Nick Dyer- Blog 5

While searching for a building where there was a relationship between light and structure, I was mainly looking for a building with either columns, trusses, or something of that sort to be casting a shadow into the building space. But when I was walking along Newbury street, I saw the Apple store and thought, maybe it's not just about creating shadows. Almost every building has a structure that will create a shadow, block, or diffuse light. The apple store is unique in the opposite manner. It's structural system to hold up the double glass facade, is made entirely out of glass. I think that although the structure may not necessarily effect the lighting in an obstructive way, it's relationship to light is unlike most other buildings. It allows all light to penetrate into the building. By creating this "invisible" structure, the light is free to penetrate deep into the space of the store. Also, at night when the sun has set, the artificial light from within the store creates a "glowing" effect. This is a stretch from the original question of structure affecting light, but i believe doing the opposite of that (not affecting light), creates a unique relationship between light and structure. On a side note, the central spiral staircase is also built entirely out of glass creating an opening of light from floor to floor almost like an oculus.