I’ve always been fascinated by the effect lighting has, and will always have, on us as people and I think it’s important we also make others aware – so that they too can experience its transformative power. Matt Lloyd – Founder 3LR Lighting
For me, lighting has been a lifelong passion. In a career spanning 38 years and working across thousands of venues, I’ve been fortunate enough to see first-hand, just how lighting can transform a space and thus, transform how a person feels within that environment. Lighting is one of those mediums which has a profound stimulus effect on us as humans and is intrinsically linked to our emotions. As many of you reading this will know, 3LR’s mantra is ‘Lighting by Emotion’ and this is something we embody in every aspect of our work. As such, I wanted to write something that gave a little insight into what this actually means, how the ‘third-light receptor’ has been a huge inspiration behind our work and how we use this passion to create completely unique lighting experiences for all of those who draw on our services.
So, who is 3LR? Simply put, we’re a specialist company based in the UK that represents leading international manufacturers of architectural lighting, broadcast lighting and control equipment. As representatives, rather than a sales and distribution operation, our primary focus is helping clients achieve aesthetically pleasing, efficient and sustainable schemes. When I first founded the company, I essentially wanted to put together a group of experienced and driven individuals who could walk into any space and immediately know what lighting set-up would feel ‘right’. As such, I knew I would also need a company name that would be fitting for such an organisation – which is where 3LR comes in…
3LR is named after the third light receptor. As we all know, light is experienced through our eyes and up until around twenty years ago, it was believed that rods and cones were the eye’s only two photosensory neurons. However, scientists were able to discover the presence of a third light receptor via focusing on circadian entrainment (or rhythm). Circadian entrainment is essentially the co-ordination of your internal circadian clock to external rhythmic time-cues (e.g. you waking up when the sun rises and then going to sleep when it sets or becomes dark). It’s how in-tune our nervous system is with the outside world – something our vision, and its response to light, plays a huge part in. Given neither rods or cones could impact a person’s circadian rhythm, this meant it had to be done via a third light receptor…
And this is the reason why we called our company 3LR (the receptor’s full name is actually electrically coupled photosensitive ganglion cells – but that’s a bit wordy!). Whereas the rods and cones are physically allowing you to see what’s in front of you, the third light receptor allows you to have that emotional connection and to truly experience it. Further studies have shown this third receptor is developed by 12 weeks after birth and stays with a person their entire life; hence has a huge impact on our perception of the world. And yes, whilst I appreciate all of the above is very science-heavy, I feel it’s important for our customers, brands, peers and those working in the industry to understand what lighting by emotion truly means.
For us, lighting is what we refer to as the ‘magic dust’ within a space. Simply put, it can elevate any environment to the next level or ruin it completely. That is why we always ask those who we work with to consider exactly what it is you want people to feel within their building as soon as they walk in; whether that’s a 20,000 seater stadium, a lounge bar or a spa treatment room. As a company, it is our job to listen to our customers, understand their needs and then create a lighting spec which we believe will leave the most profound impact possible.
A large part of this is ensuring we supply the most suitable technology. Whilst we all agree that an industry-wide move to LED is incredibly beneficial when it comes to sustainability, it’s a common consensus that many miss the warmth and ‘pure light’ of tungsten. With LED being a ‘false light’, this obviously impacts the third light receptor’s response to it, given how our eyes, and thus our circadian rhythm, respond to even the tiniest change in lighting. As such, it’s our role to find and supply the technology which will continue to offer that strong emotional connection and ensure that, as lighting advances, we retain the profound effect it has traditionally had on us.
Over the years, we’ve been fortunate enough to implement our vision with a range of incredible clients, including the National Theatre (all venues), the Royal Albert Hall, Sadler’s Wells, Bristol Beacon, Birmingham Hippodrome, Liverpool Everyman, Glyndebourne Opera House and @sohoplace to name but a few. All of these venues have embraced what 3LR stand for as a company and understand the emotional significance of lighting. A great example of this is when we recently worked on the refurbishment of the Whyte Recital Hall in the Royal Irish Academy of Music. John Palmer of TODD Architects, the lead architect on the project, actually commented once the refurb was complete: “(it is) the quality of house lighting (which) delivers the prestige visual impact for an audience member’s first entry into the hall, and properly sets the tone for the performance to follow”, signifying the multifaceted role lighting now plays within that space.
Alongside iconic theatrical venues, we also work in a variety of other spaces, such as hotels, cruises ships, bars, restaurants and private residences; believing that ‘lighting by emotion’ shouldn’t be restricted to simply live performance. In fact, we were once asked by a customer to design and specify the lighting for a large kitchen diner. Whilst they were initially taken aback by the scale and specifics of what we presented, we reassured them how, given they were planning to spend a large amount of time in this area, lighting would make a huge difference to that living experience. As such, they trusted us and after three months contacted us with the words “if we’d have known the impact the lighting on our kitchen diner was going to have, we would have asked you to do the whole house!”. Ultimately, we were able to completely transform that space and, as such, allow the customer to see the unparalleled benefits of using the correct lighting.
In short, I hope that goes some way in explaining 3LR’s mission and what drives us as a company. For us, to have that connection with the third light receptor and to be led by emotion is something we’re incredibly proud of and believe sets us apart from others.
