Subtle but Bold

Lighting is an integral part of architecture and interior design. Our design firm EDGES recently completed a hotel project in the city of Gurgaon. The design of the lobby level was conceptualized using straight lines and very subtle colors. The result was an amalgamation of interesting surfaces combined with some state of the art lighting.

The multicolored LED lights can be effectively used to set the mood of the area and the red colored lacquered glass has been used to make a bold statement and underline the design.

DuPont Corian has showcased the design in the November issue of their Newsletter.

Simplicity ... design

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication” - Leonardo Da Vinci

This well known maxim has been the basis of design principles for many successful industrial designers and architects. Simplicity often denotes beauty, purity and clarity (of thought in the design context). Simple buildings are neat and functional, using minimalistic elements which are showcased in their honest form.

Another popular maxim “Less is more” has been the design philosophy of famous architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. By emphasizing open space and revealing the industrial materials used in construction, he helped define modern architecture. His mature buildings made use of modern materials such as industrial steel and plate glass to define interior spaces. He strived towards an architecture with a minimal framework of structural order balanced against the implied freedom of free-flowing open space. He called his buildings "skin and bones" architecture. He sought a rational approach that would guide the creative process of architectural design.

Source: http://www.wright-house.com/

Another great architect, Frank Lloyd Wright believed in designing structures which were in harmony with humanity and its environment, a philosophy he called organic architecture. This philosophy was best exemplified by his design for Fallingwater (1935), which has been called "the best all-time work of American architecture". His simplistic approach can be summarized in a quote by him, “Simplicity and repose are the qualities that measure the true value of any work of art.”

Interactive Selection of Optimal Fenestration Materials for Schematic Architectural Daylighting Design

Complex fenestration systems, such as prismatic and laser cut panels, are emerging as attractive options in architectural design thanks to their high potential to assist in energy and comfort issues. These systems can be used to redirect intense illumination from the sun but have complex transmissive properties that in turn depend on continuously changing illumination conditions due to the dynamic nature of natural light. The resulting non-intuitive interactions with the built environment make it necessary to develop tools that adequately represent these systems’ behavior to the architect. The method presented in this paper enables simulation of the direct and indirect illumination from the sun and sky throughout each day for different months of the year. The user can interactively explore the high-dimensional configuration space to select optimal materials early in the design process, using both qualitative and quantitative design criteria to make adjustments.