REFRACTED MEMORY

Team _ Gary Polk, Andrew Saunders, with help from David Zwehei Feng

Moments of Refraction
As a single figure embodying a multiplicity of space, form, light, views and experience, the Memorial Lighthouse for the Concordia Shipwreck challenges the singularity and monolithic nature of both the lighthouse and monument typology. At night, it projects beams of light into various directions becoming a unique beacon of luminosity from any approach. In addition, the memorial takes strong inspiration from the signature graphic patterns of many existing lighthouses and their daytime role as landmarks for important port cities and coastal navigation. The lighthouse acts as an observation tower and upon descent, a meandering sequence of reflective moments choreographed by distinct views of the island and coast. Overall, the Memorial is a pluralistic figure that serves to commemorate the tragic fate of the Concordia and the thirty-two individuals who lost their lives as a new symbol for Isola del Gi-glio.

Refraction Simulation and Ruled Geometry
Refraction is defined as the fact or phenomenon of light being deflected in passing obliquely through the interface between one medium and another or through a medium of varying density. Both physical and digital simulations were conducted to gain insight into the behavior of refraction. As straight-line rays of light are projected to and through envelopes of different density, they twist and torque in correspondence with the angle of projection, shape of the envelope and the index of refraction. While this generates an illusion of curvature, the line remains straight and can be connected to form ruled surfaces. The hyperbolic paraboloid is a ruled surface that has been used throughout architecture from Antoni Gaudi, to Miguel Fisac and Felix Candela for its structural integrity and ease of construction from ruled formwork. The simulation of refraction becomes an automatic constructor of hyperbolic paraboloids for the project to both link and stabilize the two cores and create distinct apertures throughout the project.

_ Published in AD Magazine Vol. 86 Evoking through Design in the article "Figuring Mood" by Andrew Saunders