New materials like steel, glass, and concrete, and new construction methods like frame and skin construction, allowed architects like Le Corbusier, Mies van der Rohe, Eero Saarinen and others to create light and open buildings, which are still admired today and offer parallels to a vision of a light and open society. A Greek temple or gothic cathedral is very beautiful, but I believe that our modern society offers enough beauty to create a modern architecture, self- confidently referring to the context we live in today. If you look at a modern sailboat or aircraft, you see an object of extreme beauty, undeniably shaped by current technology and engineering. We try to incorporate this harmony in our architecture. Without light there would be no space, or the concept of space would be very different.
Light is connected to seeing and viewing, light informs atmosphere and the meaning of spaces.
I refer to light architecture as an architecture which is allowing the light in, out of, and around the building. A perfect example is the baby buggy. With the baby buggy, the traditional pram opened up and allowed the baby more light and air. The child sits in a completely upright position with full views of the surrounding environment and maximum exposure for learning and awareness. In the same way, it liberates the parents from pushing around a heavy object.