2024 - Sunbox

Category
Daylight Investigations - Region 2: Eastern Europe and the Middle East

Students
Polina Bobyk, Alisa Isayeva & Octavian Marchis

Teacher
Natalia Sokół

School
Politechnika Gdańska/Gdansk university of technology

Country
Poland

The prism illumination installation is an innovative approach designed to enhance the visual and functional quality of post-Soviet Union residential buildings. These structures have historically lacked modernization and aesthetic appeal. By utilizing prisms to cast colorful light onto the facades, this installation aims to improve both the appearance of these buildings and the living experience for their residents.

Over time, the urban environment and the needs of its inhabitants have evolved. Many old residential blocks now appear monotonous and deteriorated, contributing to a sense of urban decay. This project addresses these issues by introducing dynamic and visually engaging elements to the buildings, creating a more vibrant and inviting atmosphere. The installation uses sunlight refracted through strategically placed prisms to produce shifting patterns of colored light on the exterior surfaces. This not only adds a playful and artistic dimension to the facades but also helps break the monotony of living in uninspiring environments. As the sun moves throughout the day, the light patterns change, providing residents with a constantly evolving visual experience.

Moreover, the use of colorful light can positively impact the mental well-being of residents by introducing variation and interest into their daily surroundings. This approach transforms the living environment from purely functional to more engaging and pleasant. The project also contributes to broader urban renewal efforts by integrating seamlessly with existing structures. It avoids the visual clutter often seen in neighborhoods where residents use various methods to enhance their homes. Instead, the installation offers a cohesive and aesthetically pleasing solution that respects the architectural integrity of the original buildings while providing a modern update.

How it works:

Sunlight capture: Prisms are mounted on the building facades in locations that receive direct sunlight. The positioning is carefully calculated to maximize sunlight exposure throughout the day.

Refraction process: As sunlight passes through the prisms, it is refracted, or bent, at different angles. This bending of light separates it into its constituent colors, creating a spectrum.

Projection of colors: The refracted light, now split into various colors, is projected onto the building surfaces. The specific angles and orientation of the prisms determine the pattern and distribution of these colors.

Dynamic light patterns: As the sun moves across the sky, the angle of sunlight hitting the prisms changes. This causes the patterns and locations of the projected colors to shift over the course of the day. This dynamic movement creates an ever-changing visual display on the building facades.

Integration with architecture: The prisms are integrated into the architecture of the buildings in a way that they complement the existing structure. This integration is done without obstructing windows or altering the fundamental design of the buildings.

By utilizing the natural properties of prisms to refract sunlight, this installation creates a vibrant and dynamic visual effect that enhances the aesthetic appeal of the buildings and enriches the environment for the residents.