3. Answer the questions:

3. Why does everyone need natural light?

4. What can be said of modern lighting technique'?

5. What mission do creative artists and designers of lighting fixtures have today?

6. What is the role of the architect in developing lighting fixtures?

7. Where can artificial lighting be used?

8. What is most in demand in contemporary interiors?

4. Speak about the lighting systems.

5. Discuss the content of the text in the form of a dialogue.

UNIT 31

1. Read and translate the text. What is the main idea of the text?

2. Find unknown terms and words in the text and give their translations.

Harmony

All elements and principles work together to promote harmony. Harmony is the unique blend of unity and variety. A unifying theme or common denominator should run through all component parts and blend them together. Exteriors and interiors are attractive when there is a pleasant relationship that provides unity, yet the aspect of variety is essential to provide interest. Variety can create the focal point or add the spark that enlivens the room. The following are some of the most common and important considerations when seeking a harmonious living environment: in every room, the interior architecture is a determining factor. Just as the exterior and interior architecture should be consistent, the furnishings of a room must also be in harmony with the background. For example, melded plastic chairs do not belong to formal in the 18th-century. A surprising juxtaposition of seemingly unrelated objects may occasionally add relief, but this practice requires sophisticated judgment.

Furniture in the room should appear to belong there. Whether the room is large or small, furniture should be scaled accordingly. For example, if the architectural background is strong, perhaps with exposed beams and masonry construction the furniture should reflect the same feeling.

Colours, appropriate to the style and scale of furnishings should be considered. However, today's interiors often show great flexibility in colour usage. A sensitive ap-proach t0 colour harmony in relationship to furnishings, background and style is important in achieving an appealing result.

Textures of surfaces (i.e. smooth, rough, shiny, or dull) help determine the success of a room's harmony. Textures should be compatible with the design and style of all furnishings. For instance, a heavy homespun fabric is generally not suitable for a formal white chair, nor is delicate silk damask usually at home on a rough-hewn ranch oak chair.

A window treatment can contribute to the room's total harmony: planning a hard or soft line treatment suitable for the theme and style is essential. For example, ruffled cottage curtains are out of place in an Oriental-slyle house, and elegant damask swags are inappropriate for a country cottage.

Carefully selected floor coverings help unify the scheme. Hard floor surfaces like wood, tile, and stone are extremely versatile and enhance most living areas. Area rugs such as a persian oriental are appropriate in any decor and wall-to-wall carpeting can tie an entire room together. Consistency or harmony is best achieved by learning out a basic theme or style. The basic style need not be followed slavishly but a general feeling of unity should be maintained throughout. This allows the designer to combine good design from many periods with one theme dominating.

Within this overall theme, an occasional surprise to give variety and interest can provide charm and individuality.

Accessories can enhance a room or completely destroy the desired effect. The final touches added to a room reveal individual personality more readily than any other items of furnishing and cannot be overlooked in creating rooms of beauty and interest. Items that are essentially attractive and well designed, however, can lose their charm when not well used. For example, a gracefully scrolled wrought-iron wall sconce can add a lot to a room of Spanish or Mediterranean styling but would look heavy and out of place in a pastel room with delicate furnishings.

The elements of design (space, line, shape and mass, texture, light, colour, and pattern) and the principles of design (scale and proportion, balance, rhythm, emphasis, and harmony) form the foundation for all design. The organization of these elements and principles, along with the design process helps to ensure a quality design that satisfies the needs and desires of a client. All of these elements and principles, including colour and light help the designer create an interior that is physically and psychologically comfortable, as well as uniquely attractive.

9. Make up a plan of the text in the form of questions and ask your groupmates to find answers in the text.

10. Speak about the accessories .

11. Study some of the most common and important considerations when seeking a harmonious living environment.

12. Translate the abstract of the text about furniture, colours and textures.

7. Discuss the content of the text in the form of a dialogue.

UNIT 32