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“Architecture which enters into a symbiosis with light does not merely create form in light, by day and at night, but allows light to become form.”
Richard Meier’s quote succinctly highlights the unparalleled significance of light to architects. In a profession preoccupied with physical form, it is this intangible agent that can make or break a design. It is no coincidence that some of the greatest names in architectural history — from Le Corbusier to Tadao Ando — are associated with a mastery of light and shade.
It is logical then that an entire category within Architizer’s A+Awards be dedicated to the mastery of light, and some of the best projects in recent years display an incredibly refined approach to this key aspect of design — not only with regards to natural light, but also to artificial illumination after dark. Showing day and night views side by side provides a clear illustration of how architects employ light for ambient and often dramatic effects: here are eight of the most radiant yet …
1. Blooming Bamboo Home by H&P Architects, Hà Nội, Vietnam
By day, H&P Architects’ beautifully detailed Blooming Bamboo Home is rich with the natural textures of bamboo wattle, fiberboard, and coconut leaf. By night, this small home transforms into a lantern, with light emanating through its permeable screen façades and openable roof panels.
2. Zonic Vision Office by stu/D/O Architects, Bangkok, Thailand
During daylight hours, the façade of sound system experts Zonic Vision’s office is a subtle display of transparent, translucent, and opaque glass. However, after the sun goes down the elevation comes alive, emitting varied bands of light that echo the oscillating electronic signals of an equalizer.
3. Swing Time by Höweler + Yoon Architecture LLP, Boston, Mass.
This installation in a Boston Park can be enjoyed by visitors throughout the day, but its underlying dynamism is thrown into focus after dark: the lights within each pendulum-like seat change from white to purple depending on how high and fast they swing, so the atmosphere of the space directly correlates to the activities occurring within it.
4. House on a Dune by Oppenheim architecture+design, The Bahamas
Harbour Island is home to House on a Dune, a private residence that merges indoor and outdoor spaces and is defined by its most spectacular asset: an uninhibited view across the Atlantic Ocean. A covered lounge and dining area perfectly frames the setting sun, before the space is lit up with ambient lights for continued enjoyment of the space long into the night.
5. Glebe House by Nobbs Radford Architects, Sydney, Australia
Nobbs Radford Architects gave the rear façade of this Sydney residence extra depth in order to create a shaded threshold that provides a sense of enclosure. Alternating solid and transparent surfaces lends the building a strong sculptural presence by day, while this material contrast is softened at night thanks to external uplighting and warm illumination of the interior.
© FRANK DOERING
6. Helix Garage by POHL ROSA POHL architecture+design, Lexington, KY.
The Helix Garage was originally built in 1966, and 48 years later, POHL ROSA POHL was tasked with improving the enclosure and aesthetics of its harsh concrete exterior. The architects applied a patchwork of perforated panels that allow light in during the day, but can also be projected onto at night to enliven the structure with lights that change in response to cultural events around the year.
© Tim Van de Velde Photography
7. Incineration Line by Erick van Egeraat, Roskilde, Denmark
Dutch architect Erick van Egeraat wrapped this waste management plant in a homogenous skin of perforated, weathered metal, reimagining an industrial necessity of the urban landscape as a striking sculpture. By day, its rusted finish gives it the appearance of a jagged shard of sandstone in the sunlight, before it transforms into a stunning light installation by night.
8. Hyundai Motorstudio by Suh Architects, Seoul, South Korea
The tinted glazing of this futuristic car showroom in Seoul gives it an air of sophistication during the day, but the building takes a whole new appearance after dark. Backlighting illuminates vehicles on every floor, turning the whole façade into a gargantuan display case that shows off the company’s latest models from every angle.