Gnomon

When the world is stripped of artificial light, everything seems to return to its original state. People set out at dawn, bathed in the morning sun, laboring through the day. At noon, they seek refuge in the shade from the blazing heat, and as the sun sets, they are gently ushered back into their own private sanctuaries by the glow of twilight. Since ancient times, the sun has been humanity’s sole natural light source, shaping our rhythms of life, our routines, and even our emotions. We create in the light and seek tranquility in the shadows.

The project is located in an equatorial region of Asia, where dynamic natural light is introduced into the space to restore the temporal significance bestowed by the sun. The soft boundaries shaped by light contract and expand, guiding users’ behavior, while the shifting lengths of shadows subtly indicate the intended use of the space. The entrance gate serves as a knot between the private world within and the vast world beyond. In the gentle morning, sunlight unfolds like welcoming arms, embracing the space with warmth, while at the sweltering noon, it contracts into a narrow corridor of light, reminding users of the midday heat outside.

The building is enclosed by solid concrete walls cast with bamboo formwork, shielding the central courtyard from external view and creating a secluded retreat for inner tranquility. Inside, two traditional screen walls shape dynamic light and shadow effects that shift with the morning and evening sun. Suspended above water, the courtyard platform helps dissipate heat while reflecting soft, ever-changing light into the interior.The roof, composed of two inclined planes, is designed to optimize light reception. Precisely positioned openings channel sunlight indoors, forming shafts of light that penetrate the space. A narrow gap between the roof and walls allows morning and evening light to enter, enhancing natural illumination and imbuing the space with a subtle sense of the sacred.