There is ample evidence that light and architecture have been an ideal duo for centuries. This is evidenced by both the preserved textbooks for architecture and the buildings that have survived to this day, such as the Pantheon. It has no windows, the light comes through the only opening in the dome. The rays filter onto the majestic coffers, giving the space a divine majesty. It is also worth mentioning the door, placed in such a way that it shines on it during the solstice, on spring and winter days.
One of the first artificially lit buildings was the Eiffel Tower. During its inauguration, during the World Exhibition, which took place in 1889. it was lit by hundreds of gas lamps, turning the colors blue, red and white. At the top of the structure there were floodlights illuminating the remaining pavilions, additionally they signaled the beginning and end of the exhibition every day.
Richard Kelly is considered a pioneer of architectural lighting. His first project that gained worldwide recognition was Glass House, the so-called Glass House realized in 1949. along with Philip Johnson. This building became a breakthrough in construction, as it was the first one to be entirely made of glass and steel, which was unusual at that time. It was also an integral part of the surrounding landscape. But it was the lighting that turned out to be the biggest challenge here. How can the light not be reflected in the glass, like in a mirror? Kelly has kept the appropriate balance between the lighting inside and outside the building. At the same time, reducing its intensity inside and illuminating the lawn and trees in the immediate vicinity of the house. Thanks to this, this architecture became invisible after dark.