Light in the Public Realm

Lecture from the 7th VELUX Daylight Symposium that took place in Berlin on 3-4 May 201 by James Carpenter.

“Light in the Public Realm” will explore the work of James Carpenter Design Associates (JCDA). At the intersection of art, engineering and architecture, JCDA’s use of materials activates and transforms both private and public spaces with observable qualities of light that define a collective experience of place. Looking at their work in both civic and commercial contexts, James Carpenter will address the increased need for innovative strategies that heighten our collective awareness of light and nature.

James Carpenter leads James Carpenter Design Associates (JCDA), a cross-disciplinary design firm. The firm is recognized for its distinctive use of natural light, which serves as the foundation of its design philosophy. Considered a foremost authority on glass and daylighting, Carpenter has been recognized with numerous national and international awards, including an Academy Award in Architecture from the American Academy of Arts and Letters and a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship. He holds a degree from the Rhode Island School of Design and was a Loeb Fellow of Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design. James Carpenter has taught at the Rhode Island School of Design, Royal Danish Academy School of Design, University of Chicago, AHO, MIT and many other institutions in the United States and Europe.