An Exploration into Integrating Daylight and Artificial Light via an Observational Instrument

An Exploration into Integrating Daylight and Artificial Light via an Observational Instrument

Daylight is dynamic and dependent upon weather conditions; unfolding with both subtle and dramatic variations in qualities of light. Through a building’s apertures, daylight creates a connection between the space inside and the world outside. The aperture or window itself constitutes the frame that simultaneously separates, and connects, us to our surroundings. One can say that the world outside projects itself into the interior space, essentially as diffused illuminating reflections. As figuratively abstract and blurred phenomena, these diffused luminous reflections rouse us into interactions with the world.

In this book we are interested in identifying the qualitative parameters involved in the integration of dynamic artificial lighting and daylight; the latter being already highly dynamic by nature. Our practice-based methodology is based on the design of what we call an ‘observational instrument’. The observational instrument is comprised of an object that has been designed using built-in LEDs connected to dynamic control software. Our studies have been based upon experiential analyses that examine how the dynamic artificial lighting in the observational instrument unfolds during the changing of the daylight situations that are generated by the weather outside. This research employs the concept of coupling between interior and exterior, in order to identify a spectrum of design parameters that are attentive to the relationships between these two dynamic lighting categories.

This book is one of four books that is published in connection with the research project entitled LED Lighting; Interdisciplinary LED Lighting Research. The research project has been a three-year collaboration between The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts Schools of Architecture, Design and Conservation and The IT University of Copenhagen.