Understanding the role of natural light in residential Scandinavian architecture
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2021
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MACHINE-GENERATED SUMMARY NOTE : Direct contact with nature and the accompanying supply of natural light has a significant influence on the condition of the human body, who cannot survive without it. The well-being and productivity of people depends on the amount of natural light they receive (Veitch 2012). It also assists people as an internal clock, which is called "circadian rhythm". This rhythm extends over 24 hours every day and is related to the sunrise and sunset. (Wirz-Justice and Cajochen 2011). The problem of insufficient supply of sunlight becomes clear, if we look especially at the Scandinavian countries, where architecture had to adapt to an extremely low amount of natural light. Due to the low brightness, particularly during the winter days, people try to capture the limited amount of sunlight as efficient as possible (Skou and Munch 2016). This raises the question of what strategies the Scandinavian countries in particular have developed to adapt to these conditions. Moreover, due to the current situation of the Covid-19 pandemic and the time spent in our own homes, it is becoming increasingly important to deal with the role of natural light. The relevance and also the growing interest in using daylight has never been as great as today (Veitch 2012). Cities are growing and the demand in residential housing results in the consequence that people with limited financial resources have to make compromises in order to be able to live in their desired location. One of the major compromises, that also affects the human health, is the lack in direct sunlight. This issue is very significant, since it affects almost everyone who lives in a city with a high population density (Veitch 2012). Therefor it is an architectural challenge to find an appropriate solution that creates a balance between the efficiency of a building and the well-being of people. Adapting the principles of Scandinavian design to maximize light within the built environment can offer solutions for these problems. This research focuses on the role of natural light and the interaction with nature in Scandinavian architecture. In addition there will be an analysis about the use of specific materials, which is an important part of Scandinavian design. Artificial light also plays an essential role in the Scandinavian design, but is beyond the scope of this work. This research will include a case study analysis. The case studies will compare the treatment of daylight by different architects. The main focus is on the Scandinavian design and the associated features of it, such as the connection to nature, material textures, simple material palette and also the spatial arrangement of spaces