PRECISE REFLECTION REPRESENTATION
JAMES GILLETT A1705813
C O N TE N TS 1
SITE PLAN
2
ELEVATIONS
3,4
3D VIEWS
5
SHADOWS/SHADING
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ACCESS/MOVEMENT
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AMBIENT LIGHT
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ADDITIONAL SITE INFO
9,10
LIGHT STUDY
sIT E
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TR PE NG S O RI NT NEE A S GI EN
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SHA DIN G
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SH A D OW S
SUMMER 9AM
SUMMER 12PM
SUMMER
9P M
WINTER 9AM
WINTER 12PM
WINTER 3PM
AC CE S S
A N D
MOVEMEN T
AMB IE N T
L I G H T
C ULTU R A L A N D QU A LITIE S
SOCIA L
STUDENTS USE THE SPACE FOR RELAXATION AND TO STUDY PROMOTING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE AND USING OUTDOOR AREAS
LIGH T
S TU D Y
Luminosity or luminous refers to giving off or contributing light to a space. It represents the presence of light and illuminating a space. In astronomical terms, luminosity is the intrinsic brightness of a celestial object (as distinct from its apparent brightness diminished by distance). As luminosity refers to giving off light or illuminating spaces, it could be considered a symbol of enlightenment or realisation/ awareness. By revealing space through light luminosity, it’s as if new discoveries are being made and could be referred to as seeking knowledge or truth. Without light spaces would be impossible to understand as they would no longer be defined. By having luminosity within spaces clarity is found, relating to truth as a spiritual awakening. Finding purpose and meaning through luminosity, guiding towards the right path by highlighting the destination. The No Shadow Tower is a proposed design that has been designed accordingly to direct light to illuminate an area on the ground plane that would originally be shaded. The idea is based on light penetration through the city canopy. As tall skyscrapers cast a large shadow, conditions on the ground within the shadow differ significantly to that of an area exposed to the sun light. The No Shadow Tower would ir-
radiate the shaded space below making them a more inhabitable space for people. Through extensive site and solar analysis a solar chart can be mapped informing the architect of the shape and angle of the tower. The proposed tower would have reflective glass or mirrors on the appropriate façade to reflect light downwards eliminating the shadow. However as the sun rises and falls during the day the shadow of the building will move. To combat this the reflective tower will be angled suitably so the redirected sunlight will follow the movement of the shadow of the other. This process would encourage more people to use the newly illuminated space. As well lit areas are often associated with happiness or warmth, people will be drawn to these places thus creating social outdoor hub. However there are factors that need to be controlled such as glare or harmful solar rays. To avoid any potentially dangerous concentrated solar rays, the reflected light must be diffused. The process is a good example of the ability to use a relatively inflexible resource and control it. Though, the notion of illuminating shadows cast by reflecting sun light has been around since the early 1990s. A large solar mirror was recently launched into space by Russian...
L IGHT
S TUD Y
...scientists to illuminate cold and dark areas primarily to the north, the idea was proposed approximately 100 years ago as the town of Rjukan spent 6 months without sunlight each year. As explored by designers and behavioural scientists, it has been discovered that daylight significant affects urban activity and popularity of spaces in a city environment. By illuminating spaces, specific to their purpose, architects can improve the quality of life in these spaces. This would eliminate restrictions of space usage in the city due to unsuitable lighting conditions. For example, a yoga or meditation site would require a well-lit area to promote a calm and peaceful atmosphere. If it was beneath a large tower it would change the mood to a cold and potentially uninviting space. There are also environmental advantages to directing sunlight beneath the city canopy. Any plant life that thrive in large amounts of sunlight would be unsuited to the conditions provided by a space situated in the shadow of a skyscraper. However, if the light was directed to eliminate the shadows effects a wider range of plant species would be available to inhabit these spaces further promoting a healthy and happy state of being.
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p L AN + S E CT I O N S C O NCE PT 1
p L AN + S E CT ION S C ONCE PT 2
A ERI A L
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GROUN D
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I N T ERN A L VI EW S C O NCE PT 1
I N T ERN A L VI EW S C O NCE PT 2
L I G H T S T UDY REF LECTION Reflection refers to an amount of light heat or sound reflected off a body or surface. In physics or optics terms, reflection is the return of light, heat and sound after striking a surface. Mathematically, the operation of inverting a system or event with respect to a plane, each element being transferred perpendicularly through the plane to a point the same distance the other side of it. Reflection has many philosophical meanings including perceiving, thinking, doubting, believing, reasoning, knowing, and willing. To reflect on something is to revisit or reminisce over past events. By reflecting on history, humans may learn from past mistakes or find a previous solution to a current problem. Alternatively it could refer to a more personal experience with internal dialogue or thought evoking emotion or sensations. Promoting an emotional response thus triggers thinking, reasoning and perceiving functions as the human mind attempts to organise the recently visited thoughts, gathered through reflection. Reflection, utilised in architecture, has a variety of uses and benefits whether it’s altering human’s perception of buildings and scale, or if it’s creating visually pleasing reflective patterns through deliberate moulding of the façade. As many contemporary buildings feature mirrors or reflective materials on their façades,
humans have explored the capabilities and limitations of reflective surfaces in design. However, some projects, such as the Elbphilharmonie, have found a way to distort human perception significantly. Using concave and convex window elements, the reflection of the city is distorted to the point of it being unrecognisable. The window fragments the reflection with some sections displaying reflections completely out of context. Furthermore the image displayed changes entirely depending on the position of the viewer meaning the building looks different from almost every angle. Due to this, the viewer’s perception of the structure is changed dramatically as the focus of the building is the image reflected rather than the actual shape eliminating the edges of the structure. Any reflective material or surface can produce a reflection from simple tonal difference to accurate edges and have a mirror like quality. Depending on the surrounding context, the images reflected can be interesting in character and composition. To increase this, architects can add geometry or curvature to the building façade. This alters the reflection creating a new image and generally shattering the old one.
L I G H T S T UDY REF LECTION The South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute in South Australia demonstrates this effect through a highly geometric surface. Manipulating the cityscape and reflecting it off hundreds of triangular mirror extrusions to create an interesting reflective pattern As mirrors direct attention away from the shape of the building and more towards the image or images rebounded of its reflective surface, buildings can sometimes be overwhelmed and forgotten due to an overpowering faรงade. However, reflective materials, rather than steal the attention of the viewer, assist in merging the idea of materiality and form together. By having a material that makes the surrounding landscape the material, form becomes limitless. Having reflective surfaces on a building faรงade blurs boundaries and hides edges to create a never ending structure by hiding any evidence of ends. This can help to reinforce a hidden theme behind the construction or design of the building, such as a futuristic design having the building in a camouflaged state. Or if the building was to serve as a symbol celebrating the city, by reflecting it in an interesting or aesthetically pleasing way would communicate the theme clearly and affectively.