Throughout history, considered articulation of natural light has produced architectural environments that move the human spirit. These transient moments in space connect people to the external environment and the rhythms of nature. In contrast, the harsh flicker of artificial light, conveys none of the modulations and rhythms of natural light, we have no biological connection to this form of light. The use of natural light within the practice and discourse of interior architecture should be a primary concern of the discipline yet it is often undervalued.
This research challenges the contemporary prevalence of homogeneously illuminated interiors to reintroduce light meaningfully to the interior environment. Moving beyond purely pragmatic means and window sizes, it is argued that the quality of light is just as important, if not more so, than the quantity of light in the interior. This design research seeks to address the articulation of light from a qualitative, poetic position while still acknowledging sufficient quantities of light within the interior. This research proposes to reinterpret interior space to celebrate the experience of natural light and develop interventions which create a mindfulness of light and a subconscious renewal of wellbeing. The interventions aim to elevate the experience of space, creating interiors which respond to the daily and seasonal rhythms of daylight.
In order to reconnect interior environments with the passage of natural light, this research employs a theoretical framework to explore the nature of natural light and create a Vocabulary of Light. These techniques suggest a new way to approach interior space giving a greater awareness of light and a heightened experience of space. The nature of this research is explorative rather than conclusive, seeking to understand natural light and present spatial moments where it has been articulated to enhance interior architecture. The study investigates the relationship between light and interior space in an everyday setting of domestic space.