Light and shadow

2. Light is the natural agent that stimulates sight. It is light that first enables “What You See”.
Shadow is the creation where light cannot reach. It is shadow that help us define forms

3. Shadow is the
creation of light.
Without light
shadow will not
exist.
Light can exists
without shadow.
Without shadow
light still shines.

4. Light has been since as the origin of all beings as without light life would not be possible
on Earth.
Light greatly affects our ways of life, as how we interacts with one another, how we
interacts with the surroundings revolved around how light interacts with us. Our
relationship with the environment is enhanced in the presence of light.

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6. The use of natural light in early Architecture was seen or related to the gods above. Ad
light is the origin of all beings, light is seen as a creation of god or even god himself. In the
design of Pantheon, the opening at the very top of the building allows light to enter and
flow through the space, a implication of allowing god to enter the building.

7. The Pantheon is one of the earliest attempts
at using light to create and give life to a
space.
The architecture not only uses the curves of
the dome but it also make use of the
notches on the roof, to give depth to the
building.
The opening is at the very centre of the
dome, the light moves around the domes as
the hours changes. This in turn creates a
different kind of shadow.
The quality and quantity of light gives
certain quality and quantity of shadow.
The physical and spiritual appearance of this
architecture changes with the changes of its
exterior light.

9. The curves and notches on the dome creates shadows. The
formation of shadows gives depth onto the overall building
giving it a soul. The steps on the notches creates an illusion of
window and form a pattern of light and shadow.

10. Natural lightings are most often used in places
of worship or spiritual enlightenment. This is
because the power and spiritual input from a
thoughtful natural lighting design highlights not
only the architecture, but also the character of
the space and the experience are utilized to
powerful effect. And thus its often use in
architecture that aims to convey or spread a
belief or ideology.

11. Antoni Gaudi uses circles, curves
and other organic shapes to
create his architectures. Not only
does his design bathed in natural
lights illuminating the interiors but
he also uses colors to create a
symphony of light and shadow,
giving life to the building.

12. Across cultures there is an understanding of
daylight and human experience, and the many
ways it can be controlled and exposure,
protection and orientation have been integral to
vernacular design and traditional building
methods.
For example, what could have been a simple
shade becomes an elaborate screen, filtering
light and creating privacy all while developing an
architecture that is rich in detail and distinctive
culturally.

14. • With the advancement in technology and design, architects today are able to make use of
natural light more as more openings can be used in their designs.
• Natural light in Modern Architecture is used to make buildings look and feel more open as
compare to a metaphor of god in classical architecture
• With that being said natural light is still sometimes used to highlight certain beliefs and aspects in
religious buildings
• It is also used to create illusions in design
• Light can also be used to warm up a space, not necessarily only to lit up

15. Norman Foster covers up the
previously open courtyard using
glass panels. This allows the
visitors to enjoy the entirety of
the museum no matter the
season, as even during winter the
natural light from outside can
shine into the courtyard,
illuminate and warm up the
space all while keeping the cold
air from coming in. This will allow
the visitors to stay in the
courtyard for a prolong period of
time even during the winter cold,
something that an open
courtyard cannot provide.

16. The glass roof of the courtyard is
formed with thousands of
triangular glass panels. These
panels casts a patterned shadow
onto the walls surrounding the
courtyard. The shadow breaks up
the walls, creating illusionary
space between the walls, making
the courtyard seems more open
rather than a totally enclosed
space. This is an excellent
example of how light can be use
to create an illusion, on top of
being able to it up a space.

17. Once again Norman chooses to cover the top of his design
with a glass dome. In this design, the glass dome not only
serve as a entry for daylight and starlight during the day and
night respectively, but it also serve a layer of isolation
between the building’s interior and exterior. When natural
light shines in and heat up the space, the glass ensures that
the heat are trap within the space and is not lost to the
surrounding. This is an excellent example of how light can be
use to warm up a space, no top of being able to lit up a
space.

19. In this design the centre support of the
dome is covered in mirrors, the mirrors are
used to reflects the light further, thus filling
up the entire space with minimal amount
light. On top of that, the mirrors also reflects
the light from inside to outside, giving the
dome a “natural glow” during the night,
creating a interesting profile and character
for the buildings.

20. Uses curves and organic shapes to
illuminate the interiors with natural
light.

21. The library uses natural light for a more eco-friendly design as its more energy saving. The use of
artificial light is kept to minimal and on top of that the intensity of the artificial light is controlled by the
use of light sensors. Hence when the natural light is dimes, the artificial light brightens and vice versa.

22. Artificial light plays a very important role in design especially in modern architecture, as high rise buildings in
urban area blocks out natural light hence the spaces are often lacking in natural light. With the use of
artificial lights, designer are able to set the atmosphere of a space much more accurately as compare to
the use of natural light. On top of that, designers are also able to create various illusions by being able to
decide where and how the lights are placed.
For example (from left to right),
• The use of soft glowing light below the benches, gives the illusions that the benches are floating
• The use of bright lighting within the ceilings, gives the illusions that the ceiling is not solid and have
openings
• The use of lights beside the stairs expands the space, and gives the illusions that the space is slightly open

23. As technology advances, over-illuminations becomes a problem. Excessive amount of lightings
are used in designs, this cause not only wastage of energy but also results in bad designs. High
end places such as hotels and restaurants with good interior design will have just the right amount
of lighting. As shown in the pictures above, the office is overly illuminated even for a working
environment, while the restaurants have a soft soothing lighting.

24. Inside-out
Museum
- Beijing

25. Kimbell
Art
Museum

26. GuangZhou Opera House

27. Utzon Chapel

28. In Modern Architecture, designers try to avoid having light bulbs shining directly into the users’
eyes. Hence a good lighting design in modern architecture are either hidden or creating an
indirect light. The previous photos shows how these effects are achieved.

29. Michael Graves is a postmodern architect that uses design idea similar to that of a classical
architecture, hence most of his designs have a exposed light source and on top of that he uses
notches to create shadow similar to that of the Pantheon.

30. Artificial lighting is not limited to just interior spaces of the buildings. Exterior lighting schemes have
been applied to many modern buildings and structures to make a building stand out in a city’s
crowded skyline and at the same time making the city look more vibrant. More recent buildings
also feature media screens which can be programed in different lighting schemes. Exterior Lighting
is also used as a form of art which are projected on building facades. But of course these lighting
not only need to be fancy but also need to be functional.

31. Exterior Lighting Can Be Use To Create A mood

32. Light and Shadows give different type of soulfulness at different angles. And they are
used to enhance the geometry and form of the buildings.

33. The curves create a balance in light and shadow showing soulfulness of exterior space

35. Shadows in architecture help break up a vast amount of space. It also gives a building three dimensional
feeling. Natural shadow casted by natural light, creates a space with dynamic appearance as the
shadow changes as the sun moves, giving life to the space.

36. Shadows create dynamic
and life, with the use of
natural lighting. Free
forms working together
with light and shadow,
enhance the interior
form.

37. TWA Terminal

38. TWA Terminal
The light and
shadow work
together to give
colors to the
space, they
‘paint’ the space.

39. The roof has a gap to allow
light to pass through and
with the help of the dark
interior, the roof seems
floating.
Small window opening on
the outside and huge
opening on the inside breaks
up the wall and with depth
to create more shadows and
gives texture.
The windows are shape
irregular, they gives a dim
but exciting light within.

40. The light is use metaphorically, the skylight represent the grace of god, the circular opening represents
the eye of heaven while the ”waterfall” mirrors represents the tears of our father. We use metaphors to
create and give meaning to a space.

41. We can also use light directly. In
the same design, the skylight
subtly brings soft sunlight into the
interior through stained-glass
windows to further enhance the
atmosphere of the place.
The mirrors reflects and distribute
light into the interior of the chapel.
The sculpture appears as a
cascading waterfall of light that is
constantly adjusting, moving and
redefining the interior of the
chapel.
Since the skylight is a natural light it
changes throughout the day,
creating different kind of
atmopshere.

43. This building is designed to cast shadow in the room of the church, resembling a cross.

45. Thorncrown Chapel is a building that make use of natural life to give the building life,
the shadow casted by the roof changes. Not only does the dynamicity of the shadow
comes from the times of the day, it’s also affected by the season, as the tree
surrounding the chapel dies, the shadows become clearer and more lively

46. Uses skylight to light the museum; Use of forms to spread light and shadow into a rhythm

47. Light is brought in by the inverted pyramid. The
pyramid sucks the light in, reflect and deflect
the light into the underground, lights up the
space. Skylight is deflected on all side of the
pyramid.
The effect of the reflective pool on the glass pyramid, the
light shining on the steel frame creates shadow and
depth to the structure. On top of that, the pool causes the
pyramid turn into a diamond, creating a illusionary
change of appearance and additional beauty.

49. In the design of the Seed Cathedral, thousands and thousands of transparent tube were used
to capture the light from outside to the inside. The shape of the cathedral resembles a human
face due to the light and shadow creating texture and layers, thus introducing the idea of
humanism into architectural design.

50. The silence room is design to allow people to find peace and quite.

51. The use of light induces a concept of a space without
gravity as the benches seems to be floating and hence
gives people the impression that its weightless.
Silence Room

52. Artist today also make use of lights and shadow to express their art. With the clever use of both
elements, the shadows become the artwork in some cases.

60. • HTTP://WWW.RSLTG.COM/IMAGES/LIGHT_IN_ARCHITECTURE.PDF
• HTTP://WWW.ARCHDAILY.COM/362554/LIGHT-MATTERS-LOUIS-KAHN-AND-THE-POWER-OF-
SHADOW
• HTTP://WWW.ARCHITECTS.ORG/SITES/DEFAULT/FILES/BSA_BEC-
DAYLIGHT_AS_BASIS_FOR_DESIGN_PART1.PDF
• HTTP://ARCHITECTURE-VIEW.COM/2010/12/13/MODERN-SCIENCE-TOWER-IN-THE-UNIVERSITY-OF-
COPENHAGEN/
• HTTP://ARQ.CLARIN.COM/ARQUITECTURA/CULTURA-ENVUELTA-REGALO_0_696530595.HTML