Beehive

A New Tradition

Use existing LEDLinx panel designs and integrate them into a new lighting solution.

Include a standard communications module so the fixture can be given instruction remotely.

Create a widely marketable design to maximize potential customers.

The fixture designed should be able to sell for approximately $200 per unit.

Houston lighting company XtraLight challenged us to design the street or pathway light of the future using their patented LEDLinx technology.

Integrated Technologies

LEDLinx Panels

XtraLight’s LEDLinx technology is a modular system of easily connectible and swappable LED panels. They come in many shapes and sizes and connect to each other with special conductive clips.

Communications Module

Communication modules allow streetlights to receive instructions remotely. They plug into a standardized jack, so streetlights can be updated with improved modules when they become available.

Environment Research and Observations

Existing designs seem to function well, casting a soft even light over a large area.

Intensely bright light can blind us to what lies beyond the lights reach, ruining our night vision.

Many popular light designs have stayed nearly the same for over a century. Is there a reason for this lack of change?

Comfort is very important. People fear the dark, and harsh shadows are disorienting and have a tendency to creep us out.

Concept: comfort through familiarity

Accomplishing physical comfort is simple. Just diffuse the intensely bright LED light source and spread it evenly over a large area.

Psychological comfort can be achieved through familiarity. There’s a reason traditional light fixture designs have stuck around for so long, we’re comfortable with them. Their ubiquity has embedded them into our culture. My design will take advantage of the familiarity we feel with the traditional forms and relate to the past while still being modern. A new tradition.

Development

I mainly explored post mounted designs so the new fixture could be self contained and retrofitted onto preexisting infrastructure.

The tapered post gives a classic look.

The ribbed texture helps to scatter the light, while the white color softens it further

An internalized mounting system allows for a clean exterior appearance

Communications Module

Cap Tube

Globe

Gasket

LED Panels and Heat Sink

Conduit

Post Mount/Driver Box

Finalization

Highly Adaptable

The classic yet minimal design of Beehive makes it highly adaptable to different environments. Simply changing the color and finish of the post transforms the design and allows it to effortlessly fit into traditional park environments and streets, as well as very modern spaces.