An experiment of double dynamic lighting in an office responding to sky and daylight: Perceived effects on comfort, atmosphere and work engagement

Abstract

The experiment was targeted to develop design strategies and methods by testing the complex interplay between the dynamics of daylight and electrical lighting in an office. The double dynamic lighting design concept is based on the idea of adding task lighting, with a directionality referring to the daylight inflow and a variation on direct/diffuse lighting and respective changes in colour temperature respond to sky conditions and daylight levels. The experiment was conducted in an office space at Aalborg University in Copenhagen from September to December 2019. Four participants moved in and worked in the office with four-week periods of respective standard static lighting as a baseline, and dynamic lighting. In a parallel mixed method approach with interviews and questionnaires, the dynamic lighting was compared to the baseline and to a control group. The results indicate that the dynamic lighting periods had a positive effect on visual comfort, perceived atmosphere and work engagement. The studies helped to develop the definition of five dynamic light settings. Seasonal changes, time of day, dynamic sunscreens and individual needs for task lighting can be implemented in future field experiments as additional dynamic parameters to meet individual needs and circadian potentials for double dynamic light.

Should We Re-think Regulations and Standards for Lighting at Workplaces? A Practice Review on Existing Lighting Recommendations

“…Visual comfort, perceived atmosphere, and work engagement were evaluated with interviews and questionnaires. The tentative results indicate that dynamic lighting has a positive effect on visual comfort, perceived atmosphere, and work engagement compared to static lighting (74). Another study (75) from the same author investigated the quality of light in an office after adding ceiling-mounted spotlights to traditional diffuse ceiling panels with the intention to complement the directionality of the natural daylight inflow from windows.…”

Gaze correlates of view preference: Comparing natural and urban scenes

“…In previous literature, a preference to see the sky in a window view has been attributed to the knowledge of time of day, weather and access to daylight with its associated health benefits. 72–74 The relevance of behavioural changes associated with the dynamics of window views, for example, natural light 75,76 and content, 71 has been emphasised in recent work 2,77 and could have practical implications on the design of windows to reap the psychological benefits associated with looking towards outdoor views. 3,78…”

“…In previous literature, a preference to see the sky in a window view has been attributed to the knowledge of time of day, weather and access to daylight with its associated health benefits. [72][73][74] The relevance of behavioural changes associated with the dynamics of window views, for example, natural light 75,76 and content, 71 has been emphasised in recent work 2,77 and could have practical implications on the design of windows to reap the psychological benefits associated with looking towards outdoor views. 3,78 When searching for differences in preference ratings and associated gaze behaviour (ETMs) across natural and urban scenes, a higher preference was found for natural views as supported by the psych-evolutionary accounts (ART and SRT).…”

Multi-objective building design optimisation using acoustics and daylighting

“…For example, Sawyer 26 has conducted a study on daylight perception in work environments. Hansen et al 27 have conducted a study on double dynamic lighting in relation to daylighting in an office space.…”