ZEMCH 2019 International Conference Proceedings April.2020 | Page 354
4. Louis Kahn and light:
Kahn gives a singular importance to daylight in his buildings as well in his theories. He rejected
the principle of a universal lighting and advocated a singular lighting for specific spaces [3]. But
unfortunately, the examination of Kahnʹs buildings reveals some contradictions with his own theory.
In the Philips Exter Academy Library, he located more than six different functions behind a wall with
the same openings [22]. In several buildings, the changes made by the users in order to improve lighting
conditions and solar admission are evident. Curtains, green and lattice screens were used in this
purpose by the users of Rochester Church in New York, Yale Art Gallery in New Haven and the
Richards Medical Research Laboratories in Philadelphia [23]. In fact, from a daylighting performance
point of view an investigation showed that Kahn designed the window as an architectural event more
than a device for lighting a space [23]. The Dacca Assembly Building is almost considered as an
illustration of Kahnʹs daylighting mastery. However, some interiors receive insufficient to inadequate
and even glaring daylight [24]. Inside the National Assembly Mosque, the direct sunlight disturb the
prayers and require moving from a place to another (Figure 6) [23]. Also, the supposedly space‐
structuring and orientating clear‐dim effects [27] are not performing well because they are not the usersʹ
habitual references [26].
Figure 6. The luminous environment inside
the National Assembly Mosque building in
Dhaka, Bangladesh [25] .
5. Le Corbusier: a singular case
Being the most prolific writer and speaker of all, it seems that no architect did better than Le
Corbusier when he evoked the sensations caused by natural light, narrated its plastic qualities and
related its benefits to humans. He was also careful towards the occupantʹs well‐being and undertook a
survey among various specialists (architects, doctors, physicians and engineers) [28,16]. In order to
satisfy usersʹ needs, Le Corbusier refered to his intuitions even if they were purely technical [28]. So,
despite his good intentions, his buildings occupantsʹ reactions were chocking and ultimately surprising.
The Frugès Housing District in Pessac, France, is a reference case showing that the universal
aesthetics could not be accepted as the Modernists thought. The apartments buildings facades are
oriented to the west and east and have subsequently been altered at different stages [29,30]. The
windows areas were mainly reduced in response to the sun excessive exposition (Figure 7). Also, the
Cite de Refuge and the Swiss Pavillon in Paris saw the addition of brise‐soleil devices and venetian
stores when Le Corbusier was still alive [5,28].
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ZEMCH 2019 International Conference l Seoul, Korea