flexible nature to be available only when required, or if fixed, not to
inhibit the view.
One of the methods adopted to control the glare effect is to use forms
of glazing which cut down light transmission; these need to be treated
with care to avoid the impression that the interior of a building is
permanently dim, and some glazing is available which reacts to the
external light available, only cutting down the light when the sunlight is
too bright, and might cause glare.
To sum up, the need for the admission of sunlight is important, the
architect must consider this as a first requirement in planning the location
and layout of the building, but in certain circumstances controls will be
needed.
COLOUR
Whilst the colour of daylight will vary from morning to evening, and with
changes in the sky and weather patterns; it is always regarded as the
reference by which colour is judged... daylight is regarded as ‘real colour.’
In early stores, such as Harrods, voids were opened in the roof to admit
daylight to sales areas below; whereas for some years this was ignored.
There were several reasons for this, not least being that it was considered
that means of artificial light were more suitable for display, to show off
the goods ‘in a better light.’
This tended to ignore the environmental advantages of daylight and
natural colour, and this has since been recognized in many new large
shopping areas, where the entry of daylight is encouraged for the
provision of environmental light to the store, but where for display
purposes artificial light may be introduced locally to enhance the product.
The old concept of ‘taking something to the light’, by which was meant
daylight, may be less of a necessity if the environmental light gives
natural colour; whilst from the point of view of the shop worker who
must remain in the same environment all day the advantage of natural
light is obvious.
Environment 13Sunlight and shadowDP ArchiveStaircase at Berkeley, USA. Shadow pattern
conflictDP Archive