The experience of equivalent luminous colors at architectural scale

Authors

  • Ute Besenecker School of Architecture, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
  • Ted Krueger School of Architecture, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
  • Zachary Pearson School of Architecture, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
  • John D. Bullough Lighting Research Center, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
  • Robert Gerlach Pantochrome, Gerlach Consulting Inc.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.23738/ccsj.i102018.02

Keywords:

Full-field vision, Color perception, Architectural-scale experiment, Peripheral vision, Brightness perception, Metamers

Abstract

Luminous color used in architectural settings impacts our perception of space and ambiance. With light emitting diode, solid state lighting technology the possibilities of customizing light spectra are manifold, and colored light can be mixed and matched using a variety of different spectral compositions. We conducted several experiments at architectural scale to explore whether stimuli closely matched for chromaticity and light level would produce recognizable differences in visual and visceral qualities.

Study 1 used qualitative research methods; during the experiment, participants were free to walk from one illuminated space to another to compare conditions close-up and from afar. Study 2 used quantitative research methods; participants were situated in a fixed viewing location and responded to a questionnaire that was designed based on the responses from Study 1. In Study 3 blood pressure was measured in response to all of the lighting conditions.

Overall, the results showed that subjects perceived differences in the visual qualities of the conditions. The results also showed significant differences in affective qualities and physiological responses between some of the conditions.

Author Biographies

  • Ute Besenecker, School of Architecture, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

    Ute Besenecker is the Technical Manager for Lighting Quality at the DesignLights Consortium. Prior work spans product management in LED lighting, lighting and human factors research and design practice. She holds a Ph.D. in Architectural Sciences from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, as well as Master’s Degrees from the Lighting Research Center, Columbia University, Leibnitz Universität Hannover, and Polytechnico di Milano.

  • Ted Krueger, School of Architecture, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

    Ted Krueger is an Associate Professor of Architecture at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a researcher in the Center for Cognition, Communication and Culture. He holds a Ph.D. in Architecture (by design) from RMIT, and a professional Master of Architecture degree from Columbia University following an eclectic undergraduate education in the social sciences and the arts at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

  • Zachary Pearson, School of Architecture, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

    Zachary Pearson, a summa cum laude graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a Bachelor’s in Architecture received the 2018 Illuminating Engineering Society Merit Scholarship, and Honorable Mention in the International ISARCH competition. He recently debuted as an artist at the Tang Museum. An award-winning Choreographer and Competitive Ballroom Dancer, Zachary will be completing his Masters in Lighting Design in 2019.

  • John D. Bullough , Lighting Research Center, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

    John D. Bullough is the Director of Transportation and Safety Lighting Programs and an Adjunct Faculty Member at the Lighting Research Center, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He is a Fellow of the Illuminating Engineering Society and member of the Commission Internationale de l’Éclairage, Transportation Research Board, and the Society of Automotive Engineers. His research interests include human factors, visual performance, and glare.

  • Robert Gerlach , Pantochrome, Gerlach Consulting Inc.

    Robert Gerlach, President of Daylight Recovery works in both Entertainment Technology and Addiction Recovery. He is recognized as a leader and innovator in Solid-State Lighting, Human Color Perception, and Color Management with a track record of business and technology developments. He has a Master of Business Administration focused in Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations from Brigham Young University.

References

esenecker, U. C. and Bullough, J. D. (2017) ‘Investigating visual mechanisms underlying scene brightness’, Lighting Research and Technology, 49(1), pp. 16-32.

Besenecker, U.C., and Bullough, J. D. (2015) ‘Progress in modelling scene brightness’, in Proceedings of 28th CIE Session, Manchester, pp. 1511-1520.

Besenecker, U.C., and Krueger, T. (2015) ‘Luminous color in architecture: Exploring methodologies for design-relevant research’, Enquiry, 12(1), pp. 35-46.

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Published

2018-08-03

Issue

Vol. 10 (2018)

Section

Papers

License

The "Cultura e Scienza del Colore - Color Culture and Science" journal is registered at the Court of Milan at n.233 of 24.06.2014.

The journal is an open access journal, free for readers and authors and has joined ROAD, the Directory of Open Access scholarly Resources, since 2014. Articles published in the “Cultura e Scienza del Colore - Color Culture and Science" journal are open access articles, distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The copyright is retained by the author(s).

How to Cite

“The experience of equivalent luminous colors at architectural scale” (2018) Cultura e Scienza del Colore - Color Culture and Science, 10, pp. 13–20. doi:10.23738/ccsj.i102018.02.