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how does contemporary architecture deal with light and dark?
One of the philosophical explanations for the construction of Gothic Cathedrals in Europe was a belief that god was light, piercing and everywhere. This signals a shift in Christian ideas of God as mysterious, represented by the dark reaches of the Romanesque apse, to knowable and translucent. I know how "light" is used in today's architecture but i can't seem to find the "dark" please and thank you(:
Public Comments
- Wow, interesting question. I would like an answer to this question too! The only thing I've read regarding something in this line is in the philosophies of Tadao Ando. With the limitation and exclusion of light, light becomes 'sacred' almost, emphasised through its strong contrast with the dark. But this merely means that the dark enhances the light, devoid of any distinct characteristic.
- The problem is that you are using philosophical references that are hundreds of years out of date. The closest you will find to 'dark' in today's architectural language is 'shaded', 'shading' and 'secluded' and they have nothing to do with spiritual links - more with visual aspects and personal vs public spaces. 'Dark' today is nothing but the absence of light.
