Submitted by Ar Ann Riya
Light is one of the elements that gives character to architecture without which the other spatial characteristics cannot be comprehended. The use of daylight in the designed space can lead to the evoking of different emotions, for instance, a direct ray of the sun grabs attention, a diffused light source can provide warmth, the nocturnal sky arouses fascination. Daylight symbolizes God or superior energy in almost every culture and for this exact reason, religions around the world house daylight into their sacred structures – to convey the mystic powers of the almighty. Mankind has altered the quantity and quality of this natural illumination to awaken spirituality in their holy spaces.
Pirkkala Church by Käpy and Simo Paavilainen
Sacred buildings especially showcase a wide variety of daytime concepts using natural light. The concept includes material textures, interior colours, fenestration sizes and built volumes that alter the interior image cast by the natural light through the course of the day and even season!
Pirkkala Church in Finland is a great example of the daytime concept of using daylight. The church witnessed a dramatic light and shadow movement in its interior all day long especially on the altar wall which the architects call the canvas. The glass acts as a lens and also as a mirror to bring a dynamic spirituality into space.
Crystal Cathedral by Philip Johnson
Contradicting to the previous example, Philip Johnson’s Crystal Cathedral in California demonstrates an open to “sky and the surrounding world” concept by allowing the natural light to lit the interior uniformly. This also defines, as per the architect, the balance between all the spiritual spaces of the cathedral. About 11,000 glass panels in a steel frame make the building sparkle with sunlight, inside out – true to its name! Initially the building was designed to be a religious theatre which was later on converted to Christ Cathedral in 2019.
Church of St. Pierre by Le Corbusier
Being the major final project of his life, Le Corbusier wanted to create an atmosphere that established a space for spiritual enrichment on a minor scale. Le Corbusier stated that “space must be vast so that the heart may feel at ease and high, so that prayers may breathe in it”. The church, situated in Firminy, France, is adorned by Corbusier’s signature style of concrete shell infused with lightboxes of various sizes and depths and usage of vibrant colours. Natural light floods in through the lightboxes in such a manner as if it’s depicting the constellation Orion in the interiors of the church. The scenery of dynamic illumination happening in the church through daylight is an art itself. Another astounding feature of this church is that the lightboxes bring in the daylight into the altar on specific religious days like Good Friday and Easter Sunday!
St. Moritz Church by John Pawson
A victim of numerous modifications since its commencement approximately a thousand years ago, the church of St. Moritz, situated in Germany, has been finally modified with considerations of sacred atmosphere into the interior spaces. With a strong focus drawn through the nave to the apse, the church has been designed as a room of natural light decorated with Baroque sculptures. The high clerestory apse windows bathe the interior of the structure in a haze of diffused luminescence.
Chapel in Valleaceron by S.M.A.O
Situated in Spain, the chapel, an example of folded golden concrete architecture, has a naked geometric design and is purely lit by daylight. The daylight has been incorporated into the chapel in various method throughout the day and year. Hence, this results in changes in the spatial effect providing a spiritual ambience in the interiors.
There are various methods in which architects tend to integrate daylight into their design which helps to evoke spirituality in spaces - spaces where they experience the miracle of the divine power. Often, they tend to create meditating spaces in sacred buildings by keeping daylight as the focal element of utmost purity. Other spatial characteristics such as volume, material and colours are the additional elements that give life to this heavenly light.
Le Corbusier had once said that “I have not experienced the miracle of faith, but I have often known the miracle of ineffable space.”
Commentaires