Negotiating Immersive Reactive Lighting Systems Across Performative and Architectural Spaces.
Author
Petrescu, Matei
Term
4. Term
Education
Publication year
2026
Submitted on
2026-05-26
Abstract
This thesis investigates how projection mapping, fixture-based lighting, and responsive control systems can be integrated into a unified, immersive lighting environment that operates across both performative and architectural spaces. The starting point is contemporary hybrid cultural settings—such as repurposed industrial buildings, public façades, galleries, and concert venues—where architectural illumination, theatre lighting, projected media, and audiovisual systems coexist but are typically managed through separate technical infrastructures. This separation creates practical challenges for spatial coherence: projection visibility can clash with permanent street lighting, fixture-based stage lighting and projected media often require manual synchronization, and responsive systems struggle to adapt collectively to changing performative and architectural conditions. The research builds on practice-based experiences and case studies, including projects with NONONON Lab, where both the limitations of inaccessible public lighting and more successful integrated concert setups were observed. From these experiences arises a research question about how a more unified control environment and hybrid lighting architecture can be developed, enabling fixtures, projections, and responsive systems to adapt in real time and produce more coherent immersive spaces. Methodologically, the thesis employs practice-based design experiments, system development, and prototype installations, constructing and testing a shared control environment in the software Resolume and evaluating it in terms of spatial integration, real-time adaptability, and workflow efficiency. The subsequent analysis and discussion aim to identify design criteria, workflow structures, and control strategies that can support future projects in which lighting functions not only as a scenographic layer, but as a dynamic spatial medium that shapes the experience of architectural and performative environments.
Denne afhandling undersøger, hvordan projiceret lys (projection mapping), traditionelle lysarmaturer og responsive styringssystemer kan integreres i et samlet, immersivt belysningsmiljø, der fungerer på tværs af performative og arkitektoniske rum. Udgangspunktet er nutidige hybride kulturscener – som omdannede industribygninger, offentlige facader, gallerier og koncertrum – hvor arkitektonisk belysning, teaterlys, projektioner og audiovisuelle systemer eksisterer side om side, men ofte styres gennem adskilte tekniske infrastrukturer. Dette skaber praktiske problemer for den rumlige sammenhæng: projektioners synlighed kan kollidere med permanent gadebelysning, fixture‑baseret teaterlys og projekteret medieindhold kræver manuel synkronisering, og responsive systemer kan have svært ved at tilpasse sig skiftende performative og arkitektoniske forhold. Afhandlingen tager afsæt i praksisbaserede erfaringer og case‑studier fra blandt andet NONONON Lab, hvor både udfordringer med utilgængelig offentlig belysning og mere vellykkede integrerede koncertopsætninger blev observeret. Med udgangspunkt i disse erfaringer formuleres et forskningsspørgsmål om, hvordan et mere samlet kontrolmiljø og en hybrid lysarkitektur kan udvikles, så lys fra armaturer, projektioner og responsive systemer kan tilpasses i realtid og skabe mere sammenhængende, immersive rum. Metodisk arbejdes der gennem praksisbaserede designeksperimenter, systemudvikling og prototypeinstallationer, hvor et fælles kontrolmiljø i softwaren Resolume opbygges, spatialt testes og evalueres med fokus på rumlig integration, realtidsadaptivitet og workflow‑effektivitet. De efterfølgende analyser og diskussioner søger at identificere designkriterier, workflowstrukturer og kontrolstrategier, der kan understøtte fremtidige projekter, hvor lys ikke blot fungerer som scenografiske lag, men som et dynamisk rumligt medium, der medvirker til at forme oplevelsen af arkitektonisk og performativt rum.
[This abstract has been generated with the help of AI directly from the project full text]