THE MEANING OF LIGHT

Jim Graham, of Graham Babba a design firm in Seattle, WA, met our group at St. Ignatius Chapel located at 901 12th Avenue, Seattle, WA. Before we went into the chapel Mr. Graham explained how Steven Holl, the architect of St. Ignatius Chapel, created “A gathering of different lights” in the design concept of the chapel. He further expanded on this by describing the design concept as “seven bottles of light in a stone box.” The unique exterior of St. Ignatius Chapel does not immediately convey the unique use of light; it is upon stepping through the doors that one is hit immediately with a myriad of light that creates lines heading in many directions. The light penetrating the building through the “bottles” creates geometric shapes of light being bent and twisted; the lines create and convey certain moods. The diagonal lines guide you throughout the building, creating lighted pathways that pull you in the intended direction. Some portions of this guided tour, the light bends in a horizontal fashion signaling a moment of pause or rest, the light and colors change your mood and give you moments of reflection. Vertical lines abound in certain areas suggesting spirituality other spaces have soft shallow curves giving you a feeling of comfort and safety while the combination of vertical and horizontal lines throughout the building communicate stability. Every line Holl used in defining the space coincided with the reflections of color to change the definition of the existing shape of each wall and more than anything to portray feelings.