Lighting Show!

Obviously I am not posting as much as I would like so I wanted to make sure I got this one up without delay. Today is our Environmental Control Systems luminaire exhibit and it turned out really well. We were asked to get into groups and design/build a luminaire for everyone to see. I worked with my friend, Will Krzymowski for the past two weeks on a project we call 'LightShelf'. Orignially we wanted to create a light that would sit in front of a window and increase the daylight inside the room and then turn into an operable artificial light when the sun went down.

We needed a reflective surface to bounce the light from outside so we used a white material called Corian which is traditionally used for countertops. Using a 3D modeling program and a CNC machine (example shown below), we came up with a pattern and milled the Corian into angles that would reflect the sun best onto the surrounding ceiling and walls:

(L-R) CNC Router, Pattern Milled into Corian, Testing light properties

Considering the time crunch and our unfarmiliarity with the product, we had to change our focus a little bit. Instead of making a lightshelf that was functional as a passive lighting strategy, we decided to make a shelf that lights up:

Pictures of the light as well as our technical sheet

Our graphic presentation of the luminaire plays with the current marketing of the green movement. Today it seems just about everything is green, sustainable, organic, or energy efficient somehow and the majority of it doesn't hint at a real solution to some serious issues of consumption and waste.

Graphic materials with presentation

All in all the project turned out pretty nice. The Corian is a really fun material to play with and I would really like to learn more about CNC milling. There are some beautiful examples of the Corian beyond counter tops:

The whole show looked pretty great in one of our review rooms. Below are some pictures of our luminaire in its gallery context as well as some from the other students:

One thing we tried to showcase was the light's relationship to the material. Corian has a translucent quality that depends on its thickness, and because of the pattern we milled there was a textural experience to the light. Carson is showing the viewer's curiosity when approaching the material.

Some Recycled glass bottles from Ben, Serena and Liz









A waterfall feature (with a sign that says please do not touch)



Nico and his partner's luminaire in the corner of the room.







Kristen and Amelie's blown glass sculptures



Jon and Sean's cardboard piece