Light Field: an experiential approach to architecture

Abstract

Cities are forever in a transitional state, growing and changing around us. As a result, we find pockets of forgotten, redundant and unutilized space throughout our public realm. Architects and urban designers are increasingly being challenged to experiment with new and creative ways of redesigning these spaces to attract life back into them. This thesis promotes the idea of architectural installations as a permanent or temporary solution for this issue. ‘Light Field: An experiential approach to architecture,' challenges the modernist idea of functionalism. Instead of the top-down functionalist approach of designing based on purpose, we need to adopt a bottom-up approach and design more human architecture; architecture that focuses on giving space to the imagination.1 Aldo van Eyck was at the forefront of this architectural thinking. Through site-specific and modular design, he created spaces which activated and reprogrammed forgotten and redundant sites. He converted them into spaces which promoted creativity, imagination, and freedom. Along with Peter Zumthor and Bernard Tschumi, these three architects have strongly influenced my thinking towards architecture and its possibilities. This thesis follows the process of research, design, build and application of an architectural installation to investigate the hypothesis, ‘can architectural installations activate and repurpose forgotten, redundant and unutilized public space?' This process of investigation has led to the realization of an architectural installation called ‘Light Field,' an immersive, transportable lighting installation designed to activate public space.