Light in Architecture ─ The Intangible Material

Light in Architecture explores the role and use of light in and around buildings from the time that Stonehenge was built through to the present day, illustrating how a greater understanding of this intangible and free material will lead us to better architecture and, ultimately, improve our quality of life. Translated and carefully updated from the best-selling Spanish book,La Materia Intangible, this full colour edition explains why light is so fundamental to human perception, how its nature and use are influenced by time and place, and how it has come to be used as a tool for abstract architectural design. Drawing on centuries of thinking and over 40 real-life, international exemplars, the book explores the different ways that light can be harnessed and manipulated to achieve particular objectives, emotions or experiences, as well as how the technologies and techniques for doing so have developed over time. Importantly for today’s cities, Light in Architecture also looks at what happens when we build in, on or around our pre-existing architecture, identifying how we can improve, restore or even destroy light in the process.

Elisa Valero Ramos is an award-winning architect who runs a cutting-edge practice in Granada, Spain. Author of five books, she is also a university professor with an international reputation for her specialism in natural light. Having studied, researched, practised and taught on the subject for over 20 years, Elisa has led various governmental research projects and has been invited to teach at a number of universities around the world – most recently at London South Bank University and the AA School of Architecture. Elisa is based at the University of Granada and is currently undergoing a study into the effects of natural light on human wellbeing.