Guiding Light, Balancing fluidity and orientation

The intention of this document is to explore the potential of lighting design to work as an orientation tool in relatively large-scale buildings, where users lack the environmental clues needed to create effective cognitive maps.Cognitive mapping is the process of mental structuring of an overall image or representation of the spaces and layout of a setting, for the purpose of wayfinding.The motivation of this thesis comes from observing the frustration experienced by students using the KTH Architecture building, documented through an empirical study and interviews.Literature review of human apprehension of spatial evidence that enable individuals to orient in the world is used to define the underlying structure for the design intervention.Understanding human cognition from an existential-phenomenological perspective through the work of Medard Boss and Ludwing Binswanger, together with the technical understanding of the objective fabric of the environment present in wayfinding literature are used to account for the lighting intervention on a studio floor from the KTH Architecture building.The thesis intention is to understand what architectural elements humans use to create a mental map for decision making when moving trough space, and use lighting rather than signage to accentuate, articulate and complement necessary architectural features for the process