Patients' light preferences in hospital wards: Related to light atmosphere in Danish homes

Abstract

When designing Danish hospitals in the future, patients, staff and guests are in focus and it is especially important to design an environment with knowledge of users sensory and functionally needs. Likewise, focus should be on how hospital wards can support patients' experiences or maybe even how it can have a positive influence on the recovery process. The present paper introduces the human perspective and the Danish cultural approach in illuminating homes and how it can contribute to innovative lighting design at hospitals. The importance of having a holistic approach to lighting design is introduced based on the theory by Gernot Böhmes i.e. "concept of atmosphere" dealing with the effect of experiencing atmosphere. The aim of this study for design of a lighting concept for wards is to get qualified information on patients light preferences for light atmosphere by studying the everyday use of light in homes. This explorative study displays the preferred light atmosphere in Danish homes in the age group of 60-85 years old people. With an anthropologically approach to the subject using semi structured interviews, the goal is to explore preferences for light atmosphere when the user are in the control of the light and get inspiration on how they create a private sphere. The purpose is also through this analyse to display cultural trends of illuminating homes, therefore, the paper will introduce the design lighting concept for wards based on different everyday situation activities from a hospital ward. © 2011 WIT Press.