LUMINESCENT

Sunbathing times vary seasonally in countries located in the arctic circle. In the region, there are days when the sun stays on the horizon for a long time or even does not set at all during the summer season. Moreover, in the winter season, the sun remains on the horizon for a short time and a small amount of daylight is received. The seasonal difference in sunshine duration has negative effects on the psychology of people, and accordingly, seasonal depression can be seen in people living in cold climates.The Finnish city of Tornio was chosen as the project area. Depending on the climatic conditions in the city, the common areas where people can spend time together are limited.Luminescent offers spatial solutions to seasonal depression and the region’s lack of social space. Phototherapy method is used as a solution to seasonal depression caused by lack of daylight. Inspired by the phototherapy method, the role of light in revealing positive emotions is emphasized in the space. The light has been moved beyond the lighting of the place and brought to a position where people can contact in life.Luminescent consists of a shell and social spaces that naturally settle on the landscape interacting with its surroundings. The shell, which is designed in a way that does not block the view of the surrounding buildings, has an organic formation suitable for human scale.While the space we have created continues to receive daylight through the openings in the shell during the days with sunshine , it provides the continuity of the light with the light tubes used under the shell.Light tubes are designed in two types: in social areas and in phototherapy areas .While daylight and white light are used in social areas, colored light is used in phototherapy areas. The direct sunlight to the place is provided by the inner gardens. Social areas include a Finnish bath, sitting areas, reading area, playgrounds, cafeteria and sales units. In the phototherapy areas, there are therapy capsules where people can relax and spend time.In order to feel the colored light better in the phototherapy capsules, direct sunlight is not used in this area. The light emitted from these tubes is provided by bioluminescence and biofluorescence bacteria. Biofluorescence bacteria absorb sunlight and emit colored light, while bioluminescent bacteria emit certain colors of light as a result of a chemical reaction. Continuity of light is ensured by using biofluorescence bacteria at the points where we receive sunlight into the tubes, bioluminescence bacteria in areas where sunlight is not received, and at night.While only bioluminescent bacteria are used in the light tubes, bioluminescent bacteria are used on the walls of the phototherapy capsules and biofluorescent bacteria are used on the ceiling.Inspired by the working principle of the light tube, sunlight is taken to the ceiling of the phototherapy capsules with the help of collector domes in the shell . The light is transmitted to the biofluorescence bacteria by a reflective tape placed on the inner wall of the tube.Capsules and light tubes consist of double-glazed glass. There is a liquid consisting of bacteria between the glasses, and this liquid, which contains the nutrients necessary for the bacteria to create light, is transported to the glass tubes with the help of pumps.Bioluminescent bacteria are used in light tubes are also used in panels on the shell. Thus, bacteria provide outdoor lighting at night. In order to ensure the continuity of night lighting, bioluminescent bacteria were used on the panels of the top covers that we created with the pieces separated from the shell.