Lumen essence

Authors
Citation
Hinge, v.79, 2001, pp. 46-58
Abstract
Modern architecture has succeeded in harnessing light in the pursuit of its own ends, struggling to infuse its contribution with both structure and experience. Like architecture itself, there is an art and a science to the subject. For architect Gae Aulenti, light is a primary element of architecture, and the architecture is often determined by how the light functions in a space. Authors David Brownlee and David de Long quote Louis Kahn as saying that architecture began "when the walls parted and the columns became, admitting light and creating a system of support at the same time." For Kahn, they say that the manipulation of both structure and light was essential in making "the room". If light really is the fifth dimension of architecture, as lighting consultant Tino Kwan argues, then surely we should be investing more of our architectural energies to investigating its properties and capabilities. One company that has made it their business to do just this, in collaboration with architects, is Italian lighting company iGuzzini. (1) Radius (2) Lingotto (3) Nuvola (4) iGuzzini Headquarters Building (5) Heathrow Airport, London (6) Quirinal Palace, Rome (7) Sivra (8) Galleria Borghese, Rome (a) Product (9) North Greenwich Transport Interchange, London (a) Product (10) Pompidou Centre, Paris (a) Product
Description
Type
Article
Date
2001
Language
en
Source