Roman Pantheon

While the Greeks utilized a measurement tool to be able to calculate how sunlight penetrates the interior, the Romans executed a bold design that resulted in a well natural lit interior and a monumental building whose natural light’s application is still prominent to this very day. A Monumental architectural prominent building that has an effective strategic natural light application is the Roman Pantheon.

The Pantheon’s dome consists of an oculus that is pierced in the centre of the dome itself. By having natural light access the interior from the dome not only does this avoid any glare consequences but due to the movement of the sun due to space and time; the natural light moves across the planes of the dome creating a path and revealing different details of the interior at different times of the day. This strategy also gives a sense of hierarchy and dominancy to the building itself and by having the access point as the oculus in the highest peak of the building creates an open space as well.

The well executed design and natural light strategy for the Pantheon is an international treasure that shaped natural light’s historical context. 

Reference Links ;

Daylight Design of Buildings: A Handbook for Architects and Engineers - Nick Baker, Koen Steemers - Google Books. 2015. [ONLINE] Available at:https://books.google.com.mt/books?id=Eg6AAgAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false. [Accessed 24th April 2015].