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Massachusetts Institute of Technology

To build with light : an exploration into the relationship between light, space, and built form

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to look at how light works with form to generate space. The thesis attempts to deal with the physical reality that light, space and form exist in a symbiotic relationship. The thesis deals with this relationship by exploring the architectural phenomenon that are generated from this relationship. It therefore does not try to deal with light in a technical manner, nor does it attempt to delve into the metaphysical and emotive qualities that can be attributed to light. The thesis uses a cyclical process of observation, analysis and testing. A wide range of references are presented both in the form of images and actual built lighting models. These are organized into five categories of light phenomenon and analyzed for underlying principles of the light form relationship. The principles abstracted from this research are then tested in a design.

Degree

thesis:*
Department dc:contributor.department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Architecture.
Grantor dc:publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Year dc:date.issued
1989

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Heffron, Michael Thomas
Advisor dc:contributor.advisor
  • Thomas R. Chastain.

Subjects

dc:subject × 1

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.
Language dc:language.iso
eng

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Handle dc:identifier.uri
http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/67259
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/67259

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
MIT
Base URL
dspace.mit.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
related terms
citation

Heffron, Michael Thomas. To build with light : an exploration into the relationship between light, space, and built form. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1989. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/67259