To Dwell in Time: Light, shadow and movement explored in virtual environments

Architecture is more than just the idea of form and space as an object, and we are more than just a subjects in space. We are people who are trained in the discipline of architecture. The virtuoso’s of our craft and are masters in the use and design of various form and space. Designers who invest body and spirit into manipulating space to impart a dynamic response on the human body. By manipulating and designing around the perception of time, utilising elements such as light, shadow and colour to evoke a reaction to enhance the spatial condition experienced. This research proposes to question how the use of real-time virtual environments (RTVE’s) can be used as an application to aid in establishing an experience driven design that attempts to control the intangible, temporal qualities of the real world.

The principal aim of this thesis is to challenge and critique. Through a series of virtual environments and case studies that are temporal and ephemeral in nature. The research is to act as a reflective design application that can enhance and reconnect the human body to the virtual realm. This research asks: “how can real-time virtual environments re-establish the presence of the human body in digital design through the investigation of temporal qualities such as light, shadow and movement within architecture?” Through investigating these qualities, the research subsequently asks: “How can we use these observations to build a more responsive and evocative architecture that is centred on temporal moments?”In conclusion this research concludes with a hyper-temporal application that presents the temporal elements discussed in literature and more. Utilizing RTVE’s as a platform to enhance and accommodate for a holistic, experience driven design. Allowing one to manipulate and distort time within the design application tool. One that highlights architectural moments that are memorable through the various times in a day, month and year. Imposing a qualitative measure of light, shadow and atmosphere as a means to judge the quality of space. Engagement of the human body within digital design allows inhabitants and designers to stop and reflect on design decisions.

Stopping to purely...

‘dwell in time’.