Xref 2017 - Light Phenomenon

t h g i L

n o n e m o n e h P HMC Architects XREF - 2017 - travel scholorship proposal

Is the night for the dark...

Light is crucial to who we are. We seek to capture it, imitate it, and master it. It sparks our imagination, awakens our wonder, and draws us into contemplation. While the sun is the greatest and most important light, some of the most beautiful lights occur outside of the of the day, brightening the deep of the night sky, giving great life to the darkness.

A man is a very small thing, and the night is very large and full of wonders. - Edward Plunkett

or for lights?

It is my parents that instilled in me a great love for the natural world. When I was a child, my father woke me up in the middle of a winter night and took me outside. We went into the backyard and laid on lawn chairs, looking up into the heavens to watch a meteor shower As the years passed, we would drive out into the countryside and look at the stairs.

My eyes were opened both to the great beauty, and the scientific wonder of the night’s lights. This has built in me a love for the majestic nature and playfulness of the night.

For my XREF journey, I propose to pursue and explore three different types of light phenomenon: an astronomical light phenomenon, an atmospheric light phenomenon, and a biological light phenomenon.

It would be a dream come true to be able to personally experience the illusive movement and awesome beauty of these night shaping lights as they dance through the dark sky.

Geminids Meteor Shower

Astronomical Phenomenon

Joshua Tree contains some of the darkest night skies in the United States. It recently was certified as the 10th International Dark Sky Park in the U.S. National Park system. There are few locations left in the United States which contain truly dark skies, untouched by some amount of light pollution. Joshua Tree is therefore a truly spectacular location in which to watch the Geminids Meteor Shower.

The Geminids Meteor Shower is considered by many to be the best shower in the heavens, and is thus named by some “king of meteor showers.� It can produce up to 120 multicolor meteors per hour at its peak, radiating from the constellation Gemini.

The shooting stars are produced by debris that has been left behind by an asteroid known as the 3200 Phaethon.

Location: Joshua Tree

Aurora Borealis

Atmospheric Phenomenon

The Auroras, are the result of electrons being released from the sun and colliding with oxygen and nitrogen atoms / molecules in the atmosphere.

The atoms / molecules in the atmosphere are first excited, and then as they slow down, release energy in the form of light. The Aurora Borealis, or the Northern Lights, occurs around the magnetic field of the North Pole while the Aurora Australis, or Southern Lights, occur around the magnetic field of the Southern Pole. The various colors of the Auroras are caused by whether the electrons strike either the atoms or molecules of various gases and is also affected by the altitude at which it all takes place. This battle in the sky results in dancing ribbons of changing colors.

I often think that the night is more alive and richly colored than the day. - Vincent Van Goigh

With its location at 70 degrees north, Tromso Norway sits above the Arctic Circle in the Auroral oval. While other locations that experience the Northern Lights are expected to see a waning of the lights due to the sun’s natural 11 year cycle of active and dormant phases, Tromso should not experience any difference because of its location This makes it one of the top places to view the shimmering curtains of lights.

Location: Tromso Noway

Biological Phenomenon Synchronous Fireflies

A Fireflies lifespan after larvae transformation is only about 21 days long.

Mating is therefore a huge priority. As part of the mating process, fireflies produce light to attract the opposite sex. This production of light is called bioluminescence.

I can still remember the very first time I saw a single firefly flashing as it floated through the night air. The beauty and fairytale like nature of the experience captivated my imagination. Ever since that day I have longed to see a field filled with fireflies.

While there are over 2000 different species of fireflies around the world, synchronous fireflies, which coordinate their flashing are found only in a few places on earth.

I hope to expereince this rare sight, and see the beauty of a field of fireflies.

Location: Great Smokey Moutains

The Photinus carolinus synchronous fireflies found in the Great Smokey Mountains, are the only species of fireflies in America whose individuals are able to synchronous their flashing light patterns. Four species of synchronous fireflies can also be found in Southeast Asia. While these species sit in the trees and flash completely simultaneously, in the Great Smokey Mountains, the fireflies flash in waves as they float through the air, making it the most dynamic place in which to witness the event.

Documentation

What I take from my nights, I add to my days. - Leon de Rotrou

My goal for this trip is to seek out and explore the marvelous and illusive beauty of these various light phenomenon, that I may better understand and be inspired by the natural world. We try and recreate light in meaningful ways, but the beauty of the natural surpasses. I hope that seeing these awesome lights will enlarge my vision for the possibilities of design in the built environment around us.

In order to best share my experiences with my colleagues, I will document my adventure through the use of photography, writing, and film. As the phenomenon that I will be exploring are moving, changing, dancing lights, video will be my most important tool in documentation. I will compile my best films and combine these with writings and conclusions to contrast and compare the beauty of the three types of events.

Thank

you

for

your

consideration.

Thank you very much for your consideration.