Day-Light Model

For this project we built a model of a space that was 20' wide by 35' long and ceilings up to 15' high. There had to be a separation between two areas. Space A was to have an outside entrance and was for gathering of larger groups of people. Space B was for quiet contemplation and spiritual stimulation, a sort of escape. My group chose have our building face west, where the main entrance would be. The ceiling slopes so that it is 15' in the community space and goes down to 8' in the meditation area. we chose to use clearestory windows that followed this slope to allow more light to enter in the community space and less in the quiet area. Also we used a level change from one area to the other to define a separation of the two space. In the quiet space we placed a window that wraps around one corner of the building, acting as a "zen" view or as a sort of alarm clock from the rising sun in the east. As the day continues the sun will be brighter in the community area as the sun sets towards the west. We felt that this light encouraged the activity taking place in this space. We also mirrored the "zen" window on the opposite corner of the building, but made it smaller and placed it along the bottom of the wall. This allows extra light to enter and wash the space without being directly in ones eye. The wall that divides the two spaces is made of a translucent material allowing light and shadow to pass through without being able to see a clear image. Also the strips of material crossing over this wall create a point of interest and again enforce the activity in the community space while creating interesting shadows in the meditation area.