Integrated lighting: lessons from the Elizabeth line

By James Batten, 299 Lighting · Published 2 November 2026 · 6 min read

On 15 October, at the RIBA Stirling Prize ceremony, the Elizabeth line was chosen as the public's favourite Stirling Prize winner of the past 30 years. arc magazine reported on 28 October that lighting designers Equation Lighting Design, who developed the line-wide lighting scheme, are celebrating the "Stirling at 30" public vote win (arc magazine). The line won the Stirling Prize itself in 2024.

arc describes a scheme that integrates illumination into the architecture "rather than treating lighting as a separate visual feature". Equation's managing director, Maida Hot, said much of their work is about creating environments people navigate "often without being consciously aware of the lighting itself".

That idea is at the heart of trimless lighting. You may not be designing a railway, but the same principles apply to offices, hotels and homes.

What the Elizabeth line scheme does

According to arc, the scheme uses:

• Indirect lighting through concourses, escalator tunnels and platforms, to show the scale and form of the spaces and minimise harsh shadows and reflections
• Two colour temperatures: 5,000K cooler white in transition spaces and 3,000K warmer white in wayfinding areas
• Diffused luminous surfaces and controlled illumination to reduce glare
• Good vertical illuminance, to help with facial recognition, signage and obstacle detection
• A coordinated family of luminaires detailed to integrate with the architecture

Five lessons for trimless design

Design light into the architecture

The most important decision is made early: lighting is part of the ceiling and wall design, not an item added later. Trimless profiles and downlights are plastered in, so the ceiling shape, joints and set-out need to be agreed with the architect. Read how trimless lighting is installed and the installation sequence.

Light surfaces, not just floors

Indirect and wall-washing light makes a space feel bigger and calmer. Trimless wall details and coves can do this in smaller buildings. See trimless wall lighting details and corners and shapes.

Use colour temperature with purpose

The Elizabeth line uses colour temperature to tell spaces apart. In a building, you might use warmer light in receptions and hospitality areas and neutral white in work areas. Keep it consistent within each zone. See colour temperature for trimless lighting.

Control glare

Hidden sources and diffused surfaces help, but deep-set optics and good diffusers matter too. Read glare and trimless lighting.

Think about vertical light

Seeing faces and signs clearly depends on light on vertical surfaces. A lighting plan that only counts lux on the floor can miss this. Walls, coves and wall washers help.

Integrated details compared

For more, see continuous trimless lines, corridors, receptions and joinery and shelving.

Get the details right

Integrated lighting depends on coordination. A few points make the difference:

• Agree set-out with the ceiling and wall drawings early
• Plan access to drivers before boards go up: see maintenance
• Use the right plaster and jointing to avoid cracks: see preventing cracks
• Build a mock-up for key spaces: see mock-ups
• Share BIM and CAD details with the team: see BIM details

Where these lessons apply

Integrated lighting is not just for large public projects. The same thinking works at every scale.

Offices and workplaces

In offices, trimless linear lines can follow the architecture while controlling glare for screen work. Light on walls helps the space feel brighter without raising the lighting level on desks. See trimless lighting for offices.

Hotels and hospitality

Hotels use hidden light to create calm, warm interiors. Trimless downlights over beds and in bathrooms, and coves in lounges, keep ceilings clean. See trimless lighting for hotels and restaurants and bars.

Healthcare and education

Good vertical light helps people read signs and recognise faces, which matters in hospitals, schools and other public buildings. See trimless lighting for healthcare and education.

Homes

In homes, trimless downlights and plastered-in slots give a clean, modern look. See trimless lighting for homes.

Plan for the long term

Public transport lighting has to work for decades, and so should a good integrated scheme. Plastered-in fittings are harder to swap than surface fittings, so choose products with replaceable LED modules and drivers, and record their positions at handover. This also makes later upgrades easier.

Questions to ask at concept stage

• Which surfaces should be lit, and which should stay dark?
• Where do people need to find their way, and how will light help?
• Which spaces need warmer or cooler light, and where are the boundaries?
• How will the ceiling and wall finishes affect the light?
• Can every driver be reached for maintenance without damaging the finish?

How 299 Lighting can help

299 Lighting supplies trimless and plaster-in lighting, including bespoke profiles and linear lighting, and can help detail integrated schemes through project support. Send us your drawings to start. For other integrated options, see linear-led.com on recessed linear in plasterboard and recessedlighting.co.uk on recessed lighting for corridors.

Frequently asked questions