Opposite Louis Kahn: Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth (1966–72) Light modulates material contrasts: the surfaces of the walls in the museum are made of travertine, the arch of exposed concrete. According to the direction (direct or indirect) and nature of the light (daylight or artificial light), either the contrasts between the materials are emphasised or the materials appear to blend into each other.
photo by Achim Bednorz/ Bildarchiv Monheim
Below Le Corbusier: Notre Dame du Haut, Ronchamp (1950) Light changes colour impressions: here, the irregularly positioned windows reveal the extreme thickness of the walls in the church building. The surfaces of the walls, which are actually covered in white plaster, have a different appearance in the back-lighting; they seem to be more pale grey to dark grey.
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D&A  summer 2006  Issue 03