Light

Light is the material of Architecture.

Ian Ritchie is one of the UK’s most visionary architects, and remarkable for synthesising multiple creative disciplines to bring the essence of his architectural projects into focus. A poet and artist as well as an architect, Ritchie distills his ideas into verse and pithy aphorisms that probe the complexities of architectural commissions and the art of composition.

In this volume, Ritchie's aphorisms and musings revolve around the topic of light, a fundamental element in the way we perceive both the natural and the built world. They are accompanied by his calligraphic etchings and illustrations of the architecture that emerges from them.

This illuminating blend of poetry and design is a trove of inspiration for anyone seeking to expand their understanding of the creative process, and offers a fresh perspective on the profound interplay between thought, practice, and the radiant world of light.

Ian Ritchie leads ritchie*studio, one of the world’s most innovative and influential contemporary architectural practices, based in London. Ian is a Royal Academician and a member of the Akademie der Künste in Berlin. He is Honorary Visiting Professor of Architecture Liverpool University; Fellow of the Society of Façade Engineering and Emeritus Commissioner CABE. He has been adviser to the British Museum, The Ove Arup Foundation and the Centre for Urban Science and Progress NYU. He has chaired international juries including RIBA Stirling Prize, Czech Architecture Grand Prix and the Berlin Art Prize. As well as an architect, he is a writer, a poet, and his art is held in several international galleries and museums.