Why is Light Such an Important Consideration in Architecture?

Architecture is concerned not only with the design of buildings, but with the connections between buildings and the environments that surround them. The design of space in connection with natural lighting is one of the important considerations made by a professional architect, along with the design of interior spaces to accommodate electric lighting solutions in the most effective manner. From the first buildings ever constructed right through to the modern age of skyscrapers, the application of architecture has always been linked with the issues surrounding the illumination of space.

The Design of Form and Space

Architecture comprises a number of areas of design activity, from the macro design of urban areas and public spaces through to the small details of furniture construction and finishings. As well as being concerned with the design and construction of form, architecture is also involved with the design of space. One of the things that connects the physical notion of form with the more abstract notion of space is the concepts of light and shadow. Architects need to connect the practical aspects of the material and geometry of their designs with an overall consideration of light in order to fulfill the potential of their designs.

Some of the practical aspects of this consideration include the placing of windows, the orientation of buildings in relation to sun rise and sun set, and the design of electric lighting fixtures with reference to specific interior spaces. All of the greatest architectural works of the past have put a lot of attention towards the interface between a building and the various light sources that influence it. Whether this illumination is in the form of natural light or modern electric lighting fixtures, the consequences are the same. Light plays a very important role in architecture, and the way we perceive and experience a building is greatly affected by how it interacts with light.