-This paper presents a novel experimental method which uses a Virtual Reality (VR) headset, aiming to provide an alternative environment for the conduction of subjective assessments of daylit spaces. This method can overcome the difficulty of controlling the variation of luminous conditions, one of the main challenges in experimental studies using daylight, while its novelty lies in the implementation of physically-based renderings into an immersive virtual environment. The present work investigates the adequacy of the proposed method to evaluate five aspects of subjective perception of daylit spaces: the perceived pleasantness, interest, excitement, complexity and satisfaction with the amount of view in the space. To this end, experiments with 29 participants were conducted, to comparing the user's perception of a real daylit environment and its equivalent representation in VR and testing the effect of the display method on the participants' perceptual evaluations, reported physical symptoms, and their perceived presence in the virtual space. The results indicate a high level of perceptual accuracy, showing no significant differences between the real and virtual environments on the studied evaluations. In addition, there was a high level of perceived presence in the virtual environment and no significant effects on the participants' physical symptoms after the use of the VR headset. Following these findings, the presented experimental method in VR seems very promising for use as a surrogate to real environments in investigating the aforementioned five dimensions of perception in daylit spaces.

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Daylighting as a research topic situates itself at the interface between psycho-physiological and environmental factors, bringing together questions relevant to architectural design and building engineering, but also to human physiology and behaviour. While daylighting has a strong impact on human health and well-being, and an undeniable association with (subjective) emotional delight and perceived quality of a space, it is also highly dynamic and variable in nature, based on a combination of predictable (sun course) and stochastic (weather) patterns. This makes it both a challenging and essential aspect of how "performative" a space can be considered.This paper aims to discuss selected research developments regarding how architectural engineering and other domains of science could be more strongly bridged to address the need for meaningful decision support in daylighting design: how can we better integrate the complexity of human needs in buildings into effective design strategies for daylit spaces? As a basis for discussion and to illustrate this overview, it describes a unified goal-based approach in an attempt to address the multiplicity of perspectives from which daylighting performance can -and should -be evaluated in building design. Through five very different perspectives ranging from task-driven illumination or comfort to human-driven health and perception, it proposes a simulation and visualization framework in which one can start approaching these from an integrated approach.

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For field research of non-visual effects of light, accurate measurement of personal light exposure is required. A consensus framework for light-dosimetry could improve non-visual field research and ensure comparability between studies. Here, we present a review of methodologies used in non-visual light-dosimetry studies published to date, focussing on considerations regarding the measurement and preparation of personal light exposure data. Overall, a large variability in the studies’ methodologies is observed, highlighting the need for a consensus framework. We propose methodological considerations that should be included in such a framework and that can guide future studies. Furthermore, we highlight important points that should be addressed in future research to ensure compatibility between different dosimetry studies. Taken together, this review effort underlines the importance of a systematic approach to light-dosimetry in order to harness all the power of integrative lighting research in real life.