Constructed Atmosphere / DRL Day 2 / MArch Jury 2025

Constructed Atmosphere explores light as a phenomenon, initially through investigating the light pillars wherein light delineates space. The phenomenon demonstrates an interrelationship between lighting infrastructure and ice crystals present in the air, constructing an atmosphere which is durational, ephemeral and participatory. Our proposal exploits the dynamics and ephemeral qualities of instrumentalising light as a medium. Conventionally, light tends to be defined simply as something that illuminates a surface it hits. Understood in this way, only the surface can be defined, and not the light itself. We consider light as the inverse from any such limited definition, and instead, interpret it as the medium itself. By defining light as a medium, ephemeral structuring with undefined demarcations are enabled to create transient and intangible boundaries within a space. This concept moves beyond the physical structures and materials with the emphasis on the environmental conditions and the human perception in order to define and transform powerful spatial experiences. Here, space is defined as the modulations of lightness and darkness – in texture and colour, shadow and occlusion, diffusion and softness, rhythm and movement. In its presence and absence, our spatial perceptions continue to be altered. All space is light, and all light is space. Through this manner, we worked with instruments of light and different mediums to explore a variety spatial transformations and demarcations. Therefore, light constructs an atmosphere – creating a difference by its presence.  While studying atmosphere in architecture, we investigated how space can incorporate elements that mimic natural environments to enhance sensory experiences. This included experimenting with different material formations, various transformation processes, and light that reflects natural conditions. Series of speculations resulted in creating an artificial nature with a dynamic canvas, an environment that can be considered as authentic and yet immersive – constructed atmosphere – as architecture itself.