A master thesis from Aalborg University
The Quiet Light Project: Evoking Natural Calm Through Artificial Light
Author(s)
Term
4. Term
Education
Publication year
2025
Submitted on
2025-06-01
Pages
73 pages
Abstract
I den digitale tidsalder er bylivet præget af overstimulering og fragmentering af opmærksomheden, hvilket bidrager til kronisk kognitiv træthed. Denne afhandling undersøger, hvordan kunstigt lys kan fremkalde "blid fascination", en form for ubesværet opmærksomhed, som Stephen og Rachel Kaplan har teoretiseret inden for Attention Restoration Theory (ART). Ved at genskabe naturens perceptuelle kvaliteter gennem omhyggeligt designede dynamiske lysinstallationer undersøger studiet, hvordan kunstigt belysning kan understøtte mental genopretning i urbane boligmiljøer. En prototypeinstallation blev udviklet ved hjælp af horisontinspirerede farver og langsomme overgange for at replikere de æstetiske og kognitive egenskaber ved naturlige scener. Ved at kombinere metoder fra miljøpsykologi, design, materialeksperimentering og billedkunst tager projektet en tværfaglig tilgang til at undersøge, hvordan kunstigt lys kan gøre mere end at oplyse, det kan tilbyde mental plads, følelsesmæssig ro og en subtil følelse af nærvær i det moderne livs støj.
In the digital era, urban life is marked by overstimulation and attention fragmentation, contributing to chronic cognitive fatigue. This thesis explores how artificial light can evoke "soft fascination", a form of effortless attention theorized by Stephen and Rachel Kaplan within Attention Restoration Theory (ART). By recreating the perceptual qualities of nature through carefully designed dynamic light installations, the study investigates how artificial lighting might support mental restoration in urban domestic settings. A prototype installation was developed using horizon-inspired colors and slow transitions to replicate the aesthetic and cognitive characteristics of natural scenes. Combining methods from environmental psychology, design, material experimentation, and visual art, the project takes an interdisciplinary approach to explore how artificial light can do more than illuminate, it can offer mental space, emotional ease, and a subtle sense of presence within the noise of modern life.
Documents
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