Over the 50-year trajectory of my studio’s work, observers often comment upon the works’ consistency: attention to detail, refinement of structure, and, foremost, responsiveness to light. This latter comment is, of course, the primary focus of our work—to reveal the elusive presence of light while overlaying the performative requirements necessary in environmental light management. The performative aspects of the studio’s work are often overlooked. This article discusses the design process through two projects, highlighting how we approach every project from the perspective of context and performative requirements.
The two projects explored here are the Luminous Wave Façade, which fronts the new Terminal 1 at San Diego International Airport in San Diego, CA, and the Civic Porch: New West Entry to the Museum at the Gateway Arch National Park in St. Louis, MO.
