LIGHT

Lighting is an important tool in architectural design, bringing life into each space. Controlling the lighting of a room can completely change its aesthetic and give the room new meaning. Light allows us to highlight certain points of space, and guide the attention of the viewer.

In this project we're designing a proposal for a non-denominational chapel located on the campus of Farmingdale State College. The College wants this to be a profoundly spiritual place that people of all faiths can worship and reflect on life’s events. When creating the chapel we will focus on the use of natural light and creating a unique atmosphere within each space.

The conflict between the built environment and the natural environment

BACKGROUND RESEARCH

Sant'Andrea al Quirinale

Architect: Gian Lorenzo Bernini

Location: Rome, Italy

Architectural Style: Baroque Architecture

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The interior lighting of the Sant 'Andrea al Quirinale is very unique. The majority of the light enters from the large dome ceiling, rather than windows on the walls seen in other churches. This allows the lighting to focus on the center of the church, which is the viewers main focus.

One of the main pieces in the Sant 'Andrea al Quirinale, is the altar. It's centered within the church, and it has a natural light source directly above it. This gives the altar a much more spiritual look and signifying its importance within the church.

Although the lighting within the church is very much centered, we do see some back lighting behind the large murals. This gives the room light without taking away from the central view of the church.

BUILDING ON SITE

I decided to pick this area for my design because it was far from the central area of the campus. The low volume of people allows religious activities to be conducted in peace.