Lighting and Architecture- a small talk

LIGHTING & ARCHITECTURE Kostas Poulopoulos for AUU LiD Masters Program 2015 Kick Off Day

A talk about what . Not how.

Marlene Dietrich

“Shadow is mystery and light is clarity. Shadow conceals-light reveals.

To know what to reveal and what to conceal and in what degree is all there is to art.�

Josef von Sternberg

Jorn Utzon

Jorn Utzon’s concept sketch

The buildind as an indifferent canvas

The buildind as an indifferent canvas

The buildind as an indifferent canvas

The buildind at its pure state

Lighting enhances what is already there.

Lighting enhances what is already there.

The lighting designer and the architect must speak the same language .

contrast rythm border transparency camouflage invitation focus directionality theatricality

there is always a prevailing concept!

EXAMPLES

border

The architect surely wanted to avoid railing.

Lighting enhances the border by making it more visible.

theatricality theatricality

People as actors. Lighting enhances the content of the building.

focus

The (non) lighting enhances the ceremonial atmosphere.

People are invited to leave “themselves� outside.

rythm

The space is a rythmic array of beams that create a gentle dome.

rythm

The checkerboard rythm of the light fixtures enhances the effect of the ondulating roof.

rythm

The checkerboard rythm of the light fixtures makes the roof shape more legible.

contrast

A museum atrium - looking solid during the day.

contrast

At night, the story is inverted. The building becomes bright, transparent , inviting.

contrast

Lighting introduces a dual identity to the building.

Day and Night.

camouflage

Lighting reveals with its existence - and conceals with its absence.

camouflage

Lighting hides the building , to expose movement / information / animation . Something other than the building.

invitation

Light and furnishing introduce an inviting seating area and enrich the use of the courtyard

invitation

An inviting “lightscape” can be an attractive public seating area

directionality

Light enhances the entrance experience, by emphasizing the long low volume that leads to the entrance.

directionality

Light enhances the entrance scenario

directionality

Lighting enhances the circulation scenario

test

What does this design try to enhance? What is the prevailing concept that it draws from ?

test

If it had internal contrast, it would be more successful in enhancing directionality.

test

What’s wrong here ? Is there a prevailing concept?

Is there hierarchy in the lighting story ?

test

Internal contrast makes the story.

contrast rythm border transparency camouflage invitation focus directionality theatricality

there is always a prevailing concept!

contrast rythm border transparency camouflage invitation focus directionality theatricality

“Shadow is mystery and light is clarity.

To know what to reveal and what to conceal and in what degree is all there is to art.�

In every scenario, there is a prevailing concept. The “cheekbone�.

Go find the cheekbone!

And careful with colors.