ANARCHITECT unveils its Dubai Design Week 2018 installation

Circadian Light Synthesis installation highlights the human circadian rhythm and our relationship with the Sun and Moonlight.

Today (12th November) sees ANARCHITECT unveil its Dubai Design Week installation, located at the key pedestrian entrance to the Dubai Design District (d3) between Buildings 4 and 6. ANARCHITECT is an award-winning architecture practice founded by Architect Jonathan Ashmore and based in Dubai and London.

The Circadian Light Synthesis installation raises awareness and highlights to the public the different positions, colour temperatures and intensity of sunlight that dictate our human circadian rhythm and natural body-clock, including our relationship with the Moon. ANARCHITECT has developed the installation together with Delta Light, Matteo Brioni, Abanos and Prime Metal Industries (PMI).

Ashmore says,

“The relationship between body and light conditions is important for human well-being and a key aspect of design and architecture. Circadian Light Synthesis will harness the intense sunlight as well as moonlight conditions at its location, while providing a recognizable welcoming, recharging, explorative and contemplative area for the Dubai Design Week visitors.”

The installation is parted into two interconnected elements. The southern ‘Exposed’ Pavilion remains open-sided and houses a seated area for visitors, which doubles up as a shading structure. Its wall and roof apertures are specifically oriented in line with sun path which will harness its intense light particularly at midday (12 pm), afternoon (3 pm) and sunset (6 pm) to cast specific shadows. The northern ‘Enclosed’ Pavilion is predominantly closed and lit with Deltalight’s ‘artificial sun’.

In the daytime, the rotating light fixture will cast the artificial sunlight in the Enclosed pavilion in accordance with the natural circadian rhythm aligned with human wellbeing. At night, the light fixture will rotate to project the moonlight into the Enclosed pavilion from the rear of the same light source. The other side of the rotating light fixture will project the light onto the Exposed pavilion during the night, providing it with the light source and creating the shadows and light play after the sunset.

Danilo Mandelli comments,

“At Delta Light we deeply care about Human Centric Lighting and its importance for our wellbeing. Light stimulates us and influences our moods and activity levels. Our physiological response to light depends on its characteristics such as colour spectrum, intensity and timing. The circadian rhythm is a 24-hour internal clock that is running in the background of our brain and cycles between sleepiness and alertness at regular intervals. A huge array of biological processes within the human body, and indeed in all forms of life on Earth, cycle according to a 24-hour clock. Circadian rhythm allows our body to assign functions based on the time of day, and whether you are asleep or awake.”

Upon their arrival, visitors will be able to photograph the uniquely framed Burj Khalifa view between the two pavilions. This photogenic installation also provides a different opportunity for capturing light play created by shadows cast during both day and night.

The structures of the installation are clad in clay – specifically Matteo Brioni’s TerraPlus Cammeo – a mixture of raw earth, mineral binders and resinous polymers, which allow to obtain greater resistance to abrasion and water without losing its permeability. This non-fading material allows for the sun to beautifully highlight its unique natural texture. Matteo says,

“The earth is part of everyone’s past. However, mine in particular. Growing up in Gonzaga in Italy, among the history, the fields and clay quarries can have a strong impact on your choices. I discovered, like many designers, earth, was not only a “sustainable” and “healthy” material, but also sensual and “naturally” beauty, pleasant to the touch and sinuously adaptable to any surface.”

Kamal Farah, CEO of Abanos adds:

“Dubai Design Week is the region’s largest creative event in d3, which is my favourite design spot and one of our milestone projects; we are very excited along with PMI about our participation in the fourth edition, via the installation and the execution of the Circadian Light Synthesis.”

Circadian Light Synthesis will be open to the public throughout the Dubai Design Week, 12-17 November 2018.