project 3 | Connor Murtha

Light

Form and Order

The project's goal is to create a non-denominational chapel that would be located on the Farmingdale State College campus. The College envisions this as a deeply spiritual space where worshippers of all religions can gather to reflect on life's experiences.

The College thinks that creative use of light can accomplish this. This project calls for inventive ways to manage light entry into a room as well as a resolution to the tension that exists between the built and natural environments.

I looked at the seasonal light patterns and angles as well as the patterns on the current campus site to come up with a solution for that problem. I influenced the site's orientation and position by using the analysis.

Background Research

I researched the Sant'Andrea al Quirinale. This Roman Catholic Church was designed by architect Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini and built in 1670 in Rome, Italy.

This Interior view of the chapel shows how light is used. The windows are high and reflect across not letting light down onto the walls.

high-altar-church-of-sant-andrea-del-quirinale-rome.jpg

This Interior view of the main alter shows how the light reflects in this little opening. The light reflecting gives the area a " holy" aesthetic to the alter.

Contextual Analysis and Sun Angles

Hierarchy

Main Chapel
Meditation Chapel
Memorial Chapel
Lobby
Secular Spaces

Sorting Of Spaces

Sacred:
Main Chapel
Meditation Chapel
Memorial Chapel
Lobby

Secular:
Offices
Conference Room
Library
Storage and Toilets

Peliminary Designs

2-D Light Sections

Site Selection

The site was chosen for 3 main reasons. One being the sun angles which have an effect on light. I put each Chapel in a position where it can collect sunlight. Two being the circulation. One of the main entrances is by the front of the Chapel which will attract the public. The last is form. The Great lawn was a semi-formal space on the campus. My Chapel location allows for the space to become formal.