VIRTUAL: Prague Heritages
Abstract
This study investigates the dynamic effect of daylight in the sacred atmosphere of temples in Bagan, Myanmar. During the Bagan dynasty, architecture and building technology developed greatly due to the prosperity of the empire. Religion played a main role in the belief of Bagan society. Natural light was one of the essential tools in these sacred spaces to offer the devotees a solid belief in religions. Over 10 centuries, these remaining UNESCO monuments stand still after surviving the natural catastrophe and man-made disasters. In the past, monuments had been taken a poor preservation work without understanding the value of Bagan. Existing artificial lighting is insufficient to cover the daylighting techniques from the past, resulting in decreasing the spatial quality of sacred spaces. This study examines the daylight performance and techniques used in two Buddhist temples built in the Bagan region of Myanmar. The temples belong to two different periods (11th & 12th century AD), comparable in size and glory. The philosophy and religious perceptions of Kings and Bagan society are reflected in these monuments. In this study, case studies, comparison studies, daylight simulation software, on-site HDR photography, and expert interviews are undertaken. This research aims to understand the important role of religion in the treatment of lighting and to provide the readers with a more understanding of the quality of light and spiritual experience at Bagan temples. The study indicates the impact of religion on lighting treatments in creating spiritual quality and devotee faith in sacred places.
Lae Won Sundy is a final year graduate lighting design student (M.Arch) at School of Architecture And Design, King Mongkut’s University of Technology in Bangkok, Thailand. She earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in English from Dagon University in Yangon, Myanmar, and a bachelor’s degree in Interior Architecture with honors from Assumption University in Bangkok, Thailand. She has four years of experience as an interior designer with a focus on residential and commercial projects. She is interested in adaptive re-use architecture, historic preservation, light and shadow, and sustainable design.
Chanyaporn Bstieler is a lecturer, lighting designer, and director of LRIC. She received a Ph.D. in architecture (light & lighting) from University College London and an M.F.A. in interior architecture from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, USA. She conducted a great deal of research, and her most recent work examined the development of digital platform rules that included tracking, and a holistic lifestyle. She has collaborated on research studies into workplace lighting and urban lighting with international institutes. Her enthusiastic instruction and encouragement of the next generations to be more creatively involved contribute to the education of lighting design.
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Thursday 29th June, 2023