Lighting Architecture I

As my project contains the construction of a 3D environment, I think it is important to understand how modern Architecture is illuminated. Before I research the design of Underground stations, I want to be able to understand what lighting effects are used in public places, why they're used and what they strive to achieve. Lighting structures such as buildings from the inside out has become more of a focal point in Architectural construction. I came across a book called 'Light: Re-interpreting Architecture' where the writer, Carl Gardner, talks of his theory on how structural lighting has specific techniques that strive for some sort of atmosphere, especially in historical and cultured environments. 

My study book

I really enjoyed reading Gardener's theories of Architectural illumination, specifically in his preface where he includes the relevance of lighting methods in different cultures. One statement in particular really got me thinking and I then began thinking similarly with other examples. '...from the Egyptians in their hot sunlight but massive, cool and dark hyper style halls to Norway and Sweden's intensely coloured, timber Arctic Circle buildings, built for a climate with limited sunlight.' states Gardner. Having visited Norway many times for the last year, I had been very curious to why Norwegian cabins and households painted their timber with bright colours. In truth, I doubt I saw any plain coloured housing, they all varied from every colour imaginable. After reading through this quote, I began to grasp an understanding as to why. When we think of a overcast day, with a grey sky and plenty of dark cloud, to a sunny day with a clear blue sky and a hot yellow sun, we instantly know which we'd prefer. Scientifically, the exposure of sunshine naturally releases endorphins within the human body, making us feel emotionally happier. Also the colour comparison of Grey and Blue have different emotional properties. We often associate the colour or tone of Grey to represent depression, sadness or gloom. Whereas blue is a calming, soothing and tranquil colour. In Norway specifically due to it's location, doesn't usually have clear and sunshine filled days. It is more so a country that harbors plenty of snow and rain, with very rare occurrences of sunshine, even in the summer. In fact, in the north of Norway during certain times of the year, the sun doesn't actually rise above the horizon. How I believe Architectural design in Norway has developed, is because of the lack of colour from sunshine. Therefore they decorate and paint their timber with bright colours to bring back the feelings associated with sunshine, typically Red, White or Blue to represent their national flag. With that thought alone, I feel very humble and quite intrigued how the importance of sunshine is transferred into architecture. Although Norwegian structures are not using light in specific, it is the importance of light and the feelings it brings to that culture that make it a relevant topic.

Traditional Norwegian household.

This book also covered prehistoric references to lighting techniques in and around structures. A good example is 'Stonehenge' in England. Although it is still unaware who built Stonehenge and how it was erected, but studies indicate that it was carefully considered where they positioned the structure. During both Summer and Winter solstices, Stonehenge would be illuminated by the rise and fall of sun in a particular way. As many ancient religions celebrated the Solstices as even we do in modern times, it seems Stonehenge was positioned in such a way for certain Solar rituals, judging by the illumination of the structure by daylight. This is a clear and beautiful example of how even prehistoric structures were carefully considered with light exposure, even from the oldest of architects!

Stonehenge, England. Sun Rise.

Bibliography:

http://www.jacobmetcalf.net/norway/images/norway017-large.jpg

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/content/properties/stonehenge/K050086.jpg