Sunday, September 9, 2007

International Velux Award 2006 for Student of Architecture



Designed by Young-Soo Kim

Title : Light of Tomorrow
Light strongly influences on human physiology, mood and behavior, so that it evidently impacts on our building environments.

Gloomy daylight makes people depressed, alcoholic, whereas shiny daylight makes people innocent and zeal; in contrast, strong summer light makes human mood irritating and patient-less. Accordingly, daylight has a significant element of forming architectural space form. From the ancient time, daylight has been a significant architectural design consideration. Thus, architectural space and form are certainly influenced by daylight.

Typically, daylight is controlled by the orientation and shape of building, louvers, thickness of wall, openings, and so on. Besides, the amount and intensity of sunlight and daylight in architecture relies on the weather condition, geographical altitude where a building is located.

Instead, in this project, I propose a concept for the theme of “light of tomorrow” where daylight affects on shaping building form and space with various architectural components. Each component morphs into the shape and form of building, controlling the daylight. Here building form and daylight components interactively work together. Three components to control the sunlight are vitally considered.

One is ‘louver skin’ where sunlight is controlled according to the sun altitude. Here louvers are arranged such a way that it upholds the spot of sunlight vertically during all the daytime. Besides, louvers make a visual connection between inside and outside.

Second component is the ‘wall thickness’. By varying the thickness of wall sunlight can be controlled desirably. Here the thickness of walls has been controlled by calculation to provide proper levels of sunlight to all parts of the space during daytime where again the sustainability of the territory of light has been considered intentionally.

‘Cosine Law’ for controlling the sunlight has been chosen as the third element to keep up the territory of direct sun during all the daytime. According to cosine law, the angle of sunlight for a particular place changes its intensity of heat energy which is used for cooling and heating. By using the cosine law, a light-hole has been designed where heating and cooling both systems are developed. By using these systems for a particular space inside the light-hole, one will experience different temperatures at a fixed location throughout the daytime.

A meditation centre has been proposed as a functional program for the structure. A site has been selected at high latitude where sunlight is mostly welcomed. Different therapies as well as meditation programs are to be provided for the center. Within the building, three major areas are designed and assigned with three different programs: therapy, spiritual activity and community. In therapy area, various therapies including sun therapy, yoga therapy and stone therapy will be performed. Spiritual activity area includes ablution, meditation and yoga. These two sections are selected according to the necessity of daylight and sunlight. According to the locations and space forms, different yoga programs may be chosen. In between the two programs, a community space is provided. This area is designed for short time visitors to spend their time for relaxation, free exercise and yoga. Although short time, visitors can enjoy homogeneous sunlight that enters to the place. Besides, the playful movement and rotation of shadows according to the time and sun altitude, make the space pleasant and lively in contrast to the depressed and gloomy environment.(International Velux Award 2006)

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