Modern cities are witnessing an unprecedented decline in access to natural green spaces. With rapid urbanization and a growing culture of indoor living, the absence of natural elements in built environments has become one of the most overlooked design challenges of our time. Recognizing this gap, L’azure undertook a pioneering study titled Lighting Interior Landscapes Inaccessible to Daylight, exploring how artificial light can sustain plant life in completely enclosed environments while preserving architectural aesthetics and human comfort.
This research originated from a simple yet powerful observation: people instinctively crave proximity to nature, even in the most restricted spaces. From balcony planters in Mumbai to green walls in airports, the desire to coexist with greenery persists despite space and daylight limitations. The study set out to answer a fundamental question: Can plants thrive in spaces where daylight cannot reach, using lighting that is also suitable for human and architectural environments?
The foundation of this thesis lies in bridging two distinct disciplines—lighting design and horticultural science. While grow lights have long been used in agriculture to increase crop yield, their spectral characteristics are often unsuitable for architectural spaces. Traditional grow lights typically emit harsh red-blue hues that clash with indoor environments such as offices, hospitals, or residences.
The goal, therefore, was to develop a lighting solution that supports plant life under commonly used architectural light spectrums between 3000K and 4000K. This required not only technical understanding but also sensitivity to the visual and emotional impact of lighting on people who occupy those spaces.
Through literature review, consultations with horticulturists, and collaboration with professional lighting designers, the research identified key parameters such as light intensity, colour temperature, duration, and placement that could balance the needs of both humans and plants.
To validate these concepts, two live experiments were conducted in real environments with differing architectural typologies. The first installation took place inside L’azure Lighting’s basement office in Mumbai, a windowless multipurpose room with no natural ventilation. Potted plants of various species were illuminated using two sets of luminaires at 3000K and 4000K, designed and supplied by L’azure.
The second installation was a residential corridor in a high-rise building, where a vertical green wall was created on a blank surface with similar lighting conditions. Both sites were studied over several weeks to observe plant behaviour, growth, and user interaction.
Survey questionnaires were conducted before and after installation to capture emotional and psychological responses. Participants reported improved well-being, reduced stress, and a noticeable uplift in spatial experience after the introduction of plants and lighting. Interestingly, the plants maintained healthy growth under both colour temperatures, with slightly better performance at 4000K, demonstrating that artificial lighting in standard indoor tones can indeed sustain plant life.
The results revealed a strong interdependence between human well-being, lighting quality, and the presence of greenery. The experiments confirmed that plants can survive and thrive under artificial lighting designed for human environments, provided that illumination levels and duration are optimized.
Moreover, users reported enhanced comfort and connection to nature without perceiving any visual discomfort from the plant lighting. This validated the hypothesis that the same light used to shape architectural ambiance can also nurture biological life when intelligently calibrated.
One of the critical insights from the research was the importance of integrating plant lighting into architectural planning from the design stage. When luminaires are selected and positioned with an understanding of both aesthetic and biological requirements, the result is a holistic lighting design that enhances not only space but also life within it.
Beyond its scientific validation, this study emphasizes the growing relevance of biophilic design—the practice of connecting humans with nature within built environments. By demonstrating that plants can flourish without access to natural daylight, the research opens possibilities for greener architecture in dense urban contexts such as hospitals, offices, underground facilities, and commercial complexes.
L’azure’s involvement in this research reflects its broader philosophy: that light is not merely a functional tool but a medium for wellness, emotion, and sustainability. The project aligns with the company’s mission to explore new frontiers where lighting contributes to both aesthetic enhancement and environmental responsibility.
As lighting technology continues to evolve, future applications of this research could include the integration of intelligent controls that adjust light spectrum and duration automatically based on plant needs. Expanding the study to diverse plant species, climatic zones, and architectural settings can further establish standardized models for lighting design that harmonize human comfort with ecological vitality.
Lighting Interior Landscapes Inaccessible to Daylight stands as a significant contribution to the intersection of architecture, lighting, and biology. It demonstrates that with thoughtful design and the right spectral balance, artificial lighting can replicate the nurturing qualities of sunlight and enable the coexistence of nature within enclosed environments.
Through this research, L’azure reinforces its position as an innovator in sustainable lighting, extending its expertise beyond conventional illumination into realms that enhance both human and environmental well-being. The study not only redefines how designers perceive light in interior spaces but also inspires a new vision of urban architecture where technology and nature thrive together.