The goal of this project was to model an interior based on a real building where, at a specific day and time, the angle and azimuth of the sun would create a special effect in the space. The interior I chose was the top floor of Bruce Goff’s Struckus house, which was one of Goff’s last projects.

The effect I focused on was created by the patterned windows on the sides of the building that form what I call a “checkerboard” in conjunction with an oculus that projects onto the back wall checkerboard and projected roof beams. The light shining through this model feels striking and almost intimidating.

I studied the original house and picked out the elements essential to creating my light effects, then calculated the oculus radius needed for its light to be projected onto the center of the marquise-shaped part of the checkerboard. I calculated when the sun would be in the right location to create that effect.

The model was constructed with balsawood, museum board, water-based glue, and white paint.