Experiencing Dematerialized and Reconstructed Space through Positive and Negative Quality of Light Phenomenology

Based on the research and understanding on the philosophical ideas of protagonist references, I combine and summarize conceptual interpretations that can impact my design approach in lighting phenomena. The approaches are: colour application and dissolved space that is shown through Dan Flavin’s works, texture and characteristics of materials obviously shown in Flavin’s and Mary Temple’s works, and also reflected light that expressed in Temple’s painting of shadow.

In terms of lighting phenomena, I can understand that there are typology that define light into 3 categories: strong and pure light, negative light (shadow), reflected light (play of light). Strong and pure light is represented in sunlight and direct lighting into a space. The negative quality of light, shadow provides haptic experience inside a space. The third category, play of light, includes reflecting and diffracting light through all kinds of medium.

Those three types of lighting phenomena affect design philosophy in terms of enact light in positive and negative quality. In the positive way, transmitted and direct light through space and negative way is shadow that brings nostalgia. The strategy is, directing light into a space poetically, aiming to create diffused light and shadow that make the occupant subconscious towards the space and the space become dematerialized.

Developing ideas and approaches, to be applied in my design project, and with the purpose of dematerializing space, I translate them in my working programme according to the context of relevance.

1. CONTEXTUAL DESIGN APPROACH

Light transmission through various medium is resulted in various phenomena. Basically the concept is reflecting and transmitting light through translucent materials, combines with texture and colour. Observed light phenomena that can be captured and will be applied to the design are:

1.1 Playing the light by placing mirror on the floor (outside) and on the ceiling will make it different phenomena in the space. The sunlight hit the mirror and it will be transmitted through the materials, go through inside the space, and reflect the sky outside.

Reflection of the sky on the water

The method is using translucent material that can either transmit or screen the light and glass. The light that comes from the reflection that is coming through is projected at the ceiling, and it will create different atmosphere inside the space. The intention is to bring the outdoor phenomena such as sky, to be felt inside the space. Therefore tactile experience can be felt. The context is residential space and commercial space.

Development study that is conducted to address this phenomena, by creating model experiment. The aim is to feel the real feeling about the reflected light phenomena that is expected.

Mirror in the outside Reflection on the ceiling

(looking upward)

Reflection coloured material

(looking upward)

1.2 Woven wall and phenomena of shinning material is the second context that I want to address. Shinning material such as stainless steel sheet, has very unique characteristic, which it is not transparent yet has high reflecting effect, and its reflecting effect is distinct with other materials. Enhancing its character, this material is break down into woven form.

White illumination Yellow illumination

Warm white illumination

The shadow effect towards the space is look like wave, and makes the space shinning and feels like water waves. As we can see, under different ambient of light colour the effect will be different toward the space. Under yellow illumination the shadow and reflected light change the space mood into warm atmosphere.

Incorporating with ERCO Light Scout is necessary, in order to enhance the light effect with this shinning material.

The context of this design is also residential and commercial space. Residential is picked because house is a place where we ultimately sense the space. By having outside phenomena to be experienced at home will make the space alive. While for the commercial space, unique play of light will attract visitors and create ambience of colour.

1. UPDATED PROGRAMME PLAN

2.1 Cooperating with ERCO

Contact with ERCO Light scout, to provide the lighting installation and technology. For the final exhibition, it is planned to construct and design 2 spaces of light phenomena, enhance with new application in light technology. The plan is involving latest technology that strengthens my light design concept for both approach 1 and 2.

2.2 Investigate and process design phenomena 1 and 2.

Explore more experiments based on both phenomena, and applied into space design.