Artificial skylight effects in a windowless office environment

Canazei, Markus; Pohl, W; Bliem, Harald R.; Martini, Markus; Weiss, Elisabeth M.

doi:10.1016/j.buildenv.2017.07.045

Cited by 25 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 50 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…More research on the extent to which building users perceive simulated daylight, in the form of circadian lighting, as resembling natural light is needed to understand better whether the benefits of natural light can be experienced with circadian lighting. In our effort to find literature that describes the psychological benefits of artificial daylighting in work settings, we were able to find one study that examined mood state for individuals working in two office types: windowless or one that included an artificial skylight affording a view of a cloudless, sunny sky (Canazei et al, 2017). Participants' moods and their connectedness to nature, were reported to be better in the office with the artificial skylight.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hospital employees’ perceptions of circadian lighting: a pharmacy department case study

McCunn

Wright

2019

JFM

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Purpose An interdisciplinary body of literature has focused on the role of lighting in mitigating patient and employee stress and error-producing conditions in hospital settings. The purpose of this study is to explore how a new circadian lighting system installed in a small pharmacy unit with no penetration of natural light is experienced by staff. Psychosocial variables, such as affective organizational commitment, perceived productivity, well-being, and satisfaction with the physical work environment, were measured to further a line of inquiry that may help facilities managers and hospital administrators make optimal choices when purchasing lighting and commissioning retrofits. Design/methodology/approach Post-occupancy evaluation; mixed methods survey design. Findings While affective organizational commitment, perceived productivity, well-being and satisfaction with the physical work environment were experienced, to some extent, by employees, low average responses about whether the setting had improved, as the circadian lighting had been installed suggest that the retrofit did not affect them as positively as expected. Counter to the intention of the installation, participants did not perceive the circadian lighting as having strongly improved their levels of stress, concentration, mood or fatigue at work. Originality/value More research on simulated daylighting should be done to optimize occupant responses to lighting retrofits in hospitals. This case study supports recommendations to measure relevant psychosocial variables before and after a design change. Similarly, sized units within hospitals and health care facilities that possess analogous dimensions and design constraints concerning a lack of daylight penetration will benefit from this study’s mixed methods, results and interpretations.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hospital employees’ perceptions of circadian lighting: a pharmacy department case study

McCunn

Wright

2019

JFM

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…One study used an artificial sky to mimic daylight of a clear sky with defined (blue-toned) shadows, a sun patch, (producing a brightness ratio for the sunlight to shaded areas as found outdoors), as well as a bright light source seen through the window (having the appropriate perceived size of the sun). 68,69 The results indicated that these lighting characteristics had a positive effect on perceptions of room appearance and the mood, stress and anxiety levels of participants. Sunlight falling directly on the occupant or reflected from a surface can cause visual and/or thermal discomfort.…”

Section: Room Object and Human Appearancementioning

confidence: 94%

Daylight: What makes the difference?

Knoop

Stefani

Bueno

et al. 2019

Lighting Research & Technology

127

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Light is necessary for vision; it enables us to sense and perceive our surroundings and in many direct and indirect ways, via eye and skin, affects our physiological and psychological health. The use of light in built environments has comfort, behavioural, economic and environmental consequences. Daylight has many particular benefits including excellent visual performance, permitting good eyesight, effective entrainment of the circadian system as well as a number of acute non-image forming effects and the important role of vitamin D production. Some human responses to daylight seem to be well defined whilst others require more research to be adequately understood. This paper presents an overview of current knowledge on how the characteristics of daylight play a role in fulfilling these and other functions often better than electric lighting as conventionally delivered.

show abstract

“…Additionally, virtual biophilic indoor environment has the same positive effect as the real one (Tomasso et al, 2018); however, simulation cannot replace natural elements because the link to nature is a biological and psychological need (Gomes and Preto, 2018). Artificial skylight or daylight-substituting technologies positively influence mood states in windowless environments (Canazei et al, 2017) but the exposure to sunlight and daylight is of utmost importance to prevent vitamin D deficiency (Hauge, 2015;Alhazim et al, 2017).…”

Section: Groupings and Clustersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biophilic Design in the Built Environment to Improve Well-Being: A Systematic Review of Practices

Yassein

Ebrahiem²

2018

Journal of Urban Research

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The built environment is the man-made space including our cities, neighbourhoods, offices, and homes where people live, work, and recreate daily. Several recent research studies have devoted considerable attention to how our built environment affects our health, well-being, and quality of life. The idea of this paper stemmed from a conversation with architecture students after a lecture on healing landscapes. They have been asked to take a photo of the view out of the windows of their rooms for the following week discussion. The discussion mainly focused on why viewing nature is more favourable and advantageous than viewing buildings. The answer to this question is 'biophilia', defined as the inherent human inclination to affiliate with nature. Biophilic design -an extension of biophilia-is an innovative way of design that strives to foster a deep connection with nature in places where we live, work, and learn to induce well-being effects. The present paper seeks to systematically review and address the current practices of biophilic design in interior spaces where people spend most of their time. This paper situates the emerging concept of biophilic interior design and concludes by reflecting upon a conceptual model that enriches and sustains the human-nature connection.

show abstract

Artificial skylight effects in a windowless office environment

Cited by 25 publications

References 50 publications

Hospital employees’ perceptions of circadian lighting: a pharmacy department case study

Hospital employees’ perceptions of circadian lighting: a pharmacy department case study

Daylight: What makes the difference?

Biophilic Design in the Built Environment to Improve Well-Being: A Systematic Review of Practices

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About