Page 7 - Floors AZU

Concept O floor A.Z.U. Academic Hospital Utrecht 1985- 1986

Although the concept to take the curve followed by the sun during the day as starting point for the
visual interventions in the light streets of the AZU could not, in the beginning, come through, I did
maintain my concept for the O floor.

This concept is rich in visual possibilities and coincides “in a natural way” harmoniously with the
architecture, especially in the light streets, and with the position and function of the building.

Color:

The main street links East and West in a straight line. Perpendicular on this line run the other three
light streets, that, from East to West, divide the light of day in three phases.
The light street in between the F and E buildings is the medical street and faces East. This is the
morning street in which the sun rises.

The light street between the G and F buildings is the public street and runs in the middle of the day
where the sun reaches its highest point.

The light street between H and G buildings, the student street with the lecture halls, catches the
light of the late afternoon and of sunset .

The color of daylight is a-symmetrical and is therefore ideal, as starting point, to apply the different
identities to the light streets.

As a result of the atmospheric humidity and the position of the sun different light waves-colors are
reflected and filtered in the morning as compared to the evening.
In the evening the humidity is high and covers colors with a veil, and also makes colors paler and
cooler.
The sky, then, is colored in a fan that runs from pale pink to grey blue, blue green, green and yellow.
From the countless numbers of shades and color transitions I choose the most typical.

The yellows predominate when the sun reaches its highest point. These colors dominate the public
street.

In the afternoon, when the temperature is higher and the humidity lower, the red, orange, violet and
blue light waves prevail.

The light converted in color connects the inner and outer spaces. Although, in the Netherlands, it
rains quite frequently and the humidity is high causing all colors to pale, I remained optimistic and
have chosen colors of a clear warm day.

Maria van Elk

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