Shared spaces have proven to be the most sustainable solution in the midst of growing demand to implement sustainable lifestyles and at present, co-living is the most trending housing option. In these coliving spaces, the common shared spaces are very important among which kitchen is the most critical one as most of the tasks are carried out there. The main objective of this study is to find if a relationship exists between task lighting, illuminance and multiple users in shared residential kitchens. Limited research in this area has been the primary motivation for this study. Furthermore, during the course of the study, the importance of flexibility in the task lighting for shared residential kitchens was investigated.   Realizing the objectives, the study aims at answering the following main investigation questions: Is task lighting in a shared kitchen designed with the number of users in mind and does it consider the different ways in which they perform different tasks at the same time? Should the lighting design standards be reconsidered for shared residential kitchens? Would flexibility in the lighting devices be beneficial for shared kitchens ? The main investigation questions are answered with the help of the following sub-investigation questions which mainly highlights the relation between the multiple users, illuminance and task performances. Do multiple users affect the various performances carried out in a shared kitchen? Are there any shadows cast by the multiple users in a shared kitchen? Do they affect the illuminance levels in the task areas and thereby affect the visual and task performances?   Case studies of two different shared residential kitchens were carried out. The methodology of the case study involved two stages, complete site analysis and an experiment. The experimental set up is adapted from McGuiness, Boyce and Harker‘s investigation study “The effects of illuminance on task performance in domestic kitchens” and was modified to suit this  study. The experiment was conducted in two different scenarios. Quantitative and qualitative analysis was carried out during the study. The end results of the experiment proved that there is a strong influence of multiple users on the task performances without having any major impacts on the lighting conditions. This indicated that new lighting standards have to be framed for shared residential kitchens in the aspects of ergonomics and flexibility. The importance of flexibility in shared spaces and in shared residential kitchens was realised was considered just beneficial in terms of mood, comfortability and practicality.

<p>The purpose of this study is to survey and evaluate if the individual contrast sensitivity and preferences for horizontal and vertical lighting level correspond to the values that standard SS-EN 12464-1 recommends for the workplace- and surrounding light levels.</p><p>This study examines if lighting should be adapted after the individuals’ need or if a general value can be found that will cover every individuals’ need for a workplace and surrounding light level. This study also examines if parameters like sex, age and/or glasses/lenses have an effect on the amount of lighting that the test subjects need. Lastly we compared the values concerning the relationship between workplace- and surrounding light levels with standard SS-EN 12464-1’s recommendations.</p><p>The study is carried out with an experimental design that surveys 220 test subjects who were chosen by a selection of convenience. The test subjects did perform a test where they estimated their individual need for lighting in office environments regarding lighting for workplace and its surroundings. Every test subject carried out the test where they repeated the same attempt three times, to establish if the individual lighting need oscillated or if it was constant, whereupon the results were analyzed, compiled and compared to standard SS-EN 12464-1.</p><p>The results show that the minim- and maxim value for the test subjects is between 70 – 4300 lux. The result varies with different parameters such as sex, age and glasses/lenses. We could also state that the relationship between workplace- and surrounding light levels is slightly higher than what standard SS-EN 12464-1 recommends, which should be taken into consideration when planning future lighting constructions.</p><p>Based on the results in this study, our conclusion is that standard SS-EN 12464-1 does not cover the needs on the comfort levels that the test subjects indicated. The values that the test subjects indicated differ from the values that standard SS-EN 12464-1 recommends.</p><p>Since there is a huge spread of the experienced need for lighting between individuals and age groups, we draw the conclusion that general values of measure can’t be applied as a standard on neither workplace- nor surrounding light levels. To fulfill the needs that users have, the lighting construction should be adapted for the individual and give a lighting flood that will fill the individual needs for workplace lighting.</p>

The purpose of this study is to survey and evaluate if the individual contrast sensitivity and preferences for horizontal and vertical lighting level correspond to the values that standard SS-EN 12464-1 recommends for the workplace- and surrounding light levels. This study examines if lighting should be adapted after the individuals’ need or if a general value can be found that will cover every individuals’ need for a workplace and surrounding light level. This study also examines if parameters like sex, age and/or glasses/lenses have an effect on the amount of lighting that the test subjects need. Lastly we compared the values concerning the relationship between workplace- and surrounding light levels with standard SS-EN 12464-1’s recommendations. The study is carried out with an experimental design that surveys 220 test subjects who were chosen by a selection of convenience. The test subjects did perform a test where they estimated their individual need for lighting in office environments regarding lighting for workplace and its surroundings. Every test subject carried out the test where they repeated the same attempt three times, to establish if the individual lighting need oscillated or if it was constant, whereupon the results were analyzed, compiled and compared to standard SS-EN 12464-1. The results show that the minim- and maxim value for the test subjects is between 70 – 4300 lux. The result varies with different parameters such as sex, age and glasses/lenses. We could also state that the relationship between workplace- and surrounding light levels is slightly higher than what standard SS-EN 12464-1 recommends, which should be taken into consideration when planning future lighting constructions. Based on the results in this study, our conclusion is that standard SS-EN 12464-1 does not cover the needs on the comfort levels that the test subjects indicated. The values that the test subjects indicated differ from the values that standard SS-EN 12464-1 recommends. Since there is a huge spread of the experienced need for lighting between individuals and age groups, we draw the conclusion that general values of measure can’t be applied as a standard on neither workplace- nor surrounding light levels. To fulfill the needs that users have, the lighting construction should be adapted for the individual and give a lighting flood that will fill the individual needs for workplace lighting.