"Light is sometimes the most material of building materials. Architects have continually explored how light can alter our conceptions of space: Gothic builders understood its ability to transform towering masses into weightless volumes of light, while Le Corbusier hung his entire conception of architecture on light's poetic possibilities. Modern-day designers craft luminous art galleries by magnifying soft daylight; create surprisingly uplifting funerary halls by washing them in sunshine; and dematerialize solid surfaces into diaphanous scrims by letting light penetrate a screen of caged boulders. Though immaterial, light can take on a surprisingly palpable physical presence." -- taken from: "Lightness of Being", Architecture, June 1998, p. 101.

In this thesis project, I would like to explore on the use of light and layers and how these two elements can transform the experience of the form and the space and stimulate interactions between the private and the public.

Light is not only a powerful architectural element, but also an element that influences all of us in ways that we might not have realized. Our moods can be changed by the amount of light we receive and our perceptions of two-dimensional and three-dimensional matters can also be altered by how the light reflects on it, the kind of light being used, and the amount of light present.

However, light cannot work alone, and it is only in the contact of light on a two-dimensional surface when a spatial experience can be formed. Therefore, both element will be considered in this thesis project.

The program chosen for this project is a five to six storeys office building that will accommodate small to medium size companies. The building will also provide a cafe and an exhibition space for the public. This building will be located on the northeast corner of St. Catherine and Guy.

Light has always been one of the most important concerns for office design since the use of natural and artificial light is essential for an efficient workplace. People work at least 8 hours a day in their offices and during this period of time, it is necessary to adjust the use of natural and artificial light according to the time of the day.

With the technological advances today, the nature of the workspace has been changing. Offices are used more as a meeting place than a working space, and the need of light has also changed because of the nature of the work task and the use of different technologies. These changes require a very different layout in office design.

Office buildings are not only used as a workplace, but also a place to display the image of a company and to serve as an advertising purpose. Therefore, the exterior design of an office building is also important. The use of light and layers will be carried out to the exterior level in order to create a form that is unique, a form where interaction between the interior and exterior space will be allowed.

In this thesis project, I would like to explore on the use of both natural and artificial light and opaque, translucent, and transparent layers, to create a layout that is suitable for the offices of our time, and to provide a comfortable working environment. By using light and layers in the design of this office building, I would attempt to provide unique spatial and formal experiences for both the users and the viewers and to induce interactions between them, as well as between the people and the building.