KObi Lighting Consultants

09/10/2026

𝗙𝗡𝗣 #𝟵𝟮
In issue FNP #91 we drew an analogy between the eclipse and our perspective on how darkness enhances the value of light.

Today, we take you to Hoi An, Vietnam, known as the City of Lanterns.
In the 16th century, Chinese and Japanese merchants introduced the custom of hanging lanterns outside their homes. This craft became deeply rooted in local culture, brilliantly illuminating the streets and the river, yet creating light pollution that devastates ecosystems.

The challenge at Namia River Retreat in Hoi An: how to illuminate, and "unlight" an island at the edge of the Old Town, and how we broke the mold.

“What deserves to be brought to light, and which parts should be intentionally left in darkness?”

Namia River Retreat is located just a few kilometers from Hoi An’s Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The decision to "un-illuminate" carries special significance here. In contrast to the ancient town, where the nighttime identity relies on a profusion of lanterns, KObi Lighting Consultants and Namia River Retreat chose the opposite approach: preserving a clear view of the night sky right on the doorstep of an increasingly saturated city center.

Here, allowing space for true darkness is a deliberate choice, and darkness itself is an integral part of the experience.

Preserving a starry sky above tourist areas reverses the conventional reflex of illuminating buildings and pathways while letting light spill unchecked into the wild, ultimately obliterating the very sky one claimed to be showcasing.

Lighting designer & consultant: KObi Lighting Consultants
Creative direction & operation : Michelle, Lumina Wellbeing
Architecture: Charles, T3 ARCHITECTS
Landscape: Pedro, LJ-Group
Interiors: Marielle, LifeStyleconnected

08/10/2026

𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗽𝗼𝗻

Light can destroy just as it can heal.
Are you familiar with the use of LED-equipped riot shields, known as "dazzlers", which inflict optical violence by burning the retina and blinding individuals to neutralize protesters?

As experts in the field of light and health, we observe how light is being co-opted for political purposes.
There are no laws prohibiting retinal damage caused by light.
Perhaps in a few years, this barbaric practice will be condemned.
Yet, few people are talking about it.

In this report for Brut, Rémy Busine films French law enforcement officers dispersing high school students using LED riot shields (dazzlers).

This device creates an opaque visual barrier, avoiding the need for direct physical contact during dispersal maneuvers.

The front of the standard shield is equipped with a powerful array of LEDs that can emit continuous light or high-intensity stroboscopic flashes.

These ultra-bright shields are aimed directly at the crowd.
In strobe mode (rapid flashing), they create visual saturation that dazzles and disorients, disrupting balance and hindering those facing them from moving forward; they can even trigger epileptic seizures.

The risk of retinal injury depends heavily on the distance from the shield, the duration of direct exposure, and age.
Adolescents and young people have very clear eye lenses that do not effectively filter blue light, making their retinas far more vulnerable than those of adults. The natural reflex to look away, close one's eyes, or shield one's face remains the most effective biological defense for limiting the harmful effects.

This equipment also prevents filming or photography by dazzling the lenses of smartphones and cameras used by journalists or protesters. The intense light source saturates optical sensors in low-light conditions, making images extremely difficult to capture, blurry, and unusable.

What is your take on these deterrent weapons that cause invisible damage, yet are accepted?

18/09/2026

𝗦𝘆𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘀

𝘾𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙮 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 Namia River Retreat
As lighting designers, we work with respect for what already exists: the natural darkness of night and the natural light of day.

Before developing a concept, we ask ourselves this essential question:
𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘢𝘭, 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘧𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘴?

A villa has different requirements than a resort. A spa pavilion differs from a poolside terrace not only in atmosphere but also in the precise balance between well-being, health, respect for the night, and our biological rhythms.

After daylight, darkness has its own rhythm and, for the most part, has the right to remain as it is.

Our role as lighting designers is to engage in a dialogue with it, to integrate it harmoniously with the existing environment.

Operator: .wellbeing
Architecture: T3 Architects Vietnam
Interior: LifeStyle Connected
Landscape architect: LJ-Group
Lighting:

15/09/2026

𝗦𝘆𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘀

𝘾𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙮 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝
As lighting designers, we work with respect for what already exists: the natural darkness of night and the natural light of day.

Before developing a concept, we ask ourselves this essential question:
𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘢𝘭, 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘧𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘴?

A villa has different requirements than a resort. A spa pavilion differs from a poolside terrace not only in atmosphere but also in the precise balance between well-being, health, respect for the night, and our biological rhythms.

After daylight, darkness has its own rhythm and, for the most part, has the right to remain as it is.

Our role as lighting designers is to engage in a dialogue with it, to integrate it harmoniously with the existing environment through essential steps:

▫️ Measuring light pollution and surrounding disturbances.
▫️ Specifying these (light, architecture, wildlife) to prevent light from spilling from reception areas into private spaces.
▫️ Define protected dark areas where the use of artificial light will be prohibited.
▫️ Provide anti-glare accessories and control flicker.
▫️ Use narrow beams of light.
▫️ Limit the use of linear lighting.
▫️ Direct 80% of light fixtures downwards.
▫️ Use the warmest color temperature for lamps.
▫️ Decorative light fixtures should be dimmable.
▫️ Use candlelight for intimate and cozy spaces.
▫️ Upward-directed lighting equipped with an optical system, diffuser, and light pollution-reducing accessories.
▫️ Limit the use of diffused light, except for creating decorative or artistic lighting effects.
▫️ Light fixtures should be repairable in Vietnam for this purpose
▫️ Landscape lighting should be installed as low as possible at people's center of gravity.
▫️ Glare-free signage should be used.

28/08/2026

91 : Eclipse - Today, darkness erases nothing; instead, it reveals a full moon unlike any other.

In issue 90, we examined the impact of light from LED billboards.

Today, in parts of the world, the full moon will plunge more than 90% into Earth’s shadow. For a while, the celestial body will almost entirely disappear before re-emerging with a copper hue.

This is an opportunity for KObi Lighting Consultants to revisit the topic of artificial night-time light, its ecological impact and the solutions we propose.
In a way, this eclipse illustrates our vision of lighting design as a reflection of the night sky.

It is darkness that gives value to what we choose to illuminate, just as the black sky allows the stars to display their most beautiful light.

Light pollution has inverted this relationship. We tend to believe that the more we light up, the more we reveal.
In reality, a constant glow washes out and erases the sky, depriving us of the free spectacles nature offers.

So today, as the moon fades and then reappears, a question resonates with particular significance: 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧𝘧, 𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘯?

KObi Lighting Consultants
"Composing Lights & Darkness for a Better Life"

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Éclipse : aujourd’hui, l’obscurité n’efface rien mais nous révèle une pleine lune pas comme les autres

Dans le numéro , nous avions examiné l’impact de la lumière des panneaux publicitaires à Led.

Aujourd’hui, dans certaines parties du monde, la pleine lune va plonger à plus de 90% dans l'ombre de la Terre. Pendant quelques temps, l’astre va disparaître presque entièrement avant de réapparaître teinté de cuivre.

C’est l’occasion pour KObi Lighting Consultants de reprendre l’habitude d’informer sur les impacts de la lumière artificielle nocturne, sur ses impacts écologiques et sur les solutions que nous proposons.

Cette éclipse illustre, de manière analogue, notre vision d’une conception lumineuse, comme un reflet du ciel nocturne.

C'est l'obscurité qui donne de la valeur à ce qu'on choisit d'éclairer, comme le ciel noir laisse les étoiles exprimer leurs plus belles lumières.

La pollution lumineuse a inversé ce rapport. On croit que plus on éclaire, plus on montre.

En réalité, un halo continu dilue, efface le ciel, et nous prive des spectacles gratuits offerts par la nature.

Alors aujourd’hui, avec la lune qui s'efface puis réapparaît, cette question résonne particulièrement: 𝘘𝘶'𝘦𝘴𝘵-𝘤𝘦 𝘲𝘶'𝘰𝘯 𝘨𝘢𝘨𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘵 𝘢̀ 𝘦́𝘵𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘦, 𝘱𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘰̂𝘵 𝘲𝘶’𝘢̀ 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘶𝘮𝘦𝘳 ?

KObi Lighting Consultants
« Composing Lights & Darkness for a Better Life »

16/08/2026

15/08/2026

[EN]

𝑱𝒐𝒊𝒏 𝑲𝑶𝒃𝒊 𝑳𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒔.

Light guides, reveals, and creates new possibilities.

At KObi, light is our medium for creating harmony, mood, and function in every space.

We are growing our team in Vietnam and looking for talented designers to join us on this journey!

Whether you are starting your creative career or ready to step into a leadership role, there is room for your vision here.

𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐍 𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒:
⬝ Types: Full-Time Roles & Internships
⬝ Experience Levels: Junior to Senior | Senior to Manager
⬝ Field: Architectural Lighting Design / Consultancy

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐘𝐎𝐔’𝐋𝐋 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐃 𝐀𝐓 𝐊𝐎𝐛𝐢:
⬝ High-end, inspiring architectural projects
⬝ A collaborative, creative, and international work culture
⬝ Clear paths for mentorship and career growth

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐮𝐬?
📩 Send your CV & Portfolio to [email protected] .
𝘉𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘝𝘪𝘦𝘵𝘯𝘢𝘮 | 𝘓𝘦𝘵’𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳.

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[VN]

𝑮𝒊𝒂 𝒏𝒉ậ𝒑 𝑲𝑶𝒃𝒊 𝑳𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒔 .

Ánh sáng dẫn lối, khơi mở và tạo nên những khả năng mới.
Tại KObi, chúng tôi tin rằng ánh sáng không chỉ là một công cụ chiếu sáng mà còn là chất liệu tạo nên cảm xúc, sự hài hòa và những trải nghiệm ý nghĩa trong từng không gian.

Hiện tại, đội ngũ KObi Việt Nam đang tìm kiếm những nhà thiết kế đồng hành cùng chúng tôi trên hành trình kiến tạo những không gian bằng ánh sáng.

𝐕Ị 𝐓𝐑Í 𝐓𝐔𝐘Ể𝐍 𝐃Ụ𝐍𝐆:
• Hình thức: Thực tập sinh & Nhân viên toàn thời gian
• Cấp độ kinh nghiệm: Junior – Senior – Manager
• Lĩnh vực: Thiết kế & Tư vấn chiếu sáng kiến trúc

𝐊𝐇𝐈 𝐆𝐈𝐀 𝐍𝐇Ậ𝐏 𝐊𝐎𝐁𝐈, 𝐁Ạ𝐍 𝐒Ẽ 𝐂Ó 𝐂Ơ 𝐇Ộ𝐈:
• Tham gia các dự án kiến trúc cao cấp và giàu cảm hứng
• Làm việc trong môi trường sáng tạo, hợp tác và mang tính quốc tế
• Phát triển sự nghiệp với lộ trình rõ ràng cùng sự đồng hành từ đội ngũ giàu kinh nghiệm

📩 Gửi CV và Portfolio về [email protected]
𝘊ù𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘩𝘢𝘶 𝘵ạ𝘰 𝘯ê𝘯 𝘯𝘩ữ𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘳ả𝘪 𝘯𝘨𝘩𝘪ệ𝘮 ý 𝘯𝘨𝘩ĩ𝘢 𝘣ằ𝘯𝘨 á𝘯𝘩 𝘴á𝘯𝘨.

12/08/2026

28/07/2026