Light Atmosphere in Hospital Wards

At the moment, the future of hospital design is a subject of interest and thereby also a subject of discussion. It is a fact that new hospitals have an increased focus on user perspectives and an interest for improving the physical environment in such a way it supports the user needs and preferences and thereby the experience of an admission to the hospital. Recent literature such as ‘Hospitals of the senses’ and ‘Healing Architecture’ presents research and design solutions focused on senses and experience of the design. The Danish Regions ask for ‘Evidence Based Design’ to future prove the hospitals by research base the design of the buildings.

The present PhD project expands the existing knowledge of lighting research by focusing on the experienced light atmosphere. The project uses multi strategies of methodology based on a flexible design to elaborate on the sociocultural aspect of light and the sensory impact of light. To frame the work, the “Model of Light Atmosphere” is created and improved throughout the study, first as an abstract model and then it is exposed for detailed study. The detailed study first of all creates a theoretical and visual context. Then explorative studies seek to investigate unknown or tacit knowledge on how light is used in a Danish context, preferences for light in different situations and investigating the hospital ward as frame for a lighting concept. The concept is installed in a hospital ward at Odense University Hospital as a “real world” study and evaluated by the patients in the ward.

The project is based on the Danish Regulation for light in hospitals (DS703), which is a supplement to the regulation of artificial lighting in workplaces (DS700). The kick-off to the project was reading the DS703, second paragraph, chapter 2 about general requirements for lighting. “For the rest of the lighting, the light color should be chosen on the basis of the patients’ needs for a pleasant and “home like” feeling. This will in most cases mean a color temperature that is higher than 3000 K and a reasonably good color rendering of Ra> 80 (DS703).

In general, measurable parameters such as the amount of Lux, the composition of CRI and degree of Kelvin is described precisely in a way so the designer can handle the requirements. But what does it mean to create a ‘homelike’ and ‘pleasant or appealing’ light in this context? Does the composition of CRI and degree of Kelvin tell it all? Is it enough information to provide an illumination, which the patient can experience as homely and pleasant?

This project seeks to highlight the design process of lighting a hospital ward and articulate visual as well as written what a homely and pleasant light atmosphere could be in a Danish context. Therefore, the study investigates the socio-cultural understanding and the geographical impact of the understanding of light atmosphere. ‘Model of Light Atmosphere’ (fig 0.6) describes four key aspects of light atmosphere and displays what is important when a light atmosphere is qualified. The four key aspects are: ‘Light’, ‘Space’, ‘Users’ and ‘Time’.

The ‘Light’ aspect describes, as shown in (Fig 0.6), the character of the light, light information and light effect i.e. function, aesthetics or symbolism. The ‘Space’ aspect looks into the dimension of the space, geographical orientation, interior design, composition of the space, materials, surfaces and objects. The parameter ‘Time’ elaborates on the time one is present in the space, the season and time of day. The ‘Users’ aspect is split up into categories such as characteristics exploring the user group’s preferences and needs. The user group has quite diverse needs and preferences, while the staff needs task lighting and the patient a space experienced as homely and pleasant.

Categories such as ‘pleasure’ and ‘activities’ are also a part of the user aspect. The space is divided into subcategories as ‘location of the space’ and ‘geographical orientation’. The interior design, surface and spatial composition of the space are also parameters of importance. The ‘Model of Light Atmosphere’ is the focal point of the project through iterative process and also developed through the study. First the model frames the study and later serves as a design tool for creating light atmosphere in hospital wards.

The project is performed through four cycles of iterations. The first cycle elaborates on atmosphere. Here the study find its theoretical foundation based on Gernot Böhmes’ concept of atmosphere. It also finds its visual understand¬ing by studying the architects’ way to design atmosphere. The second cycle explores the users’ preferences and trends of light atmosphere in four exploratory studies. First presented is an observation of ward atmosphere. Hereafter a study of light preferences in Danish homes. Then, the trends of light atmosphere in Denmark are lastly an investigation on light zones at the hospital ward defined in order to optimize the illumination.

The third cycle of iteration is an experimental study testing a lighting concept developed and grounded in the knowledge gained through the first and second cycle. The fourth cycle evaluates the effect of the light atmosphere at the ward. Here the patients are admitted to two similar wards not including the artificial illumination. The evalu¬ation uses Semantic Environmental Description developed by environmental psychiatrist Rikard Küller, in order to evaluate the light atmosphere.