IX Международная студенческая научная конференция Студенческий научный форум - 2017

Light is an eternal material in arms of architects. In all times creators understood how light could rightly work on the façades. In our time we have learned to calculate the light like other building materials or constructional elements. This is precisely why the calculation of a geometrical coefficient of natural light in interior spaces has become work of engineers. We take into consideration only technical characteristics of the illumination, so, connection between a creator and light is lost.

However, the light remains one of the main elements in creating of architectural shapes, playing a great role in making punctuational light and shade. The counterpoint helps people to understand architectural masses of architectural elements. Besides, a contrast subtilizes aesthetic sensitivity and gives a sense of dapple. I cannot but notice the fact, that natural light favourably influences our body and health.

Let’s consider some examples of light effects in interior spaces from the history of architecture.

KarnakTemple Complex.

On the plan the temple consists of several premises, followed one by one. I’d like to draw your attention to one of the main parts, called hypostyle hall. This hall is limited on both sides by the wall with small openings, made under the ceiling. Light penetrates into the space of the hall due to the level changes of inner and outer walls. Twilight would stay in the hall all day long, growing darker near the altar.

Greeks and Romans continue to create architectural masterpieces by means of the illumination in the interior. For example, one of the most impressive monumental and magnificent temples is Pantheon. The interior of the Roman temple is harmony of architecture and light. A giant dome with a singular circular opening, and a diameter of nine metres, is the center of architectural composition. Penetrating light creates balancing illumination and feelings of silent power and dumb calm. Like the host of heaven in the temple, rays, are moving at all times, following the sun, and creating various intricate shadows on the walls of the temple.

As you know, in Gothic temples an increase of inner interior area was allowed due to the decrease of the thickness of walls, disappearing into luxuriantly bright dynamical space. Large long windows fill the whole wall, combining exterior and interior. Rays of the sun create open-work shadows, like wrought device on window gratings. Moreover, light, penetrating through stained-glass windows, makes coloristic illusions and mystic mood with feelings of spiritual powers.

If Gothic starts using lots of details in architecture, Baroque praises up the detailed elaboration up to the skies. The way of Baroque is a complicated composition of architectural shapes, creating an impression of wealth and force. For this affect architects have broken edge between space and plane due to the light. Play of overtones and undertones, shadow and light creates different illusion, based on contrast. The light in Baroque is a way of creating fantastic moments, which cannot be repeated, because the light is like painting, living under own steam. And like a steam, the light disappears into distant angles of interior.

The Russian church has gone a different way than European styles, having taken the best methods and examples from them. The dome is a main structural element in exterior and interior of the whole construction. Penetrating rays of the sun open ceremonial inner space to visitors. In contrast with such majestic light distant corners of the temple are left darkling, taking the shape of infinity. Vertical line of the light emphasizes strict vertical interior location and tendency to heavenward, exalting created image of lofty icons.

And what is about our time? Unfortunately, we don’t use such impressive knowledge and an experience of previous architects. In our time creators try streamlining façades, adapting them to geometrical forms. Architects use only such materials, which give us beauty of simplicity. I cannot but agree that these are interesting, extraordinary and simple shapes in the form of the functional style. However, in real life we don’t have such plain exciting geometrical forms of architecture. People are surrounded by massive monochromatic and static spaces, where our eyes cannot distinguish minimal light contrast, as if we look at two dimensional cheap theatrical sceneries. So, eyes are tired of those shapes without contrasts, so, thereby people have different kind of stresses and depression.

In conclusion, I’d like to remark that the light is a way of complication without heavy spending. At the same time, it is hard to calculate and predict how rays will play on the façade. The computation of light in interior is also difficult, because in the course of designing architects have to comply with certain standards and rules. However, we can try using illumination, resuming connection between creator and light.

The List of Literature:

1. The Role of Light in Architecture by Mariamr November 21, 2011 https://mr7uj.wordpress.com/2011/11/21/the-role-of-light-in-architecture/

2. Light in Architecture: The Intangible Material by Elisa Valero Ramos, p192, publisher RIBA Publishing, 2015

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