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ABOVE: The stonework of this portico entrance at Foxholes Care Home in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, is illuminated at the highest level within the composition,
drawing visitors' attention and guiding them through the landscape to the main doors. The lighting operates on two distinct settings: a timed, general aesthetic
landscape scene, and a dusk-to-dawn mode that relies solely on select downlighting. This reduced setting ensures safe passage from the street to the entrance
for staff changeovers and emergency services, while maintaining a calm nighttime presence.
FACING PAGE: This view from the stone portico into the parking area at Foxholes is a welcoming moment. Gentle uplighting of the tree canopies, paired with
downlights mounted approximately 40 feet high within the trees, anchors the trunks and visually unifies the ground through soft, dappled shadow.
Neil collaborated on this project with Jesse Loucks, current president of the International Landscape Lighting Institute (ILLI). As both electricians and
experienced tree climbers, their shared skill set made for an efficient, considered approach. On projects that require lighting within trees, the process is safer
and more productive when the lighting designer directs from the ground while a dedicated tree climber handles installation and nighttime aiming. These
focused adjustment sessions often extend over multiple nights, but the resulting precision makes the effort well worth it.
Photography by Neil Parslow
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