LIGHT and [Mrs. Williams]

Light and Place:
Overjoyed with the new idea of owning a home in New Zealand and over zealous with the notion of decorating it; Mrs. Williams failed at giving consideration to any other details. She left what she termed “the build” to the architect, engineers, contractors, and designer. Soon after, she discovered that spending her time selecting furniture and fabric was a bit immature and that she should’ve collaborated with “the build” team more frequently. Mrs. Williams later learned that those golden rays in Blenheim, New Zealand, were far more than she’d bargained for. She only knew that this city was less sunny than the US. The house of her dreams happened to be built on New Zealand’s sunniest island with curtain wall windows shelling most of the 1st floor. Furniture and fabric became faded and damaged by the long sunny days. Mrs. Williams immediately researched the natural light of the land and made provisions to her home; while careful not to disengage the views of her natural surroundings.

Light and Nature:
It was virtually impossible not to long for a permanent view inside the home of the mountainous and lush region she’d relocated to. One where the outside could be experienced inside with all the shelter a roof provides. Since the house was built near the coast line the designer was intentional in encapsulating the breathtaking views of the water with the placement of the windows. Mrs. Williams is delighted with waking daily in a home where she could realize the power of natural light combined with the glistening effects from the movement of the water; which releases a unique dance on the interior walls, floors, and ceiling upon every opportunity.

Light and Climate
Mrs. Williams will be embarking on her 1st winter [June, July and August] soon and it is now time to consider the interaction between the inside and the outside. Since the average low is roughly 45° F, she is hoping for the greenhouse effect. Fully cognizant that the glass in the windows would admit the heat along with the sunlight and trap it; she took little action on extra padding for the winter months, as she was previously accustomed to doing so in Colorado. But what kind of psychological effects would the water have on a cold winter day? The visual effects of light in the winter can add a certain level of “brightness” to the day; however, Mrs. Williams is also faced with the psychological effects of the water being in close sight. It is a proven fact that water has a cooling effect on the body, which can be considered desirable in the summer months and perhaps less so during the winter. The motorized shades, installed during her initial provisions will have to be used at her discretion for moments of releasing the heat or capturing it; as well as the costal view!

Light and Time:
Embarking upon the winter has its special considerations as will be true for all the other seasons. Although New Zealand’s weather does not have a huge range it is common to change abruptly due to cold fronts and tropical cyclones. This creates challenges for outdoor activities while inside the home the use of natural light and electrical lighting becomes a necessary assessment. Or how much of each to use is considered and thought of more. Also, with the change of each season, shadows fall in different places during different times of the day, and colors take on new hues from sunrise to sunset. Since pollution is little to none UV rays in the sunlight is very strong and summers daylight savings can last up to 9 pm. So, how much of the natural light should Mrs. Williams utilize and how often should she mix it with electrical light? This will ultimately be at her discretion depending on several variables simultaneously like psychological effects and seasonal changes.

Light and Task:
Following a year and experiencing all seasonal climates, Mrs. Williams believes
that her electrical shades were more than a provision. They are her saving grace; as she is able to control the temperature and the atmosphere inside. The designer strategically placed the electrical lighting in areas that were more shaded from outside elements and buildings. Tasks are enjoyable around the home because the quality of the lighting is excellent. It’s never too much nor too little, and can be adjusted with ease if the UV rays are overpowering. Considering the long summer day, Mrs. Williams has taken interest in painting. After all she does have the perfect view and appropriate lighting to achieve that task.

In Conclusion:
Light matters with everything we do and achieve. Thanks to Christian Norberg-Schulz, Frank Lloyd Wright and others we are able to understand the connection to light in architecture as it relates to place, nature, climate, time, and task.