Reviewed by Lydia Sondhi, California State University, Long Beach,
California. (Reprinted from Journal of Interior Design Education
and Research ,Volume 14, Number 2, Fall 1988)
"Sorcar has bridged the gap in lighting texts
by effectively integrating science and art. Sorcar's educational
background in electrical engineering provides the necessary expertise
in the scientific aspects of lighting while his professional experience
has given him a sensitivity and understanding of the need to access
and address the art aspects of lighting. Sorcar has considered
the commercial environments from the perspective of the visual,
aesthetical, psychological, and physiological balanced with the
quantitative from engineering.
Architectural Lighting for Commercial Interiors covers the field
of lighting in five comprehensive sections. The basics of light,
vision and color and covered in the Foundation section. Light
sources, analytical tools of design which include photometrics,
calculations, lighting layout, electrical circuitry, and lighting
control are covered in the Engineering Tools section. The Architectural
Tools section provides the basics in incandescent, fluorescent,
and HID luminaries, lighting patterns and forms, with the additional
focus on human reactions to light, color, and application, as
well as environmental impressions. The fourth and fifth sections
are unique to this text and focus on Application: Office Environment
and Application: Merchandising Environments.
Illustration are used extensively throughout the
text to demonstrate points and clarify information, while reference
tables are integrated within the text where needed. Effectively
incorporated is the inclusion of explanatory problems with accompanying
solutions. This is done in Chapter 6 on lighting calculations
and again in Chapter 8 on lighting layout to communicate process.
The seven application chapters present issues concisely with a
range of visual and verbal solutions.
An individual with little background in lighting could take this
text and benefit in expanded understanding of lighting as a dynamic
design tool. As a potential text of lighting classes and as a later
reference volume, Architectural Lighting for Commercial Interiors
is greatly recommended. Depth and breadth of material covered in
an understandable format are successfully presented. Sorcar has
balanced science and art, the quantitative and the qualitative in
this text."
BOOKS & SUCH: Reprinted from The Daily Journal,
volume 92, Number 129, November 23, 1988.
"Denver engineer Prafulla C. Sorcar's latest
book, Architectural Lighting for Commercial Interiors, is written
for those lighting designers, architects, environmental and interior
designers who design to meet a dynamic need, more than just the
technical aspects of lighting.
It breaks free from the traditional, sterile approach
of lighting design that meant little more than selecting and evenly
distributing light fixtures to meet a specific level of illumination.
In the book, science and arts of interior design are integrated
with balance to serve the full gamut of human needs.
The book is divided into four major parts: "Foundation"
establishes the fundamentals of light and color as seen by the
eyes: "Engineering Tools" deals with practical-application-oriented
theory, science and utility of light sources:" Architectural
Tools" consists of the many important inseparable aspects
of lighting design such as the aesthetics, vision psychology and
physiology of light and color and selection of fixtures: and "Application"
provides examples of their implementation in office and merchandising
environments.
The author of the book is president of Butterweck-Sorcar
Engineering Inc. His innovative lighting design has reached many
countries including Japan, Saudi Arabia, India and Mexico. He
is the author of two other lighting books: Rapid Lighting &
Cost Estimating, selected as a Book of the Month by the Architect's
Book Club, and Energy-Saving Lighting Systems, a text used at
the University of Colorado , Boulder.
Excerpts from other reviews:
...."Sorcar has succeeded in what he set out
to do, to blend the scientific and artistic aspects of lighting
into a coherent and a practical guide for designers. Whether you
are a novice needing a clear explanation of how to calculate lighting
levels or a seasoned designer in search of a combination reference-inspiration,
Architectural Lighting For Commercial Interiors is an invaluable
addition to to your design library"
- Barbara-Jo Novitski, ARCHITECTURAL LIGHTING
ENERGY SAVING LIGHTING SYSTEMS, by Prafulla C. Sorcar
(Manick Sorcar), Van Nostrand Reinhold Co, New York, 1982
"The author has produced an excellent application-oriented
text for illuminating engineering. Taken in the proper context,
this book is very useful in introducing the engineering issues
in the lighting design process.....It is currently in use at the
University of Colorado, where it is the student text for the second
of six courses in the illuminating engineering curriculum.......
The style is clear, the presentation is good and the references
sufficient to help the reader pursue a particular topic. It is
- Prof. David L. DiLaura, FIES LIGHTING DESIGN
+ APPLICATION
"This book analyses various methods for ensuring
a balanced design with visual comfort, quality illumination, aesthetics,
cost, and especially, energy conservation. Basic concepts are
demonstrated with practical examples. Valuable tips are offered
on what to look for in physical and operational characteristics
of lamps, ballasts, luminaires and the systems as a whole"
-THE LIGHTING SOURCE, IES Publications
"The book certainly deserves a place on the
designer's book shelf, among the other handbooks published in
this field" |
