Architects are increasingly aware of our influence on the well-being and good health of the users of our projects. Natural lighting –and how it should be complemented with artificial lighting– is an essential factor to consider for the visual comfort of interior spaces. But, do we know how to handle it correctly?
The absence of discomfort at the time of seeing is not enough to measure the visual success of a space. Things like the rate of blinking, level of glare, or light blindness help to determine the environmental quality of a room. Other things that are vital to consider include representations of color, low reflection, and uniform distribution of light. People do well with clear views to the outside, so it’s also fundamental to perfect the quantity and location of the openings in the building envelope in order to control natural light intensity.
Both too little and too much light can cause visual discomfort. Important changes in light levels or sharp contrast (which is perceived as glare) can cause stress and fatigue as the human eye is permanently adapting to light levels. [1]
