Luminous Color in Architecture: Exploring Methodologies for Design-Relevant Research

This paper describes our process in conducting research toward better understanding of the experience and perception of luminous colors in architectural contexts. Our intention is to contribute to a body of knowledge useful for designers by introducing a designerly way of working into an otherwise academic research approach. Luminous color influences our perception of form, space, and ambiance. The use of such color in architectural design has increased significantly over the past two decades, and with the advent of light-emitting diodes (LEDs), this trend is rapidly accelerating. However, LEDs produce luminous color in a different manner than traditional lighting systems. Identical-appearing colors can have different spectral compositions. Current work in health and perception sciences demonstrates that these different spectra can have distinct physiological and neurological effects. Current studies in different academic research fields into luminous color cannot be translated easily into a format relevant to architectural design. We therefore look to ways of studying the phenomenon using hybrid methods that would be consistent with design disciplines and goals. Efforts include structured experimental studies at a large scale to enable participants to experience different vantage points, peripheral perceptions, and free locomotion. The objective is to listen to the phenomenon and let it guide the research. We are following a process and developing research methods that are at a scale and in contexts appropriate to architectural applications. Although we borrow qualitative and quantitative methods from other disciplines for our individual studies, the overall goal is to remain fluid and open, to go beyond such established methods, structuring the endeavor as much as possible as a design process. Our approach is less structured than laboratory research, but targeted to be more ecologically and architecturally valid

PERIPHERAL APPEARANCES: THE EXPERIENCE OF COLORED LIGHT IN THE URBAN OUTDOORS

[EN] A review of contemporary architectural publications reveals that the use of color in architectural design and the urban environment has increased over the past two decades. With the advent of light-emitting diodes (LEDs), the methods for incorporating color into the built environment are currently undergoing a vast transition. Due to the ease of application and programming, colored and color-changing lighting is frequently used in the illumination of building facades and urban spaces. We conducted a small pilot field observation during a public urban light art festival to gain insights in the use of colored light in urban environments. The experiences of four visitors within the same urban spaces during the festival and after the festival were documented using video and sound recordings. After the walks, interviews were conducted to learn about the subjective experiences of each participants. Light and color measurements were taken by the experimenter along the way. The results documented the impact of color and colored light to transform urban space and the experience of the surrounding environment on several sensory levels. They also gave insight how use of color and colored light could be improved and be used in future urban designs, both in temporary and permanent installations.[ES] Una revisión de las publicaciones de arquitectura contemporánea revela que el uso del color en el diseño arquitectónico y el entorno urbano se ha incrementado en las últimas dos décadas. Con la llegada de diodos emisores de luz (LEDs), los métodos para la incorporación de color en el entorno está experimentando actualmente una amplia transición. Debido a la facilidad de aplicación y programación, la iluminación que cambia de color se utiliza con frecuencia en la iluminación de fachadas de edificios y espacios urbanos. Hemos llevado a cabo un pequeño estudio de campo durante un festival de arte público, urbano y de luz para obtener conocimientos en el uso de luz coloreada en los entornos urbanos. Las experiencias de cuatro visitantes de los mismos espacios urbanos durante el festival y después del festival se documentaron usando grabaciones vídeo y sonido Después se realizaron entrevistas para conocer las experiencias subjetivas de cada participante y se tomaron mediciones de luz y color para el experimento. Los resultados documentan el impacto del color y la luz coloreada para transformar el espacio urbano y la experiencia del entorno que implica muchos niveles sensoriales. También dieron una visión de cómo se podría mejorar el uso del color-luz y utilizarse en futuros diseños urbanos y en instalaciones temporales y permanentes.Besenecker, U. (2015). PERIPHERAL APPEARANCES: THE EXPERIENCE OF COLORED LIGHT IN THE URBAN OUTDOORS. En Actas Segundo Congreso Internacional Arte Ciencia Ciudad ACC2015. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 86-92. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/85530OCS869

Light4Health eLearning Course: health research for interior lighting design. Re-thinking design approaches based on science

This paper presents the results of \u27Light4Health\u27 (L4H), a three-year EU Erasmus+ Strategic Partnership grant project (2019-2021), which investigated, systematized and taught health-related research on the impact of natural and artificial light on human health and well-being relevant to indoor lighting design. The objective was to re-think evidence-based lighting design approaches for residential, working/educational, and healthcare spaces, in order to develop a novel cross-disciplinary eLearning platform, that intersects lighting design and current peer-reviewed health research through a select combination of the most relevant research, methods, and tools. The content was developed through teaching workshops with international researchers, teachers, and students. Participating students were introduced to the application of relevant research and new metrics, in order to produce creative lighting design proposals. Students were able to inform lighting design approaches that support health and well-being without compromising creativity via the tools and methods developed through the health sciences. With this project, participants and consortium members have narrowed the gap that exists between research and the practice/application of lighting, by translating research from complex scientific jargon into various tools for designers to use. The knowledge gained, was consolidated into an open-access online curriculum for international lighting design students, educators and professionals via the free eLearning Moodle platform (https://course.light4health.net/)

Lighting in Kindergartens : Towards Innovative Design Concepts for Lighting Design in Kindergartens Based on Children’s Perception of Space

Light is the foundation of the visual perceptual process that initiates the evaluation of the surrounding area. Linked to various aspects and rhythms of the body, light connects us to both the natural environment and the interior space. The process of perceiving and assessing space for children and adults with different viewing heights and viewing perspectives as well as the role of light to facilitate this are the key elements of this study. The paper describes general lighting design strategies for kindergartens, specifically developed to create an environment that takes into account the children’s scale and cognitive processes. The objective was to discuss environments that support the child’s spatial perception along with shape and object recognition by means of lighting design, for example by creating distinct, well-placed shadows. The proposed strategies are informed by a literature review on the concepts and interrelations of light, human physiology and the perception of scale and space. In addition, our process also included visits to kindergartens to observe and analyse existing lighting as well as the use of simulation programs to test lighting scenarios and their patterns/distribution of light and shadow. The outcome described in this paper is a proposal and strategy to take into account children’s vantage points when designing lighting in kindergartens that is still open to practical interpretations in real-world sites.QC 20220315</p

Beyond Vision: Moving and Feeling in Colour Illuminated Space

This article presents the results of an experiment exploring how four chosen light spectra illuminating a space in different colours affect observed body movements and reported sensory experiences. In addition, the experiment explores if these effects are apparent only when the light is perceived by the eye. In our light lab, 26 participants were immersed in white, blue, amber and red illumination and asked to move around while blindfolded and non-blindfolded. The movements of the participants were observed and video-recorded, and information on sensory experiences and spatial perceptions were retrieved by interviews. Thematic analysis shows patterns of how participants experienced feeling: sharp and clear in a dead space while moving in a hard manner (white), calm and introverted in a cold space while moving in a coherent manner (blue), happy and content in a supportive space while moving in a soft manner (amber) and grounded in a dense space while moving in a downwards manner (red) both while blindfolded and non-blindfolded. Statistical analyses show that the participants moved in significantly different manners and reported significantly different sensory experiences within the four lighting scenarios. Moreover, statistical analyses generally showed no significant differences between the two conditions of blindfolding and non-blindfolding.QC 20220210</p

Beyond Vision: Moving and Feeling in Colour Illuminated Space

This article presents the results of an experiment exploring how four chosen light spectra illuminating a space in different colours affect observed body movements and reported sensory experiences. In addition, the experiment explores if these effects are apparent only when the light is perceived by the eye. In our light lab, 26 participants were immersed in white, blue, amber and red illumination and asked to move around while blindfolded and non-blindfolded. The movements of the participants were observed and video-recorded, and information on sensory experiences and spatial perceptions were retrieved by interviews. Thematic analysis shows patterns of how participants experienced feeling: sharp and clear in a dead space while moving in a hard manner (white), calm and introverted in a cold space while moving in a coherent manner (blue), happy and content in a supportive space while moving in a soft manner (amber) and grounded in a dense space while moving in a downwards manner (red) both while blindfolded and non-blindfolded. Statistical analyses show that the participants moved in significantly different manners and reported significantly different sensory experiences within the four lighting scenarios. Moreover, statistical analyses generally showed no significant differences between the two conditions of blindfolding and non-blindfolding.QC 20220210</p

Beyond Vision. Moving and Feeling in Colour Illuminated Space

This article presents the results of an experiment exploring how four chosen light spectra illuminating a space in different colours affect observed body movements and reported sensory experiences. In addition, the experiment explores if these effects are apparent only when the light is perceived by the eye. In our light lab, 26 participants were immersed in white, blue, amber and red illumination and asked to move around while blindfolded and non-blindfolded. The movements of the participants were observed and video-recorded, and information on sensory experiences and spatial perceptions were retrieved by interviews. Thematic analysis shows patterns of how participants experienced feeling: sharp and clear in a dead space while moving in a hard manner (white), calm and introverted in a cold space while moving in a coherent manner (blue), happy and content in a supportive space while moving in a soft manner (amber) and grounded in a dense space while moving in a downwards manner (red) both while blindfolded and non-blindfolded. Statistical analyses show that the participants moved in significantly different manners and reported significantly different sensory experiences within the four lighting scenarios. Moreover, statistical analyses generally showed no significant differences between the two conditions of blindfolding and non-blindfolding.QC 20220210</p