HALO : re-forming architectural space with light caustics

Abstract

What form can light take? Light has been an eternal theme in architectural design. Light defines, shapes, and transforms space in various ways. However, the way light has been used in human history has not changed: the variation of space is a result of the interaction between light and shadow along with the geometry and materials that defines the space itself. Through the BLOCKING of light comes the variation of shadows. Is it possible to extend the possibility of light from a basic level? This thesis questions one of the fundamental uses of light in architectural space: how can we use light beyond the realm of shuttering? With the implementation of a set of state-of-the-art algorithms in computer graphics field, the thesis presents a serious of explorations in how refraction can re-form the architectural experience using the movement of light in both still and dynamic ways. Through the REDISTRIBUTION of light comes the variation of time.