Light as an Element to Create Poetic Spaces: Case Analyses of Two Religious Buildings, Sancaklar Mosque and Church of the Light

Psychological and phenomenological definitions of space is separated from each other in the literature. The first aim of this study is analyzing the understanding of ‘light’ in both of these two approaches. Second aim is investigating how the ‘light’ could create and increase the understanding of a poetic space. To understand this phenomenological side of the light, two religious buildings that use the power of light in a sophisticated way are selected as case studies. First case is Sancaklar Mosque by Emre Arolat Architects and second case is Tadao Ando’s Church of the Light. All aspects of light, as physical element, has poetic value and space-light-phenomenology triad defined by the author and analyzed on these case studies. The paper introduces and discusses about creating poetic space with a physical element; light. To make this discussion in an effective and efficient way, psychological and physical definitions about space and light are also introduced. The conclusion includes commentary about how light could be used as an element to create poetic spaces with the interpretation of definitions.