Designing with Light

Light is the tool that gives architects the means to make buildings that achieve a sense of awe. This book looks at the variety of ways in which light is used in contemporary architecture, internally and externally, to enhance the design and sense of space in a building. The introductory chapter looks at recent developments in the science of light, gives a brief overview of the history of light in architecture and also the various ways in which light is used in film, theatre and art, all of which have influenced its use in architecture. It then examines the different architectural features that light creates - colour, line, and form - and at the different ways in which it is controlled in a building: by the use of glass, windows and skylights and through the manipulation of shadow and reflection. In each case these aspects are illustrated using key recent buildings by internationally renowned architects, including Zaha Hadid, Steven Holl, Herzog amp; de Meuron, Rem Koolhaas, John Pawson and many others.