on your eyes when there's a lower contrast, and it leaves the screen totally glare-free. And while he had deliberately exposed the joists in the floor, Liftin removed the wooden beams overhead that tied the sides of the roof together and replaced them with a pair of astonishingly thin wires that do the same job without blocking any light coming in from the cupola and skylights above. They needed to be replaced. While maximizing natural light was one of Liftin's top priorities, he also paid close attention to the building's artificial lighting. The wires that replaced the roof ties, for example, were electrified with a low voltage to feed the pairs of tiny spotlights they support.