The Impact of Light on Architecture

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Winston Churchill states how we first construct our buildings and then the building later molds our thoughts and perceptions. “Architecture has the power to inspire and transform our day to day existence” (Steven Holl, 2006, p40). A building is neither experienced all at once nor from a distance. The journey through the building influences the perception of the user. Among all the arts, architecture engages the most with our sensory perceptions. The complete experience of architecture can be gained only when elements of color, texture, material, detail and light and shadow are incorporated. “Architecture speaks through the silence of perceptual phenomena” (Steven Holl, 2006, p41). The sensations and the perceptions of the user are controlled by the various elements of light, color and sound. Perception is the process or method of gaining or gathering information through the various senses. At times, an object could even be perceived in a different way because of the pre conceived notion the person has about the object. In the case of visual perception, the decision on how the space is perceived is left on the mind of the occupant. “Every time we move or act, the environment around us keeps changing and hence our perception about the environment also changes” (Mireia Verges, 2007, p18). Architecture could be perceived in many different ways through the various senses. “In architecture, visual perception is the most important as sight is the most dominant sense which helps us to appreciate the minute distinctions” (William M.C. Lam, 1992, p11). One may conceive a space as a container of material objects whose framework needs to be filled, but this conception may differ from person to person because of their experience within the space. An example would be how one space could be perceived in a span of one day from morning to night. As the day progress the sun moves,

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