"THE ARCHITECTURE OF NATURAL LIGHT" by Henry Plummer, Laureate of The Daylight Award 2020

The Daylight Award

2 Sept 202009:04

Summary

TLDRThis script explores the transformative power of natural light in architecture, illustrating how light brings buildings to life, influencing mood and perception. It delves into the historical and modern approaches to utilizing light, from the emotional impact of light in darkness to the practical use of glass for openness. The script highlights architects' efforts to control and manipulate light to create atmospheric spaces that evoke wonder and elevate the ordinary to the extraordinary.

Takeaways

🏛️ Buildings, despite being physically static, can perceptually transform through the movement of natural light, displaying signs of life as light interacts with their spaces.
🌞 The mood of objects within a building is influenced by the natural light, which can change with the weather or the time of day.
🔦 Shadows are portrayed as a tangible presence that can vary in depth and sharpness depending on how they are cast or settle in the space.
🌠 The visual attraction of light, such as a light at the end of a tunnel or a lamp at night, has a strong emotional impact and energizes the space.
🎨 Light has the power to transform architectural spaces, creating a sense of movement and depth, as seen in the examples of baroque domes and zen temples.
🌟 The experience of light and darkness is a primal image that transcends immediate memory and provides a deep emotional encounter with light.
🏢 The practical value of large areas of clear glass, made possible by industrial production, has led to a state of openness and lucidity in architecture.
🌬️ Italo Calvino's thoughts on lightness through the subtraction of weight to dissolve solidity resonate with the idea of atomizing things, as seen in Lucretius' poetry.
🏗️ Modern architecture has sought to permeate buildings with natural light and fresh air, promoting health and expressing the openness and mobility of the modern age.
🛠️ Pioneers in architecture like Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, Alvar Aalto, and Hermann Hertzberger have explored innovative ways to maximize natural light beyond traditional glazing methods.
💡 The manipulation of materials to increase their sensitivity to light has historically been used to render buildings luminous, enhancing their beauty and sense of aliveness.

Q & A

How do buildings transform perceptually with the changes in natural light?
-Buildings perceptually transform through the movement and registration of natural light, as beams of light entering rooms or gliding over walls can stir what would otherwise be static volumes, giving them a sense of life and mood.
What role do shadows play in the architectural experience of light?
-Shadows are a palpable presence in architecture; they can thin or deepen, soften or sharpen, depending on how they are cast onto walls or settle in space, adding depth and mood to the environment.
How do visual attractions like 'the light at the end of the tunnel' affect space?
-Visual attractions electrify space with strong perceptual and emotional forces, creating a sense of allure and connection to the environment.
What is the significance of the loss and recovery of light in darkness according to Gaston Bachelard?
-The loss and recovery of light in darkness is a primal image that transcends immediate memory and provides a deep, felt encounter with light, amplifying the emotional response to architectural spaces.
How does the use of glass and transparency influence architectural design?
-The interplay of glass and transparency has been a significant focus in architectural design over the past century, allowing for openness, lucidity, and the conveyance of the healthful benefits of nature into buildings.
What does Italo Calvino suggest about the virtues of lightness in architecture?
-Italo Calvino suggests that lightness in architecture, achieved by subtracting weight, can dissolve the solidity of the world, creating a sense of openness and mobility that characterizes the modern age.
How do architects manipulate natural light to create a spirit of place?
-Architects manipulate natural light to create a spirit of place by not just illuminating form, but by creating an overall atmosphere that bathes every object in the field of vision, affecting the sensibility directly.
What is the effect of light on materials in architecture?
-Light can penetrate matter and temporarily produce an inward glow, transforming otherwise mute objects and dull materials, making them shine with elevated beauty and a sense of being more fully alive.
How have pioneers like Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, and Alvar Aalto explored the use of natural light in architecture?
-These pioneers explored the morphology of open form, going beyond conventional solutions to maximize light by expanding the size and proportion of glazing in building envelopes, aiming to permeate buildings with natural light and fresh air.
What is the concept of 'weightless being' in relation to light in architecture?
-The concept of 'weightless being' refers to the idea that light is not just refracted but splintered and pulverized, creating an effect of lightness and transparency that contributes to the overall atmosphere of a space.
How does the manipulation of materials contribute to the luminosity of buildings?
-The manipulation of materials to increase their sensitivity to light can render buildings luminous, enhancing the architectural experience and creating a sense of wonder and beauty.

Outlines

00:00

🏙️ The Life of Light in Architecture

This paragraph discusses the dynamic nature of buildings as they interact with natural light, transforming their appearance throughout the day. It highlights how light brings mood and life to static structures, with shadows and beams creating a visual language that changes with the weather or time of day. The script also touches on the emotional and psychological impact of light, using metaphors like the 'light at the end of the tunnel' to illustrate its power. The paragraph concludes with a reference to Gaston Bachelard's primal image of light, emphasizing the profound connection between humans and the experience of light in darkness and recovery.

05:02

🌞 The Role of Light and Glass in Modern Architecture

The second paragraph delves into the practical and aesthetic significance of light and glass in modern architecture. It references the Roman poet Lucretius to describe the subtle ways light interacts with dust and spider webs, symbolizing the weightless quality of light. The paragraph discusses the efforts of modern architects to integrate natural light and air into buildings for health and openness, mentioning pioneers like Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, Alvar Aalto, and Hermann Hertzberger. It also explores the concept of 'lightness' as described by Italo Calvino, relating it to the dissolution of the world's solidity. The paragraph concludes by emphasizing the transformative power of light in architecture, its ability to create atmosphere, and the historical use of materials to enhance light sensitivity, ultimately contributing to the buildings' luminosity and vitality.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Natural Light

Natural light refers to the sunlight that enters a space, affecting the mood and atmosphere of the environment. In the video, it is described as a transformative element that brings buildings to life, with the ability to change the perception of space and objects within it. The script mentions how natural light can 'pierce into rooms or glide over walls,' highlighting its dynamic and ever-changing nature.

💡Perceptual Transformation

Perceptual transformation is the change in how a space or object is perceived due to alterations in lighting or other sensory inputs. The video script discusses how buildings, although physically static, can perceptually transform with the movement of natural light, suggesting a dynamic interaction between the structure and its environment.

💡Moods of Light

Moods of light refer to the emotional or atmospheric effects created by different lighting conditions. The script describes how 'mute objects take on moods derived from the weather or hour of day,' indicating that the quality and direction of light can influence the emotional response to a space.

💡Shadows

Shadows are the dark areas created when an object blocks light. In the video, shadows are personified as a 'palpable presence' that can 'thin or deepen, soften or sharpen,' depending on how they interact with surfaces and space, emphasizing their role in shaping the visual and emotional experience of a place.

💡Light at the End of the Tunnel

This phrase is a metaphor for hope or a positive outcome after a difficult period. In the context of the video, it is used to illustrate the powerful visual and emotional impact of light, suggesting that light can electrify space and provide a strong attraction.

💡Gaston Bachelard

Gaston Bachelard is a French philosopher known for his work on the concept of space and imagination. The video references his 'primal images' of light, indicating his influence on understanding the deep, emotional connection people have with light, particularly the experience of 'loss and then the recovery of light in darkness.'

💡Baroque Dome

A baroque dome is an architectural feature characterized by its elaborate and ornate design, often found in buildings from the Baroque period. The script mentions the 'upward tug' of a baroque dome, suggesting how light can accentuate the verticality and grandeur of such structures.

💡Zen Temple

A Zen temple is a place of Buddhist meditation and practice, often designed with simplicity and harmony with nature. The video script refers to the 'downward draw of white sand in a Zen temple,' indicating how light can create a serene and contemplative atmosphere.

💡Glass and Transparency

Glass and transparency are key concepts in modern architecture, focusing on the use of glass to create open, light-filled spaces. The script discusses the 'interplay of glass and transparency,' highlighting the practical and aesthetic value of using large areas of clear glass to achieve a sense of openness and connection to the outside.

💡Italo Calvino

Italo Calvino was an Italian writer known for his imaginative and philosophical works. The video mentions his thoughts on 'lightness' achieved by reducing weight to dissolve the solidity of the world, using the imagery of 'little moats of dust' and 'spider webs' to illustrate how light can reveal the subtleties of a space.

💡Open Form

Open form in architecture refers to designs that are flexible and adaptable, often characterized by large open spaces and minimal obstructions. Pioneers like Frank Lloyd Wright and Le Corbusier are mentioned in the script for their exploration of open form, maximizing light and creating a sense of openness and mobility.

💡Spirit of Place

The spirit of place, or genius loci, is a concept that refers to the unique atmosphere or essence of a particular place. The script talks about architects trying to grasp and control the ability of natural light to create its own spirit of place, emphasizing the role of light in shaping the character and mood of a building.

💡Mesmerizing Power of Light

The mesmerizing power of light refers to its ability to captivate and transform. The video script describes how light can make objects 'shine with an elevated beauty and sense of being more fully alive,' illustrating the profound impact light can have on our perception and emotional response to spaces.

Highlights

Buildings can perceptually transform through the changes and movements of natural light.

Light brings life to deadened volumes, affecting the mood of spaces.

Shadows are a palpable presence, changing according to how they are cast.

Light exerts a strong perceptual and emotional force, attracting and electrifying space.

Gaston Bachelard's primal image of light transcends memory and provides a deep encounter with light.

The interplay of light and darkness amplifies architectural features and spaces.

The flicker of light in spaces like arcades or shrines creates a mesmerizing effect.

Architectural light has been influenced by the practical value of large areas of clear glass.

Italo Calvino's thoughts on lightness and the dissolution of solidity in architecture.

Lucretius' poem describes the atomizing effect of light on dust and spider webs.

Modern architecture aims to permeate buildings with natural light for health and openness.

Pioneers like Frank Lloyd Wright and Le Corbusier expanded the use of glass in architecture.

Natural light creates a spirit of place and mood within a building.

Light can create an overall atmosphere that is vibrant and modulated.

Light's ability to penetrate matter produces an inward glow and intensity of being.

Light transforms objects and materials, elevating their beauty and sense of aliveness.

Historically, buildings have been made luminous through material manipulation for light sensitivity.