Light and well-being - an interaction between daylight and artificial light

   
Ph.d.stud. Carlo Volf, Aarhus School of architecture, Denmark 16.02.2010
 
Light and well-being - an interaction between daylight and artificial light
 
 
 
Abstract:
 
Often a dichotomy between daylight and artificial light is observed, often artificial lighting replaces daylight. In Denmark daylight is characterized partly by being "borrowed" half of the year, partly by having long transitions periods between the light and the dark (nautical and civil twilight). For these reasons artificial lighting does not complement daylight but provides, coupled with the daylight, the total lighting in the indoor environment. Electric lighting is therefore -  in a complex interaction with the daylight - of great importance for both our lighting and our wellbeing,
Today we face the challenges of future reductions in our energy-consumption, these challenges make it interesting to look at how we best possible use the artificial lighting. How we optimize the interaction between daylight and the artificial lighting is in this context important for both the perceived brightness and for our general wellbeing. The interaction of spaces and forms with light is essential for the experience of light and can actually help reducing the amount og electric lighting - form articulating and manipulating both daylight and artificial light. Architecture is seen as a function of light. The light is thus not only supplied the architecture, but part of it. The project will look at the following issues and questions regarding lighting:
How does light - this intangible building block - become a workable, practical size?
Brightness and darkness are introduced as relative concepts.
 
Experiments with the interaction between daylight and artificial lighting.
Experience is introduced as a psyche physical concept and fleshed out from the registrations and physical measurements in casestudies.
 
Fig. 2 Diurnal distribution of daylight and twilight in Denmark from 21 Jan - 21st Dec  
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