Professor Peter Raynahm, Professor of the Lit Environment, UCL Institute for Environmental Design & Engineeri, has been working in the area of lighting for over 40 years initially working for lighting equipment companies before joining the Bartlett in 1996.

At the Bartlett he has held a number of roles involved with both teaching and research. Peter is an active member of many lighting societies and is a Fellow of both the Society of Light and Lighting and the Institution of Lighting Professionals. Peter is also involved in standardisation and chairs the British Standards Committee on Light and Lighting and represents the UK on European and International lighting committees.

The Lit Environment is a useful term to describe what we create when we provide lighting for people. It is a useful concept as it is based around what users of the space will perceive in the area. The lecture will explore the history of the lit environment and examine the factors that have influenced lighting practice including technology and the way user’s needs are understood. It will then consider our current thinking in this area and try rationalise the different approaches taken by varying parts of the lighting profession.

Finally the lecture will review current opportunities and constraints provided by technological change, sustainability and user expectations and equally importantly discuss what this means for the lighting profession.