"In Plato's allegory of the cave, light symbolizes knowledge: it is what guides the human being out of the shadows of ignorance and toward truth. In many religions, light is also associated with divinity, as a manifestation of the sacred. Over time, light ceased to be merely a symbol of reason and became an instrument of sensitivity, a living material capable of shaping atmospheres, influencing perception, and revealing meaning."
"Light is masterfully used in the quiet spaces of Tadao Ando, for example, where it seeps in like a sacred substance between concrete walls. In Alvar Aalto's buildings, it is delicately modulated to converse with the Nordic sky. In James Turrell's immersive installations, it becomes body, color, and experience. But light also manifests in the most ordinary gestures: in every precisely oriented window, or every shadow carefully drawn to reveal what is not immediately visible."
"In a context where light and architecture intertwine as experiential agents, Kompetenzzentrum Breisgau takes shape in Eschbach, near Freiburg, in the heart of the Breisgau region-between the Black Forest, Alsace, and the Swiss border. The building redefines the boundaries between productivity, design, and well-being, positioning itself as a new architectural landmark for the region. Above all, it makes natural light its main ally."
Light functions as both symbol and material: historically a metaphor for knowledge and divinity and now a living medium that shapes atmosphere, perception, and meaning. Architects use light intentionally—Tadao Ando lets it seep like a sacred substance between concrete walls; Alvar Aalto modulates it to converse with the Nordic sky; James Turrell transforms it into body, color, and experience. Light also appears in everyday gestures—precisely oriented windows and carefully drawn shadows—to reveal and soften spatial relationships. Kompetenzzentrum Breisgau in Eschbach prioritizes natural light, designing openness and connectivity around a LAMILUX Glass Roof PR60 that channels daylight deep into collaborative, wellbeing-focused workspaces.
Read at ArchDaily
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