Selected Bibliography Architecture - Form Space and Order | Page 191

L IG H T

The size of a window or skylight controls the amount of daylight a room receives. The size of an opening in a wall or roof
plane, however, is also regulated by factors other than light,
such as the materials and construction of the wall or roof
plane; requirements for views, visual privacy, and ventilation;
the desired degree of enclosure for the space; and the effect
of openings on the exterior form of a building. The location
and orientation of a window or skylight, therefore, can be
more important than its size in determining the quality of
daylight a room receives.

An opening can be oriented to receive direct sunlight during
certain portions of the day. Direct sunlight provides a high
degree of illumination that is especially intense during midday hours. It creates sharp patterns of light and dark on the
surfaces of a room and crisply articulates the forms within
the space. Possible detrimental effects of direct sunlight,
such as glare and excessive heat gain, can be controlled by
shading devices built into the form of the opening or provided by the foliage of nearby trees or adjacent structures.

An opening can also be oriented away from direct sunlight
and receive instead the diffuse, ambient light from the sky
vault overhead. The sky vault is a beneficial source of daylight since it remains fairly constant, even on cloudy days,
and can help to soften the harshness of direct sunlight and
balance the light level within a space.

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