abstract: For most of our history humans have been closely tied to energy provided by the sun. Phases of light and dark initiate major biological functions within each day and regulate patterns of sleep and heightened alertness. Daylight was historically synonymous with sophisticated architecture, providing a mysterious play of light and illuminating productive tasks. It is only within the last 150 years that humans have sought to improve upon daylight, largely replacing it with artificially fueled systems. A new scientific approach to providing interior light has focused on the visible spectrum, negating the remainder of energy from our lives. This thesis considers the full spectrum of natural daylight, and its potential for improving human health, and well being. The literature review explores a brief history of solar architecture leading into the 21st century. A case study of the award winning Arabian Library in Scottsdale Arizona reveals four methods of passive daylight integration. A phenomenological ethnographic methodology assessed the impact of these four strategies on interior lighting quality, documented from the designer's perspective. As the science of photobiology continues to advance, it has become clearly evident that natural daylight provides more than mere illumination, and should be considered an essential element of the interior built environment. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S.D. Design 2013
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:asu.edu/item:20995 |
| Date | January 2013 |
| Contributors | Marotta, Nickolas Adam (Author), Bernardi, Jose (Advisor), Rowen, Marthe (Committee member), Bauer, Kelly (Committee member), Arizona State University (Publisher) |
| Source Sets | Arizona State University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Masters Thesis |
| Format | 131 pages |
| Rights | http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/, All Rights Reserved |
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