A Modern Language for Church Lighting

The atmosphere in sacred spaces is something that fascinates me. The feeling I get inside sacred spaces is unlike any other. Light is the main factor that gives this special feeling. With this thesis, I want to investigate how to preserve that ambiance, particularly in churches. Heritage is defined as being both tangible and intangible. Churches are a testimony of tangible heritage with their architectural characteristics. They are also a part of the intangible heritage by representing religion and faith. Those two aspects are the ones that I developed. The tangible, architectural investigation is done through on-site observations. The intangible, cultural investigation is done through interviews about perception. Light is my tool to highlight heritage in its double meaning. Church lighting is now facing a need for upgrades due to obsolescence of light sources. This upgrade comes together with the need for a modern understanding of worship. I aim to investigate how to create a modern language of lighting that represents the visitor’s needs while emphasizing the church’s architectural qualities. Based on the informations I gathered throughout the process, I can design different lighting scenarios. These scenarios focus on balancing lighting the architecture and creating a special user experience.