BASIC STUDY ON THE INFLUENCE OF THE RESTROOM CONTROLLING VISUAL CONDITION WITH ARTIFICIAL LIGHTING AND IMAGE ON OFFICE WORKER

Abstract

　Few previous studies have discussed how relationship between the residence environment of the restroom and subjective evaluation in order to propose the optimum space, while focusing on the lighting effects and the visual information. The purpose of this study was to investigate how the influence of the controlling lighting and image in the restroom, using subjective evaluation and physiological data, to design a newly restroom.

　Assuming to use the restroom during office work, we created a total of three spaces - "Relaxing", "Awaking" space, and "Refreshing" space (which made with combination of "Relaxing" and "Awaking" space). For lighting conditions, referring to the Kruithof curve, "Relaxing" space set up to low illuminance and color temperature, and "Awaking" space set up to high illuminance and color temperature. We also expected the effect of the image, we added the image of the forest in "Relaxing" space, and the sea in "Awaking" space.

　We conducted experimental procedure that simulated using restrooms during simple work, such as paperwork, or creative work, such as research, consulting. In experiments, the image of each space was evaluated with indoor impression evaluation. And we carried out kinds of physiological test (flicker test, heart rate change), psychological test (self-conscious fatigue, visual-analog scale) to measure changes due to entering the designed space, working tasks (improvement of work efficiency, creativity) to measure the effect of using the space.

　As a result of the test, the following was found:

1.　When the illuminance and the color temperature are sufficiently low space within the allowable range of the Kruithof curve and the image of the forest is projected, like "Relaxing" space, feeling such as "relaxation" and more, it was suggested that the relaxed words group was extended by indoor impression evaluation. As a concomitant change, a fatigue restoration effect was suggested to be seen, and the work efficiency might be improved.

2.　When the illuminance and the color temperature are sufficiently high within the allowable range of the Kruithof curve and the image of the sea is projected like "Awaking" space, feeling such as "freshness" and more, it was suggested that the awake words group was extended by indoor impression evaluation. As a concomitant change, attenuation of sleeping feeling was observed in the study of self-conscious fatigue, but the fatigue restoration effect was not seen, and few change in the work efficiency was tend to be seen.

3.　In the "Refreshing" space including the "Relaxing" and "Awaking" space, feeling such as "relaxation", "freshness" and more, it was suggested that the relaxed words group and the awaken words group are elongated in each indoor impression evaluation. And the more effects of the fatigue recovery and the work efficiency tended to be seen.

　From the result, it was suggested that the newly designed restroom might have the specific indoor impression evaluation, and might be provided better fatigue restoration effect, or work efficiency effect than with office or conventional restroom. However, we need more consideration about the effect on creativity by using designed restrooms, optimal switching time of refresh space, and more.