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People and daylight
Dynamic changes in natural daylight lay the the foundation for our
sense of well-being. However, we spend a large part of our lives in
artificially lit rooms. Insufficient daylight can mean that there is not
enough information for the human circadian rhythm to work properly.
This is why artificial lighting should be regarded, as Swiss industrial
psychologist Helmut Krueger puts it, as a “dynamic design for a
three-dimensional visual room climate” rather than a rigid, homo-
geneous installation. Optimal lighting not only takes into account
different room situations; above all it caters for human needs. This
necessitates continuous adjustment to suit individuals’ sight, work
tasks and activities as well as changes that are consistent with
prevailing weather conditions, time of day and seasons. Intelligently
controlled lighting such as this boosts motivation, aids concentra-
tion and improves the quality of life in every office, factory bay and
public building as well as in sports and leisure centres.
Architecture and daylight
Functional and creative lighting design are essential elements of
architecture. Spaces cannot be experienced unless there is light.
Every energy-saving construction project starts with intelligent day-
light-based design. Generously dimensioned glazed panels are an
effective way of getting as much daylight as possible into a building.
Just like human skin, the shell of the building needs protection in
this case, and this is when the designer’s thoughts turn to glare
protection. Optimally coordinated luminaires and control systems
provide premium quality lighting solutions that consume compara-
tively little energy. Almost every new building is equipped with a
control system nowadays, and even refurbishment projects are
making more and more use of state-of-the-art luminaire and lighting
control technologies. There is one persuasive argument for building
developers: the initially higher investment costs are usually amor-
tised within three to five years.
41 Cooper Square, New York | US
