Zenith light and oculus---Religious buildings（ancient）

          

Louis Kahn said that all spaces need natural light.When natural light into a building,normally through skylights ,it is known as zenithal light .When the skylight is circle and at the  highest of a building it is called an oculus. This opening way can absorb more light than normal window during whole day,because of this has a good position (Verges,2007). Zenith light has dramatic effect and easy to use,so it is often use in churches and temples such as pantheon in Rome.The light of pantheon is classic in the world, and the light of the Pantheon inspired Le Corbusier.

 source:http://www.zhongchengzixun.com/news_detail/newsId=fbb025f7-ac9d-4702-bb6a-7108850651f9&comp_stats=comp-FrontNews_list01-001.html

source: http://vr.theatre.ntu.edu.tw/fineart/architect-wt/roman/pantheon.htm

Pantheon give us such an impressive interior.There is a 43 meter dome,light enter inside through a oculus 9 meters in diameter.

source:http://luning0815.wordpress.com/2011/12/22/%E5%86%AC%E6%B8%B8%E6%84%8F%E5%A4%A7%E5%88%A9-%E4%B9%8B%E4%B8%89-%E5%8F%A4%E7%BD%97%E9%A9%AC%E9%81%97%E8%BF%B9/

 There are no materials covered in oculus so the rain and snow can get in.Natural light into interior space through the oculus, people can experience full of mystery of heaven.

 Why zenith light often use in Religious buildings，like temples and churches?
 Because the zenithal light expression of spiritual light of God.

Interior of Pantheon is a single space, but it is very complete and full of  harmony.Accordance to the prevailing concept ,the dome symbolizes Sky and  Contact symbolizes God's world and the human world(Plumer,2009).The natural light from the east to illuminate the interior space, in this way,the light give people a quiet atmosphere and ambiance.

Hagia Sophia is anther example about zenith light.

source:http://www.nationalturk.com/en/what-are-the-secrets-of-hagia-sophia-mentioned-in-dan-browns-latest-novel-inferno-istanbul-news-38003

          

Because Hagia Sophia has diverse entries of light into the domes,the interior space has richness light .Interior space is rich and varied which under the dome, between the pillars, connecting the every space around .The bottom of the dome has 40 windows, when light into the space through the windows in the dome.The interior dome looks like floating in the air.

References:

PLUMMER,H,.2009.The architecture of natural light.London:Thames and Hudson Ltd.

VERGES,M,.2007.Light in architecture. UE: Tectum Publishers .

Church of the light --Religious buildings(Modern)

source:http://www.ronenbekerman.com/making-of-church-of-the-light/

Normally light is used to show religious symbolism in the religious buildings.Light highlights a piece of architecture, a sculpture, or a sacred decoration.In the same time,Light connects a person to nature when the path of the sun can be seen, the Church of the Light is a good example (Bennett,2008).

This is a very small church, which is about 112 square meters, when people in this space, you can feel it exudes a sacred and solemn, concrete creating a dark space.People feel scared where they get in .The precise openings in this space, enhance the bright of light against  darkness.

source: http://tupian.baike.com/a4_51_05_01300000538038125412055874954_jpg.html


The only place to remove the fear is light cross in the wall, which giving a strong tension in the interior space, and it has brought light and hope. Under this comparison, the light has a strong appeal to the people and stimulate people's emotions.

 source：http://www.archdaily.com/101260/

Visual effects transformed into a spiritual insights, cross dividing walls to produce a special light, the followers created a feeling close to God.

source：http://www.archdaily.com/101260/

 As the day goes on the pattern of light and changing sun angles. The crack in the wall allow for small amount of view to the outside vegetation ,but the light throughout the day references man's connection with nature (Bennett,2008).

The relationship between the church and the light, the light is playing an active role which into the inside space in different time. The church played a passive role,just in this site. There is no space and forms of traditional religious architecture.

References:
BENNETT,K.,M.,2008.Light in architecture:natural and artificial lighting [online].Available at:
http://content.lib.utah.edu/utils/getfile/collection/etd2/id/806/filename/1503.pdf.[Accessed 05 December 2013].

PLUMMER,H,.2009.The architecture of natural light.London:Thames and Hudson Ltd.

Space will be influenced by light

Light plays a key role in the design of a visual environment,it has some influenced in architecture.
In the first place,light defines spaces and boundaries.

source: http://www.thecoolhunter.net/cloud/view/Office
In the same space,light as the tool to boundaries space.For example in  above pictures, the extra lights help people recognize each zones.

In the second place,light accentuates and connects space.

The pantheon in Roman

The church of light 

         

Stone museum in Korea

In the third place,light is a visual task,providing enough light to recognize a
black space  or to be able to walk safely through a corridor.

Skylight staircase to gallery

                        Kunsthaus Bregenz,Austria

source:http://www.archdaily.com/457319/loft-mm-c-t-architects/

Lastly, light creates atmosphere.Different types of light can give people different feeling.Natural light projection and reflecting  in the space,not only the spatial variation of visual expression, but also create the emotion of space (Plummer,2009).Such as mysterious,

Chapel of St lgnatius

Ronchamp Chapel

holy,

Light of church

Silence

St Benedictusberg Abbey

Row house in sumiyoshi

Stone museum in Korea

References:

GINTHNER,D.,Lighting: Its Effect on People and Spaces [online].University of Minnesota.Available at:http://www.informedesign.org/_news/feb_v02-p.pdf [Accessed 13 December2013].

PLUMMER,H,.2009.The architecture of natural light.London:Thames and Hudson Ltd.

The shape of light

Different shape of light creates different atmosphere , people will experience different feeling from the architecture .I select some typical shape of light to explain .

Point light 


Point light gives people the expression of freedom and vivid.

lSan Francisco Contemporary Jewish Museum

The material of transparent is added to the wall, forming the light points,in this way ,the elevation looks not massive.

                                      Line light

Männistö church ,Finland

 Vertical lines guide the visual of people,and make the building high than others(Camrri,1998).


                                      Oblique light 

Jewish museum， Berlin

 Oblique light gives  more flexible direction than vertical line .Line-up light gives a positive beauty,and  line- down light gives the sense of down  .

                                    Light gap 

Church of light ,Japan

Planar light 

Pantheon,Roman

References:

CAMRRI,A.,and COGLIO,A.,1998.An architecture for emotional agents.USA:IEEE computer society.

PLUMMER,H,.2009.The architecture of natural light.London:Thames and Hudson Ltd.

Analysis light-----Row house in sumiyoshi (residential)

Row house in sumiyoshi  Sumiyoshi-ku,Osaka, Japan. 

From the picture,we can see that there are no openings around the row house  which means no large windows), but  the patio link the interior space and exterior space .light into the room by the wall of patio , making the dark space became bright(Jodidio,2013). 

The patio in row house

Light through completely open of the patio into interior space, so row house has light, wind, water, air, this  space like a small universe.Patio is a transitional space, it is also the center of the entire building. 

Row house has  small windows on the wall, not only ventilation and cooling,but also let the lighting into the room.

Reference:
JODIDIO,P,.2013.  Tadao Ando: Houses.US:Rizzoli.
VERGES,M,.2007.Light in architecture. UE: Tectum Publishers .

Study of Azuma House (Row House in Sumiyoshi)

Light and shadow St.Mary's Cathedral, Tokyo ---Religious buildings

Some architectures do not belong to any period and not lose the meaning with the time.I think St.Mary's Cathedral must be the one of them. Although the materials and technologies of building  to make people know that it was a building in 20th-century. People absolutely can not recognize whether the building is new construction or 50 years ago.

Kenzo Tange conceived the concrete structure, his idea  is simple,but the structure very complex . When people see this building can be think of a bird's wings .

Building structure consisting of eight walls, these walls also act as the role of the roof, the interior space around the church, the only opening space is a large vertical gap. The walls stretch toward the sky , and square ground floor and roof crossed. The wing has different  height ,become a kind of asymmetry in the whole building .

 Stone material and metal wings become a contrast. The side entrance  of ceiling is very low, link to the main hall. Lighting effects on the walls curve is changing in different time, creating a special atmosphere of the room,I think this is a bright design idea in this building.the light of direct and diffuse generated on curved surfaces, people can clear see curve design concrete. Fissures opening and roof have four windows,in this way,the plenty of light shines into the church.

Fragment,light , link and space

concept diagram

Today,I find some great design and post on my blog as my design source.May be in the next time,they will give me some great ideas.

  The exterior shape of this building  looks like a simple cube. However, the interior consists of two layers .

 When I saw this project in the begging,I totally shocked,I ask myself,is it really? Yes,this resident in Japan and has 4 rooms.When I first saw this project,I think many fragment in this building.The angular windows through the walls, ceilings and the roof.I think those fragment as the "link" in this building.

In different direction, people can see different space through those angular windows.

The walls and ceilings are interrupted by angular windows in the walls and ceilings.

The designer said:"Although I spaced the cubes out, the interrelatedness of their angles of inclination connect them, creating a sense of continuity." I think this is a magic sense of continuity.

From the same window,people can see different space in the same time.

The top light on the ceiling  filled up light  in the room during the daytime.And the light come from different direction and mix in the interior. In this way,the light  bringing out more layers of complexity to the already diverse interior condition.