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Sumit Singhal
Sumit Singhal loves modern architecture. He comes from a family of builders who have built more than 20 projects in the last ten years near Delhi in India. He has recently started writing about the architectural projects that catch his imagination. Folded light in London by Carpenter | Lowings Architecture & DesignJuly 18th, 2017 by Sumit Singhal
Article source: Carpenter | Lowings Architecture & Design Carpenter | Lowings Architecture & Design has finished the installation of its design for a 40-metrehigh integrated artwork across ten storeys of 8 Finsbury Circus, a new office development in the City of London which was formally opened this month.  A partial view of Folded Light from the seventh floor with sunlight reflected into the space, Image Courtesy © Timothy Soar
 Reflected daylight in the coated glass fin, Image Courtesy © Timothy Soar ’Folded Light’ – which has been designed specifically for a slender void space in the building measuring approximately 9 metres by 4.5 metres – serves as a strong visual connection between the lower ground floor and roof.  A partial view of Folded Light from the seventh floor with sunlight reflected into the space, Image Courtesy © Timothy Soar  An oblique view of Folded Light within the lightwell seen from the seventh Floor, Image Courtesy © Timothy Soar Manufactured from pattern-rolled stainless steel, ’Folded Light’, is an asymmetrical arrangement of mostly triangular, three-dimensional folded panels of varying sizes and different folding angles. Together, these create a single continuous rippled surface that appears more compacted toward the bottom as if compressed by the weight of the form above. The angles of the folds are intended to enhance the drama in the existing light conditions by catching natural light from above and contrasting it with shadow below. The entire wall is split by a vertical blade of dichroic glass which separates the spectrum of light into two, complementary sections. This results in a contrasting range of colours when viewed from either side of the void space.  A partial view of Folded Light from the seventh floor with sunlight reflected into the space, Image Courtesy © Timothy Soar  A combination of day and artificial light on Folded Light with an image of the second floor reflected in the lightwell enclosure, Image Courtesy © Timothy Soar Natural light entering the void space can be enhanced and supplemented by artificial lighting, when required. Cool white light sources from above mimic daylight, while a full range of colours from below increases the dramatic impact of the artwork. Side-lighting at each floor level picks out the colour in the dichroic-coated glass.  A close-up view of the folded semi-reflective surface and vertical coated glass fin howing gold reflected light. Image Courtesy © Timothy Soar  Folded Light from below, Image Courtesy © Timothy Soar As well as being a significant, integrated piece of artwork in the new building, ’Folded Light’ has been designed to serve a practical function: it conceals and supports the intake for air-handling machinery which is located in the basement of the building, by ensuring that the flow of air through the void space is not obstructed. The void is open at roof level and, consequently, the artwork is designed to be robust and easy to clean. It also serves to conceal an otherwise unexceptional party wall view at the eastern side of the building.  A close-up view of the folded semi-reflective surface and the vertical coated glass fin from the seventh floor, Image Courtesy © Timothy Soar Key facts about ‘Folded Light’: The ‘unfolded length’ of the artwork – approximately 42 metres – is just two metres longer than the height (40 metres) of the installation. There are 90 steel folds included in the design; The stainless steel used for the artwork is just 1.2mm thick; however, the total weight of the installation in situ is estimated to be more than 3,600kg; In total, ‘Folded Light’ comprises some 47 three-dimensional forms, made up from 217 sheets of individually laser-cut, drilled, bent and riveted stainless steel, mounted on welded aluminium frames;  Folded Light with images of the second floor reflected in the lightwell cladding, Image Courtesy © Timothy Soar The vertical blade of dichroic glass separating the two sides of the artwork is 36.5m in length, 430mm deep and 12mm thick; this piece of glass weighs approximately 470kg and is made up of 14 separate laminated and dichroic coated elements.  Image Courtesy © Carpenter | Lowings Architecture & Design
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