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Massachusetts Institute of Technology

HALO : re-forming architectural space with light caustics

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

What form can light take? Light has been an eternal theme in architectural design. Light defines, shapes, and transforms space in various ways. However, the way light has been used in human history has not changed: the variation of space is a result of the interaction between light and shadow along with the geometry and materials that defines the space itself. Through the BLOCKING of light comes the variation of shadows. Is it possible to extend the possibility of light from a basic level? This thesis questions one of the fundamental uses of light in architectural space: how can we use light beyond the realm of shuttering? With the implementation of a set of state-of-the-art algorithms in computer graphics field, the thesis presents a serious of explorations in how refraction can re-form the architectural experience using the movement of light in both still and dynamic ways. Through the REDISTRIBUTION of light comes the variation of time.

Degree

thesis:*
Department dc:contributor.department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Architecture.
Grantor dc:publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Year dc:date.issued
2017

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Ma, Zhao, M. Eng. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Advisor dc:contributor.advisor
  • Brandon Clifford.

Subjects

dc:subject × 1

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • MIT theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed, downloaded, or printed from this source but further reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission.
Language dc:language.iso
eng

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Handle dc:identifier.uri
http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/111701
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/111701

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

Ma, Zhao, M. Eng. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. HALO : re-forming architectural space with light caustics. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/111701