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by Thomas Vonier In works that span nearly 2 decades and several continents, Abhay Wadhwa and his firm have accomplished an extraordinary range of lighting design projects. Each one expresses AWA’s conviction that light informs and even creates an experience, and that light itself is bound inextricably with form, space, volume, culture, and human perception— the very stuff of architecture. Lighting designs for retail shops, tower blocs, schools, restaurants, hotels, museums, universities, offices, parks, tunnels, places of worship, clubs, festivals, apartments, residences, and more, indoors, outdoors, and in between— AWA has done them all, each one with a compelling story. In a series of thought-provoking essays drawn from his landmark lectures on light, Abhay set the stage for these projects. He exposes the depth and the breadth of the philosophical, sci-
entific, and even spiritual considerations that inform AWA’s work and drive their explorations. Contextualizing Light is not only philosophy, science, or theory, however. Here we also have the pragmatic lessons of fixture design learned through reflective experience and careful study. Abhay discusses climate and light, culture and light, and the ever-present challenges posed by water, dust, insects, wind, birds, and, of course, human beings. Architects know that buildings and places reveal themselves in the interplay between light and darkness, shadow and reflection, color and transparency, surface and texture. All of these elements form the palette of AWA’s pleasing and skillful work, building upon the rich legacy of Richard Kelly and other great lighting designers who have had such profound and lasting influence.
about Thomas Vonier, FAIA, RIBA Architect Thomas Vonier FAIA RIBA is president of the International Union of Architects (UIA), the only global organization representing the world’s 3.2 million architects. With a private practice based in Paris and Washington DC, Thomas was the 2017 president of the American Institute of Architects. left: u bora tower I AWA I 2011
C O N T E X TUA LIZING LIG HT
FOREWORD
