This week I have began making models. So far my discoveries have been unexpected in places and all extremely relevant. I started out with a simple experiment where I used tubes coated with different materials internally to see what results where given when I shone a light through them. I used five different materials ranging from; brown card, white paper, black paper, red card, and reflective foil. All of the results I got where different and from this I am now able to develop on to the next step of creating a design for my building.
Having done my original experiment I decided to now run with the idea of trying to disguise light tubes between internal and external walls. Not only will this serve the purpose of hiding any tubes I do not want to be seen. But it will also mean that I can pass light below the highest level of a building. Which as far as I know has not been done using this method.
Experiment 1 (authors own, 2014)
Experiment 1 (authors own, 2014)
As can be seen from the images above using brown card gave results but not the results I was hoping for. It seems that the light is passed down below ground however creates a spotlight effect and does not seem to be intensified. This part of the experiment however has acted as a base line and now I can compare any other results I find.
Experiment 1 (authors own, 2014)
Experiment 1 (authors own, 2014)
White paper had a similar effect to brown card however does seem to spread the light out more so than previously. This would therefore be more useful to have in a building as it would not create a spotlight and would mean that more of the space would become lit from natural light.
Experiment 1 (authors own, 2014)
Experiment 1 (authors own, 2014)
Black card gave the worst results of all for what I am looking for. The light created was simply a spot light and thus would not serve the purpose of lighting a whole space but would simply light a small section of it. The only way in which this finding would come in useful would be if I decided to drastically change the purpose of the building I intend to create. For example if I decided to make a theatre or something where a spot light would be useful.
Experiment 1 (authors own, 2014)
Experiment 1 (authors own, 2014)
The results here were not at all what I expected to find. Simply by cladding the tube in a red colour it allows for the colour to splay into the room below. The red colour was not reflective but simply I used card. This finding could come in useful later on in the project when I know exactly what I want to design. For example if there was a space where I wanted to create a specific ambiance I could use this exact method to do so.
Experiment 1 (authors own, 2014)
Experiment 1 (authors own, 2014)
Reflective foil gave the results I was looking for. Despite there still being a slight spotlight effect the reflective foil did spread the light much more evenly. Moreover it seems to have intensified the light by quite a lot if I compare it to my previous experiments. Although I may not clad all the models light tubes with the tin foil in the same way I would of course use this discovery in my final outcome.
Experiment 2 (authors own, 2014)
By creating a space where the internal and external walls are shown and left open to viewing it is possible to see how this could work in reality. By putting light tubes between walls I am able to hide the tubes and still direct light into the room. Furthermore by leaving large gaps in the walls I can direct light inward. This could be done by simply angling the tubes themselves or even by using some angled reflective material.
Experiment 2 (authors own, 2014)
In reality I would of course want to use some sort of translucent material where the large gaps in the walls are so that the tubes would not be visible. This would add to the illusion of hiding these tunnels and would thus make the idea seem more realistic and professional.
Experiment 2 (authors own, 2014)
A problem I can immediately see with this model though is that I can only really pass light to one floor below using this technique. Either this or I would have to divide up the tubes going bellow the top floor. This however may be inefficient and would lead to a loss of possible light. Efficiency of transferring light between spaces is what I am trying to achieve therefore I will have to consider this even if in the next model I make I still get positive results.
This weeks crit has entailed me realising that making models is key for my project to be a success. It has been suggested that I possibly try another way of passing light between spaces. I am going to try simply cladding the walls where the tubes go with reflective material and see what results are given. So far this is the only other method I can think of without obstructing spaces internally. My aim next week therefore is to try and discover an equally effective yet different way of transporting light.
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