Glass and Light
“The sun is the great luminary of all that lives. It should be used as such in the design of every house” F. L. Wright*.
“[…] It is ridiculous to think that an electric light bulb can replace what the sun and the seasons accomplish. It is natural light that gives architectural space its sense of authenticity.” Louis I. Kahn**
* The architect Frank Lloyd Wright (1869-1959) was as inventive in the design of large buildings (Guggenheim Museum, New York) as of private residences. Master of the organic architecture movement, he had an enormous influence on his profession.
** The architectural works of Louis I. Kahn (1901-1974) are characterised by audacity and rigour of form, combining the quality of spatial relationships with historical references. His major works are Exeter Library and the Capitol at Dacca.
Daylight is the source of life and essential to our well-being, development and health. The great architects of every age have understood this, captivated and inspired by its necessity.
Natural light provides a sense of orientation, affecting our surroundings and marking the passage of time. Glass enables us to control and manipulate light to our advantage.
A window is a link between interior environments, where we live and work, and the outside world.
It can determine the quality of a building, in terms of both architectural design and interior ambiance.
The following points advise on capitalising on natural daylight through creative building design.