Charlie Able

The “Luminarium” project is an attempt to juxtapose the inherent qualities of light (both natural and artificial) as a way to re-contextualize the special elements of a museum. Lighting is an intrinsic element of all buildings, yet is often negated as an architectural feature, even though the implementation of lighting can both generate and augment the atmospheric conditions of a space. For example, work spaces require a cold, high contrast light, while large multi-use spaces require much warmer, brighter, low contrast lighting. When separated, these lighting variations may go completely unnoticed. But, by highlighting this juxtaposition, a new contextualization of programmatic function and connotation becomes apparent.

However, merely placing two different lights next to one another does not generate the type of juxtaposition necessary to generate any real spacial differentiation. This is because there is a difference between a hard architectural boundary (such as a wall) and a soft atmospheric boundary (such as light spilling out of a doorway). It is therefor necessary to create an element upon which this atmospheric condition may be registered in contrast to the hard architectural boundary.