Do you ever wonder why we feel an instant mood lift when we step out into the sun? Why do we even have terms like “sundrenched” rooms? The secret? Natural light is not just your room’s best accessory; it’s your well-being’s best friend. Take note: the usual materials section is waiting for you at the top of the page! Now, let’s turn up the brightness and dive into this illuminating topic!
Sun: Nature’s Original Influencer 🌅
Before Edison, before Tesla, there was the sun—a natural, all-powerful source of light that’s been impacting lives for millennia. When used thoughtfully, natural light can quite literally illuminate your designs and enhance your well-being score by a zillion. (Okay, not a zillion, but you get the idea.)
Mood, Meet Light 💡
You’ve probably heard of seasonal affective disorder, right? Lack of light affects mood, productivity, and even our biological clocks. But hey, no worries! As architects of well-being, we can bring the sunshine in and say adiós to those gloomy vibes.
The Spectrum of Light 🌈
We’re not just talking one-size-fits-all light here; the spectrum matters. Morning light has a different quality than afternoon or sunset light. Knowing how to harness the various types of daylight is like learning a new language—one that speaks directly to our souls.
Get Lit with Tech! 📱
Let’s get down to business. Modern tech gives us rad tools like daylight simulation software, allowing you to model how light moves through your space throughout the day. Oh yeah, we’re going full-on futuristic!
Less Bills, More Thrills 💵🌱
Lower energy bills are a nice perk, but let’s not forget the eco-friendly aspect of natural light. Your designs won’t just be beautiful; they’ll also give Mother Earth a big ol’ hug. And who doesn’t want that?
🎯 Your Challenge
(Please note that this challenge is entirely optional. Choosing not to do it will not compromise your final result or your ability to earn a certificate for this course. The challenge is designed to offer an additional layer of engagement and practical experience, but it is not a requirement for successful course completion.)
Ever wonder what the “golden hour” really feels like in a designed space? Get ready to document, observe, and interpret natural light. It’s like being a light detective, but way cooler.
What You Need:
- Your favorite room
- Sticky notes or small pieces of paper
- A pen or marker
How to Roll:
- Choose Your Space: Pick a room in your home or office that you spend a lot of time in.
- Morning, Noon, and Night: At three different times today—morning, noon, and late afternoon—step into your chosen room.
- Light Spotting: Identify where the natural light falls during each time. Place a sticky note there and jot down the time and your quick feelings about the light (e.g., “energizing,” “soft,” “harsh”).
- Reflect: At the end of the day, look at where your sticky notes ended up.
Questions to Ponder:
- Were there areas that were consistently well-lit or dark?
- Did the quality of light change your mood or perception of the space?
- What would you change if you could design this space?
What’s Next?
Snap a photo of your room with the sticky notes in place and share it in the Meditation Roofs Competition Group! Let’s see if your observations resonate with others!
This simple exercise helps you become more attuned to the role of natural light in a space, laying the groundwork for more complex design decisions later on.
Time to let that sunshine in and get sticking! 🌞📝
- ENLIGHTENING WELLBEING IN THE HOME
Residential indoor environments are increasingly becoming places where we spend a large share of our time living, working and studying. While the relevance of indoor environments for our emotional wellbeing is well established, little is known about the specific aspects of residential indoor spaces that affect negative and positive emotions. This ARTICLE studies the relationship between natural lighting in the home and the emotional subjective wellbeing of its inhabitants.
- THE IMPORTANCE OF LIGHT ON WELLBEING
Light can have a profound effect on our well-being, but it’s something that many of us are lacking in small London homes. As a lot of us work and live indoors, we simply aren’t able to spend a significant amount of time outdoors soaking up that vitamin D. In addition to this, poor internal LIGHT conditions mean we don’t get the benefits associated with good lighting. As a result, your well-being can suffer and you may not even realize why.
- HERE'S WHY NATURAL LIGHT IS THE GREATEST TOOL OF MODERN ARCHITECTURE
The use of natural light is one of the most important aspects of architecture because it affects people's well-being, saves energy, and makes environments more comfortable. Of course, natural LIGHT was a major source of illumination for many until modern times.
However, after the invention of electrical lighting, uptake was rapid because of the benefits it offered, and it was installed into most large structures in a matter of years.
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HEALTHY LIVING: HOW NATURAL LIGHT AND FRESH AIR TRANSFORM HOMES
Lone Feifer and Peter Foldbjerg of VELUX explore how architects and designers can find better ways to work at home and create healthy living spaces.
- A CRASH COURSE: NATURAL LIGHT IN INTERIOR DESIGN TRENDS
Circadian rhythms regulate body processes and contribute to overall health. They are, in part, reliant on cues from the natural environment, particularly cycles of daylight and darkness. However, modern lifestyles and the built environment can interrupt these natural cycles by either introducing too much artificial LIGHT at the wrong time or depriving people of sunlight.