Cozette Kosary, M.A., B.E.D.
UX Researcher and Strategist
Color Oasis
Light Projections
showcased the intensity of light, displacement of materials, and the range of projections plastic cups and PAR Lights can generate.
Plastic Cups
offered the range of colors in the projections and displayed a visually stimulating glow.
Interactive Display
allowed individuals to become a part of the installation and demonstrated how shadows are composed of complementary colors.
Project Overview
Design Team
Cozette Kosary
Duration
3 Weeks, Fall 2007
Deliverables
Interactive Light Installation:
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Light Entrance | Organic Projection Effect
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Wall of Cups | Layering Projection Effect
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Gradient Wall of Color | Gradient Projection Effect
Publication
Turned On Light Showcase "Color Oasis Image 6," 2007.
Archone. Newsletter of the College of Architecture at Texas A&M University
Installation
Fall 2007 | College of Architecture at Texas A&M University in College Station, Tx
Assignment
Use light as a medium to generate an installation that redefines a space around Langford (The Architecture Building). The design must exhibit at least one of the four attributes of light: Color, Shadow, Intensity, and Glow.
The design will be part of an experiential journey of Light for the End of Semester Light Show: “Turned On”.
Design Focus
Color Oasis was originally focused on exhibiting the following attributes of light: Color and Shadow. This was to be accomplished by using PAR Lights and a translucent colored material to generate a variety of colored projections on a surface.
However, the final design exhibited all four attributes of light: Color, Shadow, Intensity, and Glow.
Solution
Color Oasis was an interactive light installation that used plastic cups and PAR Lights to create three uniquely different spaces: The Entrance, The Wall of Cups, and The Gradient Wall of Color.
The Entrance was an area in which the viewer focused on the intensity of light defining the space around the organic projections which, mimicked the form of the molded plastic cups.
The Wall of Cups created a space in which individuals were able to manipulate the layered projections intensity with their bodies and admire the glow of the cups.
The Gradient Wall shifted focus directly to the viewer's shadow and the subtle glow of color within the shadows.
Each space uniquely demonstrated a different variation of the four attributes of light.
Design Process
Phase 1:
Programming
Inspiration:
Inspiration for this project was drawn from Dale Chihuly and his use of sculpture, color, and light as a medium.
Site Analysis:
The Site chosen for this project was The East Section of The Pit (an area of Langford A’s courtyard leading to the entrance of the basement). It is comprised of three parts: the gated Entrance to the old Mechanic Block (gated area that originally housed the buildings HVAC units), The Interior of the Mechanic Block, and the Wall in front of the Mechanic Block. This area was ideal for housing the post that would support the wall of cups and offered the most concrete surfaces used for the projections.
Site Analysis
Three parts: The Gated Entrance to the Mechanical Block, The Interior of the Mechanical Block, and The Wall in front of the Mechanical Block
Ideal because of the amount of concrete surfaces to cast projections upon.
Phase 2:
Schematic Design
Conceptual Model:
A ¼” model of the space was built to get an overall feel of the environment. A wall of chicken wire masked in colored saran wrap was used to depict the size and angle of the wall of cups.
Reflected Color Diagram:
This diagram was generated to test materials displacement and color projection coverage. PAR Light Sources, Glass, Soap and Plastic Materials were tested against this diagram. Once PAR Lights and Plastic Cups were established as the materials this diagram was used to determine the distances the cups and lights were to be placed to get the final colored projections.
Reflected Color Diagram
illustrated the way to set up materials in order to test materials and determine the distances the cups and lights need to be placed to generate desired colored projections.
Example: Organic Projections= Light Source 2 feet from Concrete Surface and 1.5 feet from cups.
Phase 3:
Design Development
Material Testing:
By testing material opacity and malleability the most effective material could be determined for creating colored projections.
The first material evaluated was Glass. The material could be glued together to create unique forms that the light would pass through to make the projections. However this material was heavy, lacked malleability and was too expensive to cover the project's scope.
The second material evaluated was soap. The material could be molded into various forms. However the material was dense and lacked the proper opacity to generate large projections.
The final material evaluated was plastic in the form of cups. Two types of cups were used, Tumblers and Colored Stemware. The Tumblers didn’t allow for much malleability however they were donated to the project and had the best opacity. The patterns on the Tumblers also made a unique prism effect when light passed through. The Colored Stemware exhibited great opacity and malleability.
Projection Testing:
Once the materials were established, object and light source placement were tested to determine possible colored projections. Through testing displacement, three desired effect: Organic Effect, Layering Effect and Gradient Effect, were established.
The first effect established was the Organic Effect. This effect was created when the cups were placed at a close distance to both the light source and the surface reflecting the projection.
The second effect established was the Layering Effect. This effect was created when placing multiple light sources at different angles behind multiple colored cups. The prism effect resulting from the light hitting the Patterned Tumblers and helped to establish a range of hues.
The final effect established was the Gradient Effect. This effect happened when the cups were lined up and placed closer to a single light source then the surface reflecting the colors. At this distance, the cups lost the prism effect resulting in a solid hue of color and by placing a range of colors side by side, the hues melded together to form a gradient from one color to the next.
Material Testing
Glass, Soap, and Plastic Cups were placed in front of PAR Lights to determine the materials opacity and malleability.
Glass and Plastic Cups had the best opacity.
Soap and Plastic Cups were the most malleable.
Plastic Malleability
Plastic cups were tested in both the oven and with a blow torch to determine malleablity.
Plastic Flute Cups had higher malleability than the Plastic Tumblers. Tumblers tended to bubble which resulted in lower opacity readings.
Projection Testing
led to three different desired effects: Organic Effect, Layered Effect, and Gradient Effect.
Organic Effect generated well defined projections. Layered Effect created projections that were layered and changed when people walked through the space. Gradient Effect allowed projections to blend together in a gradient form.
Phase 4:
Construction
After one week of material and projection testing, came a two-week construction period in which three distinct areas were generated to create a Colored Light Oasis for the Final Fall Light Show.
The first area established was the entrance. This area placed the viewer behind the light source allowing them to see how projections work. This area was achieved by exhibiting the Solid Organic Projection Effect. The PAR Lights’ intensity against the organically shaped stemware at a close proximity created an abstract floral pattern on the concrete walls allowing the viewers to differentiate between the surface, objects, and the light sources.
The second area established was the wall of cups. This area exhibited the Layering Projection Effect and allowed the viewer to walk between the cups and the concrete surface. As the viewer walked along the wall of cups, they could capture the glow and beauty of the cups without seeing the light source. Then when the viewer walked along the concrete surface, the intensity of the colored projections was combined with the viewer’s shadows creating a change in the projected image. The viewer only slightly realized the effect of their shadow because the changes in colors’ intensity were subtle and they thought the lights were moving.
The final area was the gradient wall of color. This area used the Gradient Projection Effect and placed the viewer in the closest proximity to the projections and concrete surface. As the viewer would walk through this area, their shadows became the main focus because at different positions their shadows would reflect the opposite color of the projected color. This area resulted in the most satisfaction for the viewer because they felt as if they were a part of the art.
By combining these three distinct areas and the three projection effects, the viewers were able to immerse themselves in a Colored Light Oasis. They were able to see different perspectives on how reflected color works and to gain a tangible example of how light, color, and plastic cups can be combined to transform a space.
*This project was exhibited in the Turned On Light Show for 4 hours and then deconstructed the following day. A total of 550 cups and 6 PAR Lights were used.
Entrance | Organic Projection Effect
focused on the intensity of light defining the space around the organic projections which, mimicked the form of the molded plastic cups.
Organic Projection Effect was created by placing the light source, cup, and surface close together.
Wall of Cups | Layering Projection Effect
created a space in which individuals were able to manipulate the layered projections intensity with their bodies and admire the glow of the cups.
Layering Projection Effect was created by placing multiple light sources at different angles behing the cups. The light sources, cups and surfaces were equally spaced.
Gradient Wall of Color | Gradient Projection Effect
shifted focus directly to the viewer's shadow and the subtle glow of color within the shadows.
Gradient Project Effect was created by placing a single source behing multiple cups. The light source was closer in relation to the cups then the cups were from the wall.
Solution
Final Thoughts
Glow was demonstrated in cups themselves. In particularily in the Wall of Cups.
Shadows were discovered when people walked through the Layered Projections and along the Gradient Wall of Color.
Color was showcased in both the cups, the projections, and the shadows.
Intensity was highlighted in the transition from white light to colored light projections.
My Role:
• Responsible for Entire Project from Ideation, Programming, Schematic Design, Design Development, Construction and Deconstructions