30 PRACTICAL ISSUES Light and colour design at the workplace

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Effects of individualised light andcolour design at the workplaceA pilot study and analysis of the impact of coloured light on the psycho-physiological well-being of

humans in the office building of the Berlin Medical Society, Berlin/D.

With the advent of electricity and electrically activated light sources, work has become increa-

singly independent of daylight. This move towards artificial light sources has led to the aliena-

tion of our natural predetermined circadian rhythms and has been imbibed so well in our daily

lives that it appears that we have forgotten previous diurnal cycles. And yet, despite numerous

technical innovations and developments, daylight is still preferred to artificial light – a fact that

continues to baffle many experienced lighting specialists, especially those with an engineering

background.

Almost since the beginning of work-place design, humanisation of thework sphere through better lightingconcepts has been a major issue ofconcern. Though a number of rese-arch findings in terms of visual com-fort have been recorded, very littleinvestigation has been carried out onthe positive effects of coloured light.Due to lack of adequate sophistica-ted technical devices and softwaresuch a design was not possible in thepast. But with modern technologyand the increased interest to deve-lop a positive work environment the‘LUGH’ – Project research team forLight, Health and Environment hascarried out a pilot study to under-stand and analyse how the visiblelight spectrum enhances the properfunctioning of the human body andemotional experience.

The project research team comprising Michael F. Rohde (Architect/Lighting Designer), Thomas Braedikow (Feng Shui Con-sultant), Dr. Michael Essers (Naturo-path), Karolina M. Zielinska (Archi-tect), Christine Pesch (Business con-sultant) and Amardeep M. Dugar(Architect/Lighting Designer) havepooled their experiences from theirrespective fields to carry out thisstudy.

Their research is firmly groundedon the knowledge of: ancient scien-ces of healing and design (Ayur-veda, Yoga, Pranic healing and Feng-Shui), modern medical sciences(Spectro-Chrome Colour therapy)and bio-physics (Fundamental Har-monical Research) in aspects relating

to colour and human health. The office space of the Berlin MedicalSociety building has been used as acase study for this research.

A basic fact defined by this team isthat Homo Sapiens are phototropicin relation to the complete lightspectrum, which is an important pro-perty of daylight. This does not onlydepend on the time of the day, butfactors like changing seasons, cloudmovement and the course of thesun.

Based on these cognitive theoriesthe research that is still in progress inthe office space has shown that thevalue of light, luminous colour, andthe colour rendering index have aconsiderable impact on the mood,motivation and physical well beingof the employees. The idea was togive the user the option to modify –according to individual preference –the luminous colour in his spacefrom the full spectrum of light. Byapplying additive colour mixing,which is possible with a specially de-signed RGB luminaire, every indivi-dual is able to choose the primaryand subsequent mixtures of coloursin the indirect component of the lu-minaire.

History of health and colouredlight For centuries, colour and its thera-peutic values have been used by dif-ferent civilizations to heal variouskinds of diseases and ailments. Al-though times have changed, thisconcept still remains.

‘Light metabolism’ of humanbeingsTraditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)and ancient Indian health lore –Ayurveda and other superior levelsof Yoga, have specified seven mainenergy points known as Chakraswhich affect main energy processesin the human body. Dr. BenoytoshBhattacharya has stated that humankind depends on seven cosmologicalrays that are present in every matter.Also every individual cell in our bodyconsists of seven rays. Based on theChakra colour theory, a colour fromthe rainbow is present in each of thecells.

During their research in 1975 thescientific team headed by Germanbiophysicist Dr. Fritz-Albert Popp(University of Kaiserlautern/ Ger-many) discovered astonishing factsabout the light in our cells. Their fin-dings have radically changed our un-derstanding of the human bodyimage. This unexpected research issue is still questioned today, butsince 1975 biophysicists use theterm, "bio-photonic radiation" to describe the fact that human bodiespossess measurable "internal light".Some well known bio-scientists likeRupert Sheldrake describe additio-nal morpho-genetic structure-forming biophysical fields around living beings called auras.

Today one component of the hu-man energy field and also small frac-tions of Chakra vibration have al-ready been proven scientificallythrough laboratory measurements.About twenty years ago Japanese

scientists Dr. Hideo Uchida and Dr.Hiroshi Motoyama (University of Tokyo), stated that Chakras can beproven physically. The location ofthe Chakras has been investigated atthe IBF (Institut für Biokybernetikund Freedback-Forschung) inVienna during research tests. Whilemeasuring the electro-potentialpoints along the spine that wereexactly placed where the IndianChakras are located, it was observedthat there was a sudden change inthe potential values when progres-sing downwards, which might ex-plain the Chakra phenomenon.

Pranic healingPranic healing is a highly developedand tested system of energy-basedhealing techniques that utilize "prana"to balance, harmonize and transformthe body’s energy processes. 'Prana'is the Sanskrit word for 'life-force'.This invisible bio-energy keeps thebody alive and maintains a state ofgood health. Pranic healing works onthe principle that the healing processis accelerated by increasing the lifeforce or vital energy on the affectedpart of the physical body. This healingis applied on the bio-electromagneticfield known as the aura. This bio-plas-mic body absorbs life energy and dis-tributes it to the organs and glands.Here one works with coloured pranawhich is targeted at the specific di-seases or irregularities in the body.The healer extracts coloured prana(red, orange, green, yellow, blue, vio-let) from the primary white prana andtargets it to the patients.

The new office building for the Berlin

Medical Society is located in the heart

of Berlin/D.

The concept of dynamic colour changing office lighting is the brain-child of Michael F. Rohde,

L-Plan/Berlin. Individualized choice light and colour design is exhibited at its artistic best on the

façade, imbuing the building with a ‘life force’. This force draws people to itself.

medicine (Holick et al. 1998, 2001)have documented that lack of day-light exposure can result in de factodiseases and existential orientationdisorders. Along with seasonal de-pression, which the people fromCentral Europe suffer from in winter(SAD – seasonal affective disorder),disturbances of natural bio-rhythmsthrough work-shifts and 'jet-lag' canhave adverse effects on humanhealth. Similarly, for the modernwork-sphere unpropitious lightingconditions are also responsible forthe increase in the so-called "sick-building syndrome" (Flackenbach A.1998, Rosen, C.J. 2001, Wilson N.2002, Magnusson A. 2003, Goel N.et al 2003).

The scientific findings from a clini-cal light research investigation un-derline the importance of sufficientnatural and artificial light for modernhuman beings. They have documen-ted that not only heart-circulation-parameters, vegetative functions ofthe body, skin diseases and bonemetabolism, but also mental andpsychological existential orientationscan be positively affected throughadequate exposure to light. Effectiveand successful modern and futurelighting design concepts should bebased on or oriented towards thesescientifically proven facts (Krause etal. 2001, Hönigsmann H. 2001, Hastings M.H. 2001)

Above all, serious considerationmust to be given to the effect of theexertion of colour on the physiologi-cal and psychological well-being of

human beings. Though scientists dealing with colour have been warning us about the importance oftheir theories for a long time, archi-tectural and ergonomic conceptshave unfortunately yet to implicatethem. For instance, it has been pro-ven that by accentuating the red endof the light spectrum at a workplaceit is possible to increase a person’spulse and breathing rate, and by accentuating the short wave of thespectrum, i.e. the blue end, the re-verse effect is invoked. Medical fin-dings in the field of endocrinologyand ophthalmology have documen-ted that colour-related psychologicalphenomena have a physiologicalcorrelation. It was recently disco-vered that the retinal receptor forthe colour blue triggers melatonindistribution in the pineal gland, withthe ensuing effect of sleepiness onhuman beings (Brainard G.C. et al.2001, Pache M. et al 2001).

Chromo-therapyThe concept of "Spectro-ChromeColour Therapy" was developed bythe Indian doctor and research ana-lyst Dinshah P. Ghadiali (1873-1966)during the first decade of the 20thcentury. This method involves the ir-radiation of large areas of the humanskin with coloured light. Based onthis research, Dinshah developed acircle of 12 colours which have the-rapeutic abilities. This has been usedfor the therapy of chronic illnesseslike diabetes, high blood pressure,bronchitis, acute sicknesses of the

skin, asthma, allergies and immunesystem disorders, cardiovascular diseases, stress and sleep disorders.

Fundamental Harmonical ResearchEvery colour of the light spectrumhas its own internal wavelength andhence its own frequency. The worksof Swiss scientist Hans Cousto in thefield of Fundamental Harmonical Re-search focussed on the 'Earth Tone'(also referred as Schuman Reso-nance). It has already been calcula-ted, from the measurable rotation ofthe earth (23 hours 56 minutes 4 se-conds) that it produces (according tothe octaves within our range of hea-ring) a frequency of 194.71 Hz.Using his theory, if one wishes tomake the earth tone 'visible', the oc-tave needs to be raised by forty times (240) to reach a frequency of428,000,000 Hz, specified by physi-cists as 700 NM, which is equal tothe colour bright orange. By addinganother octave to this, one can reso-nate with the frequency of humanDNA. The orange-red light thus re-sonates with the frequency of hu-man DNA and the earth tone andhence results in a balance in humanexistence on earth.

With all these theories it is beco-ming increasingly obvious that usingcoloured light (light colour spec-trum) it is possible to stimulate andpromote light-induced human meta-bolism. We spend more than half ofour lives in our respective workpla-ces, under artificial light sources.

Henceforth, research in the area willbe able to prove that coloured lightcan not only stimulate our workingatmosphere, but can also positivelyinfluence our health.

MethodologyArchitectural Lighting Design con-cept: the primary aim of the lightingdesigners (L-Plan Lighting Design,Berlin/D) was to promote a comfor-table health-oriented office space for90 work-places. A further objectivewas to replicate the dynamic qualityof daylight through the variablecomposition of luminous colours andlight intensities with high-tech lumi-naire design. The new building at Friedrich Strasse 16 has a cubicalform. The lower two floors housethe entrance, foyer, cafeteria andmail office, which are glazed. Theupper floors comprise offices andmeeting rooms.

The office design concept was to-tally modern in the sense that corri-dors were avoided and all individualoffice cells opened out into a singlecommunity space. The visual barrierbetween the cells and the commu-nity space was broken because it ismade of glass, and hence allows anunobstructed flow of light throughthe spaces. The lighting designersdeveloped a special RGB luminairein collaboration with lighting manu-facturer (Se’lux). As a result, eachemployee can set his/her own "indi-vidual" luminous colour preferenceusing the RGB pendant luminairesdesignated to their workplaces.

Feng ShuiFeng Shui has been part of Chinesesciences for millennia and is the artof life in harmony with the visibleand the invisible environment. Prac-titioners believe that with the flow ofpositive energy (Qi and Shen) it ispossible to eliminate or prevent theinfluence of negative energy (Geo-Sha, Trans-Sha). This theory also states that each building possessesan external and internal structure-forming field, similar to the energyfields of the human body. With thesupport of coloured light in a space,it is possible to promote the flow ofQi energy and activate certainenergy fields known as Bagua sec-tors, and bring them into positive balance.

Feng Shui practitioners have em-phasised the significance of the va-riable correlation between humanbeings and space. Wu Xing or the"five principles of transformation"(Fire, Earth, Wood, Metal and Wa-ter) which are wrongly identified inthe western world as "Elements"comprise non-real matter with ab-stract powers, essences or symbolsfor the fundamental attributes ofmatter. A specific colour of the rain-bow (light spectrum) is assigned toeach "element" and the appropriateapplication of coloured-light createsthe harmonic balance.

Medical science and colour psychologyThe latest findings in the field of so-cial epidemiology and occupational

The primary aim of this project was to produce ‘good individualized office

lighting.’ The idea of the RGB luminaire was to replicate the dynamic quality of

daylight through the variable composition of luminous colours and light intensi-

ties with a high-tech luminaire design. The pictures depict different "lighting

moods” produced by indirect lighting components.

Section showing the foyer and the colour changing lighting

design for the office spaces.

Office Office

Office

Office Office

Office

Corridor

Corridor

Corridor

Foyer

≥ the relevance of light in the pre-vention of illnesses, such as seasonalaffective disorder, winter depres-sion, and in the strengthening of thehuman immune system≥ the influences of coloured lighton the psycho-physiological factorsof the work process, concentration,achievement, socio-communicationskills and an overall feeling of well-being.

The researchers are well aware ofthe fact that apart from the newlighting scheme, the change of workatmosphere for the employees interms of urban surroundings, buil-ding, furniture, materials, and spatialorientation may adversely influencetheir response to the survey. Theytherefore recommend that observa-tional experiments, such as the onedescribed in this article, be repeatedin a larger group of RGB luminaire

top without generating reflectedglare, which is usually problematic inthe case of conventional fixtures.

Project Phase IBefore moving into the new buil-ding, the work space situation inthe previous building was docu-mented through photographs and adetailed questionnaire on the per-sonal preferences and expectationsof the 38 (seven male and 31 fe-male) employees. It is important topoint out that the survey using thequestionnaire was executed duringnormal working hours to achievespecific results. This basic groundwork was necessary for the rese-arch and for making an analysis ofthe work situation before embar-king on the lighting design conceptphase. Project phase I lasted fromMarch – May 2003.

Project Phase II (in process)This phase addresses the issue ofhow direct innovative lighting de-sign concepts and achieved lightingconditions can influence the workingprocess. The main focus will be todocument any noticeable changeswith aspects of "before and after" theinstallation of the new luminaires,and also in terms of seasonal chan-ges. This will be done with the helpof a new questionnaire, togetherwith standardised interviews. Photoswill be taken to document theworkspace, taking into considerationthe modifications that have beenmade and with special attention paidto the creative architectural andlighting design aspects. A personalcomputer has already been installedto record and document employees’behaviour with regard to lighting.Factors such as the different lumi-

nous colours selected for work, thedegree to which the lighting is dim-med by office staff, the time and thenumber of times the lighting is swit-ched on are to be evaluated after ap-proximately twelve months. Thepresent goals are to make a detaileddocumentation and evaluation of thechanges that have occurred within aone-year time-frame, and to analysethe behavioural patterns of employ-ees with respect to a specified lightcolour and colour loops in relation todifferent seasonal climatic changes.

Scopes and limitations of theresearch study The most important issues under investigation are: ≥ the response of the employees tolight and lighting quality before andafter the implementation of the ar-chitectural lighting design concept

PRACTICAL ISSUES Light and colour design at the workplace

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Client – Lighting Designer interactionInteraction between the client andthe lighting designer has resulted inan innovative design solution focu-sed on enhancing productivity forall. Quite often the lighting designeris given strict instructions to designonly according to the norms (where-as it is actually far more important todesign for the people using the workspace!). Fortunately, the decision-makers at the Berlin Medical Societywere intelligent and daring enoughto grant Michael F. Rohde the free-dom to design – as long as it was be-neficial for the employees. This is atrend-setting attitude that every sen-sible client should follow if s/he isconcerned about the health, well-being and productivity of their em-ployees.

RGB office luminaireThe FX international award-winningRGB luminaire used in this project isa sharp-contoured, direct-indirectpendant luminaire of minimalist de-sign (140mm X 55mm ). The lengthof the luminaire depends on theroom geometry and the desired lightintensity. The indirect light is produ-ced by three dimmable (red, greenand blue) T5 fluorescent lamps,which means that the ceiling can beilluminated in almost any colour. Theprimary idea of this project is not toachieve a brightly coloured work-place but to allow the selection of anexact shade of white light (warm orcool tones) to suit individual require-ments. Additionally, the light inten-sity and colour modulation can beadjusted dynamically to fulfil the in-dividual needs of the user.

This luminaire allows differentcolour loops to be run. Even when itis switched on during the daytime,the colour changes in the seven-colour spectrum produced by the ar-tificial light still enhance the user'sfeeling of well-being. Each individualemployee in the office building canchoose between a fixed colour and adynamic colour-changing loop. Forexcellent colour rendering of theworkplace warm white compact fluorescent lamps are located at thetwo ends of the luminaire to providedirect light on the working plane.The pendant luminaire can be instal-led at right angles to the wall/facadeand parallel to the edge of the desk-

The lighting in the conference rooms can respond to diffe-

rent working requirements. The centrally placed RGB pen-

dant luminaire provides concentrated direct light over the

table surface by the halogen down-lights. Indirect coloured

light on the ceiling and wall surfaces creates a visually stimu-

lating environment, similar to the offices.

The lighting in the executives’ offices is "democratically identical” to the standard offices. The luminaires give users the

opportunity to choose from warm white or daylight white or pure colours and programmed colour loops to support the

feeling of well-being.

Typical plan and section of a combi-

office with the position of the RGB

pendant luminaire.

The indirect light is produced by three dimmable (red, green,

blue) T5 fluorescent lamps (28 watt), for excellent colour

rendering at the work place. Direct light is provided by warm

white compact fluorescent lamps located at the two ends of

the luminaire.

users over longer periods of time.This pilot study has the potential

to revolutionize lighting design con-cepts in every area of humanity. Theresearchers firmly believe that in amatter of years all architectural andurban lighting design projects will incorporate RGB luminaires for theirpositive impact on the well-beingand performance of human beings.

Text: Michael F. Rohde, Thomas Braedi-

kow, Michael Essers, Karolina M.

Zielinska, Amardeep M. Dugar

Photos: Heinrich Hermes /

Hermes Fotografie, Berlin/D