SACRED ILLUMINATION: The connection between the built form and the history of the modern Swedish Church

Abstract: The use of light has always been a vehicle of symbolic meaning and spiritual experience in religious spaces. Depending on culture and religion this use differs, but in any case, the connection between the built form, the architecture and the history makes the relationship with light a compelling issue that is worth exploring. This thesis aims to study the role that light played in the designing of St: Eskilskyrkan church in Sweden, and the way it affected the perception of the architecture and its materials. In order to answer this question, a methodology based on both qualitative and quantitative methods, was generated. Evaluation and discussion of literature review, interviews, survey on perception of light, a comparison between two similar buildings, daylight analysis using lighting software and testing lighting design tools are the key elements to create the guidelines for the lighting design proposal that will be generated in the last part of the thesis. This proposal aims to redevelop the existing illumination of the interior of the church, emphasizing on functionality, on the built form and the enhancement of spiritual experience.