Light-form : reception/distribution of direct sun-energy

Abstract

The era of the energy-efficient building is upon us. You've heard all the terms before: solar, daylight, super-insulation and so on. These terms describe ways in which buildings respond to the presence of light. Light brings us heat, illumination, and an association with the world around us. But what more do we need to understand about light that will help us in the organization of buildings that are heated by it? This thesis intends to bring to the surface a host of formal considerations that should be included in the energy discussion. As technological advances in the energy field continue, materials are improved and systems are refined while our attention to the formal implications of responding to light fades into the background. For the architect, an understanding of form should be of paramount concern and should not play second fiddle to advances in materials . Within the following pages is the development of a formal understanding of light. It is the laying of a foundation upon which to build that expresses an attitude about light by looking- seeing-thinking in terms of form, hence the union of the two words: LIGHT-FORM. This thesis is a beginning...a journey of discovery that is fueled by taking a fresh look at the man-made (buildings) and the God-made (landscape) in terms of LIGHT- FORM.