Sensing Light- Designing Supportive Lighting for Elderly Homes in Denmark.
Translated title
Sensing Light: Designing Supportive Lighting for Elderly Homes in Denmark.
Author
Breuer, Liza
Term
4. Term
Education
Publication year
2026
Submitted on
2026-05-31
Abstract
This thesis examines how lighting design can shape living rooms in Danish elderly care facilities so they are experienced more as homes than as institutions. Using a Research through Design approach, it explores the relationship between circadian lighting, spatial composition, and domestic atmosphere in living room environments. Three lighting scenarios – ambient lighting, local lighting, and combined layered lighting – were developed and tested in a simulated living room at Aalborg University with students as proxy participants, due to limited access to care homes and older residents. Biological performance was evaluated through melanopic Equivalent Daylight Illuminance (mEDI) measurements, while emotional perception and spatial experience were investigated using questionnaires. The study focused on how different light distributions influence comfort, sense of belonging, atmosphere, and support for everyday activities. The findings indicate that layered lighting conditions create stronger perceptions of comfort, intimacy, and homeliness than more uniform solutions. Based on these results, the thesis proposes a final lighting design strategy that integrates dynamic lighting, layered lighting, and zoning as architectural tools for nursing home living rooms. The project contributes to lighting design research by positioning light not only as a technical parameter, but also as a spatial and emotional medium capable of supporting well-being, belonging, and a sense of home for older people living in care environments.
Dette speciale undersøger, hvordan lysdesign kan forme opholdsrum i danske plejehjem, så de i højere grad opleves som hjem frem for institutioner. Med udgangspunkt i en Research through Design-tilgang udforskes samspillet mellem døgnrytmelys, rummets komposition og den hjemlige atmosfære i dagligstuer. Tre belysningsscenarier – generel rumbelysning, lokal belysning og en kombineret lagdelt belysning – blev udviklet og testet i et simuleret dagligrum på Aalborg Universitet med studerende som stedfortrædende deltagere, da adgang til faktiske plejehjem og ældre beboere var begrænset. Den biologiske ydeevne blev vurderet gennem melanopisk Equivalent Daylight Illuminance (mEDI), mens følelsesmæssige og rumlige oplevelser blev undersøgt via spørgeskemaer. Undersøgelsen fokuserede på, hvordan forskellige lysfordelinger påvirker komfort, tilhørsforhold, atmosfære og understøttelse af hverdagsaktiviteter. Resultaterne viste, at lagdelt belysning gav en stærkere oplevelse af komfort, intimitet og hjemlighed end de mere ensartede løsninger. På baggrund heraf udvikles et samlet belysningsforslag, der integrerer dynamisk lys, lagdelt lys og zoneret belysning som arkitektoniske strategier for dagligstuer i plejehjem. Specialet bidrager til lysdesignforskningen ved at betragte lys ikke kun som en teknisk løsning, men også som et rumligt og emotionelt element, der kan støtte trivsel, tilhørsforhold og følelsen af hjem for ældre, der bor i omsorgsmiljøer.
[This abstract has been generated with the help of AI directly from the project full text]
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