Did you know that clear glass windows were developed by the Romans? They actually date back to between the 1st and 3rd Centuries. You can see evidence of this from Pompeii and Herculaneum, where one of the reasons for glass was to enjoy the ornate gardens they created during the winter season. This was a much more pleasant outlook rather than shuttering their windows.

Move to the 20th Century and Philip Johnson was a modernist architect who created homes with all external walls as glass. This allowed homeowners to truly enjoy the views from their property and from anywhere within the home (the photo below is of his appropriately named Glass House). The downside of this is the “goldfish bowl effect”, with those in the home feeling they are lit up and easily observed at night.

To help mitigate this, he worked with renowned lighting designer Richard Kelly to design a lighting scheme that helps those in the home to feel comfortable. Light around the buildings was added in soffits, and illuminated the planting of the trees. This stopped that harsh drop at the glass wall, and ensured the building was embedded within the landscape. The added benefit was the creation of more security and comfort.

This is a perfect example of how lighting doesn’t just stop at the windows, and exterior lighting needs to be a key consideration for a home. Whether the primary goal is security or beauty, or a blend of both, there are much better ways to achieve your vision without using a security floodlight.