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Masters of Landscape Lighting
DAVID WILDS PATTON LIGHTING DESIGN
SAN MATEO, CA
For David Wilds Patton,
lighting design is where art and science meet. Each environment is deeply
personal because the outdoor spaces people enjoy and inhabit reflect who we are and where we feel
most at ease. Thoughtful lighting design is widely regarded as one of the most effective tools for shaping
the appearance, atmosphere, and functionality of a home and its surroundings. Whether the project is
large or small, David pays careful attention to both practical and poetic aspects, using his understanding of
available tools and effects in creative ways to transform the diverse elements of nature – including trees,
gardens, hardscape, and architecture – into a magical nighttime experience. He literally "paints" with light,
revealing form and depth while guiding navigation across the landscape canvas, bringing each garden out
of darkness and beautifully into the light.
ABOVE: This extraordinary client brought an extensive art collection to their new home —
including both interior and exterior sculptures — and they wanted to enjoy them both during
the day and at night. This 11-foot-tall kinetic sculpture moves 360 degrees on two axes and
needed to be lit in any position the wind blows it. That alone would have been an exciting
challenge, but the resting place for the sculpture was at the surface of the water — in the
middle of a reflecting pool — appearing as though it were floating. Through a combination of
two submersible floodlights and two floodlights mounted in the landscape on either side, the
lighting of this moving art piece exceeded expectations, showcasing the curves, the motion,
and the effect of the wind that the sculptor assuredly intended.
Photography by Misha Bruk
Scan this QR code to view a video
of the above scupture in motion
