Healing With Light

NYC-based AWA Lighting Designers explore light as a tool of wellness
Published in: Apr, 2025
Category : INSITE INTERNATIONAL
Written By : Ar. Roshni Raja
Images : Courtesy AWA Lighting Designers
Ar. Abhay Wadhwa found his calling in lighting design, while studying architecture at the Sir JJ College of Architecture in Mumbai, India. He then moved to the USA, to pursue a graduate program in Architecture, followed by a Master’s degree in Lighting from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Eventually he set up AWA Lighting Designers in 2002. Operating out of NYC, AWA handles a gamut of lighting design projects across the world. Working extensively with the world’s leading architecture and design firms in the fields of commercial and mixed use developments, urban planning, transportation, infrastructure, hospitality, and healthcare, Abhay Wadhwa is an internationally acclaimed keynote speaker, educator, and author of numerous advanced light engineering and cultural lighting articles.

Light has, since years, been seen as just another element of architectural design; a functional tool used to brighten a space or set a mood. Today we know that light plays a critical role in human health, affecting everything from our sleep cycles and emotions, to how we think, feel, and move. At AWA, this understanding has shaped a whole new way of designing with light - one that goes beyond aesthetics and function to actively support health and well-being. From hospitals and wellness centres to offices and immersive healing environments, AWA’s work is changing the way we experience light. Their designs are not just about visibility; they are about balance, energy, and recovery. By integrating circadian lighting, chromotherapy, and biophilic design, they are proving that light can do much more than illuminate a space.

Light interacts with the cerebral cortex (which drives creativity and learning), the limbic system (which controls emotions), and the motor cortex (which manages movement and essential functions). Light also plays a major role in regulating hormones, sleep patterns, immune responses, and overall mental clarity. This is where circadian lighting comes in; a revolutionary approach that aligns artificial light with the body's natural rhythms. Unlike conventional lighting, which stays the same all day, circadian lighting shifts in colour temperature and intensity, mimicking natural daylight to keep our internal clocks in sync. Without these natural light cues, our bodies struggle, leading to sleep disorders, mood imbalances, and even long-term health issues.

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