Where light casts no shadow. One wall, one window, five spaces

Abstract

The following thesis investigates the shadow as an element defining space and time in architecture. The presence of shadow in architecture and art is studied through concepts from philosophy and anthropology. Darkness does not necessarily mean that a place is not visible but just less visible. By its very nature, the shadow gives a lack of definition to space. Furthermore, because of human perception and vision, the shadow creates a degree of intimacy compared to the illuminated space, which reinforces the definition of the space itself and its sensory experience. Here, even an architecture without walls or doors can be defined in different spaces, thanks to the shadow. This theoretical study complements and anticipates the project of a house on the hills of Roncão, in Alentejo. The project is composed of a wall which, concerning the landscape, creates a space of tension where a path is defined first, and then the inhabited space. The house consists of a wall, a window and five areas. The presence of a single circular opening, which varies the position of sunlight throughout the day, emphasizes the darkness in the house. The shadow is the fundamental element suggesting the most comfortable place and the moment in which to use it. The shadow, therefore, is capable of defining the two themes that compose architecture: space and time.