The Archive of Light by napp studio

This architectural concept by napp studio to create the Shelves hold up the million bricks are placed at an oblique angle that display each of their own stories nonchalantly to the visitors when passing by, while allowing light to filter through their slits when ascending.

Architect: napp studio
Designers: TSUI Chris Chun Shing, TSANG Aron Wai Chun, HO Wesley Hung Lai
Location: United Kingdom
Date: Nov 2016

Project's description: Engraved with stories of prayers and answers, the Bricks are books written with text of living stories of the everyday reality, yet, a reality with Hope. Hope is the most significant spiritual grain we rely on when facing the sometime harsh life, it provides us strength and will - the Light to live on.

Stripped off with any flamboyant or extravagant architectural articulation, The Wall would be an archive of these mundane yet intriguing stories, like a humble library with collection of the classics - The Archive of Light.

THE SHELVES OF STORIES
Constructed simply out of light steel, the Shelves hold up the million bricks in a monumental yet sensual manner. The bricks are placed at an oblique angle that display each of their own stories nonchalantly to the visitors when passing by, while allowing light to filter through their slits when ascending.

THE MEDITATION MONUMENT
Positioning the Shelves in the scale and composition in reference to the classical Christian churches, e.g. St Paul’s Cathedral, and chapels, it creates pockets of meditation spaces for visitors to consider and reflect. Instead of cladded with extravagant ornamentation depicting the biblical stories, these are sacred spaces solely constructed out of the bricks narrating the actual communications and stories between the people and Jesus - a contemporary Cathedral and Wonder.

THE ARCHIVE OF LIGHT
Presented in a bi-fold meaning, the Light, on one hand, demonstrates itself as Hope, while, on the other, the actual light that is controlled and filtered by the bricks. The bricks are the only integral substance of the entire Wall, they are the content as well as the architecture. The Wall is an archive of common building substance, the bricks, with stories of the common people and Jesus.

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