ABSTRACT
To design a work of architecture that takes people through a sequence of diff erent experiences of shadow is like composing a piece of music, except that the medium is not sound but the occlusion and modulation of light. Sciagraphy has always made architectural presentations more engaging. Shadows add aesthetic subtlety as well as reinforcing the perception of three dimensions. In low and high relief they are essential ingredients in the decoration and ornamentation of what would otherwise be flat surfaces. Shadows give surfaces texture. Shadows give rooms atmosphere, even drama. Fixed lights cast fixed shadows. The shadows cast by the sun and the sky vary in intensity, direction and quality. The shadow casting facility in some 3D software is useful but limited. There are many more subtleties to shadows than just those cast by computer-generated bright sunshine.
