The concept of light in architecture is a dynamic force that shapes the way we perceive and experience built environments. Over the past 50 years, architectural developments have been dramatic and paralleled by active research in lighting. Lighting fixtures inspired by various architectural styles, such as Florentine, Colonial, Medieval, Rococo, and Italian Renaissance, speak to the eclectic revival era of domestic design. Olson Kundig Architects has built a global reputation for its bold and innovative use of raw materials, particularly well-illuminated by the cool light of natural light.
Illuminated Architecture, or night architecture, refers to the architectural approach designed to maximize the effect of natural lighting. As illumination technologies advanced, so did the ability of fixture designers to incorporate myriad architectural styles into their products. To meet this need, architects and engineers developed the skylight, a glass or translucent material set into the roof to provide natural light. With the rise of artificial lighting in the 19th and 20th centuries, architects were increasingly aware of it as an element to be integrated into design.
Inviting direct sunlight indoors poses challenges, and architects are devising original solutions in unique shapes, configurations, and patterns. In ancient times, openings in ceilings were used to let in natural light from the sun. The earliest form of skylights was developed using holes.
📹 Inside One of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Final-Ever Designs | Unique Spaces | Architectural Digest
Today AD travels to Connecticut to tour Tirranna, one of legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s final designs. Considered one of …
What are the three types of interior lighting?
A good lighting setup involves three main types: ambient or general lighting, accent lighting, and task lighting. Ambient lighting provides an overall glow to a room, setting the tone for the space and ensuring comfortable and safe movement. It can also double as task lighting in some cases. Each space may require a different type of lighting, and a good lighting setup should combine these to create a welcoming space for work or relaxation. A good lighting setup should combine different types of lighting to create a comfortable and relaxing environment.
How do architects use natural light to transform spaces?
Natural light plays a significant role in architectural design, enhancing aesthetics and health benefits. It creates dynamic environments that change throughout the day, highlighting textures, colors, and forms. Designers strategically place windows, skylights, and reflective surfaces to maximize light and shadow, adding dimension and vibrancy. Exposure to natural light regulates circadian rhythms, influencing sleep patterns, mood, and overall well-being.
It also increases vitamin D production, essential for bone health and immune function. Incorporating natural light in workplaces, schools, and homes can lead to improved productivity, reduced stress levels, and enhanced mental health. Daylighting strategies are crucial in sustainable and health-focused architectural design. Building orientation is a fundamental daylighting strategy, ensuring that spaces receive ample natural light throughout the day. In the Northern Hemisphere, buildings oriented with longest sides facing south can capture the most sunlight, reducing artificial lighting and heating during winter months.
What is the light in the ceiling called?
Recessed lights, also known as downlights or can lights, are lighting fixtures installed in ceilings or walls for a sleek, polished finish. They are designed to sit flush with the surface, hiding the housing and electrical wiring components. They are typically installed between ceiling joists in new construction but can be retrofitted to any home. If the ceiling is insulated, the fixtures must be IC housing rated.
Avoid using recessed lighting in concrete ceilings or detailed plasterwork. Place recessed lights about 3 feet away from the wall to avoid creating shadows. When spacing recessed lights, divide the ceiling height by two to determine the distance between them.
What famous architects use light?
Modern architects like Le Corbusier and Louis I. Kahn are known for their work with light, while Japanese architect Tadao Ando and Swiss architect Peter Zumthor also excel in this area. Jean Nouvel’s Arab World Institute in Paris is an example of precision play, critical control, and measurement of light, where millions of apertures work together to integrate optimally into the building. Light alone plays a crucial role in creating an experience within architecture by conducting itself in a particular way, often induced by the way architecture envelops or reveals itself around light.
What are the three common forms of architectural lighting?
Architectural lighting, including cove, soffit, and valance, is a fundamental element of a room’s structural design. Cove lighting is typically positioned at a high elevation and reflects light towards the ceiling or upper wall.
What are the three most common forms of architectural lighting?
It is common practice to incorporate architectural lighting, including cove, soffit, and valance, into the structural design of a room.
What is the light in architectural spaces?
Light is a powerful tool in architectural design, serving as an emotional canvas that connects spaces with the intricate dance of natural and artificial illumination. It transcends mere visibility and orchestrates a symphony of feelings, a choreography of emotions. Designers strive to capture the essence of natural light, crafting their creations to echo the comforting glow of the sun. Within the embrace of natural light, a sanctuary emerges, fostering a harmonious coalescence of comfort and personal emotions.
Light transforms into an art form, creating new dimensions where comfort intertwines with the user’s emotions. Spaces are not just physical entities but vessels for emotion, resonating with the soothing cadence of natural light while embracing the unique emotional tapestry woven by each inhabitant. In this interplay of light and space, architects become storytellers, weaving narratives that resonate with the human spirit. Light, whether cast by the sun or shaped by human ingenuity, stands as the beacon that guides us through the emotional landscapes of our designed world.
What is architectural lighting in interior design?
Architectural lighting is a field that integrates architecture, design, and engineering to create systems of light for human action. It enhances architectural elements to enhance a building’s aesthetic, history, and purpose. Architectural lighting design focuses on architecture, while architectural lighting design considers ergonomic and functional aspects to ensure optimal light usage and distribution. It is the intersection of art, design, and technology, with other fields like physics, engineering, and the psychological and physiological effects of light also playing a role.
What is an example of daylighting in architecture?
The author emphasizes the importance of daylighting in a building, recommending the use of skylights to bring daylight into the center of the space and designing buildings with balanced illumination. Multi-directional daylighting reduces shadows, contrast, glare, and allows the space to be more evenly illuminated. Architects should understand techniques like using windows plus a skylight, view windows from multiple walls, or high clerestory windows to bring daylight deeper into a space.
The author also highlights the value of window views, which are the primary source of circadian stimulus inside buildings. They argue that view windows are brighter and more interesting than the rest of a daylit interior, and people are more likely to look at them more often. Therefore, views are an essential component of the well-being provided by daylighting in a space.
How to use natural light in interior design?
Natural light is a crucial element in interior design, as it not only enhances the aesthetic appeal but also contributes to mood and health. By incorporating sunlight into the design, designers can create visually interesting spaces with bright and dark areas, highlighting primary design features and bringing a room to life. This can be achieved through the use of shades, window treatments, light-reflective colors, mirrors, keeping windows clear, and incorporating glass elements.
Sunlight also plays a significant role in boosting mood and health, as it regulates circadian rhythms, improving sleep patterns, reducing anxiety, and boosting serotonin levels. By strategically incorporating natural light into design, homes can become more energy-efficient, reducing the need for artificial lighting.
Incorporating windows, skylights, and other openings can bring light and openness into a home, making it eco-friendly. By incorporating natural light into interior design, designers can create stylish, timeless spaces that are both visually appealing and functional. By incorporating these tips, designers can create spaces that combine the best elements of design and sunlight, creating a welcoming and comfortable environment for their guests.
What are the different techniques architects use to manipulate natural light within a structure?
Clerestory windows can provide ample natural light and fresh air, while electric opening rooflights can be installed for better energy efficiency. These skylights can have built-in shades and can be connected to solar panels. Light shelves are increasingly used in architecture and interior design to prevent harmful glare and heat accumulation. Glass doors are another great way to incorporate more light into work or living spaces, such as see-through offices or bathrooms. These doors allow natural light to pass through from the surrounding area, making them ideal for use in various spaces such as bathrooms, gyms, and home offices.
📹 The Shed Roof – An Architect’s Review of a Modern Classic
In this video I discuss the reasons for choosing a shed roof shape as well as the design implications for doing so. Sheds are …
I went with a shed roof with clerestory window design for my house. I ordered louvered windows for the ventilation functionality as well as the ability to open them without the use of a ladder. I only discovered recently that they are not energy efficient and allow outside noise to pass through. I live in earthquake zone and I find them dangerous to have since the glass is bare. Now, I want to change them to casement windows. Any thoughts on this?
For a wide span that may begin to look hat like one could simply put more beams in to the point that the roof is entirely composed of beams. Below this would have the appearance of cladding but it would be solid all the way through. Consider say 3 inch beams at 18 inch centres filled in completely the roof would now be 6.5 times stronger and 6.5 times stiffer.
Great article with great points. Why isn’t this roof construct put to more use in residential construction. Two questions: Is the house in the photo at 7:44, one of your designs? How does one calculate size, placement of windows to minimize heat loss/gain while maximizing adequate natural light; is there a “magic” architect formula?