EFFECTS OF DISTRIBUTION OF LIGHT ON THE EVALUATION OF A ROOM SHARED WITH ANOTHER PERSON

Abstract

This study applied the "prospect and refuge theory" in the light environment and examined the effects of non-uniform lighting on the evaluation of a room. In Experiment 1, pictures of a scale model of a room were evaluated. In Experiment 2, participants themselves adjusted the brightness of the lights on a scale model of a room. Results of Experiment 1 revealed that 1) the evaluation on the room related with subjective brightness as a whole room, 2) the impression of the room was evaluated positively when the stranger's position was brightly lit, 3) the rating on relaxation was higher when the their own position was not brightly lit and 4) participants rated the room as more prospect when the stranger's position was brightly lit and they rated the room as more refuge when the their own position was not brightly lit. Results of Experiment 2 revealed that 1) participants felt comfortable when the stranger's position was lit more brightly than their own position. However the difference of brightness was not salient and 2) to make the comfortable condition, both stranger's and own points needed to be brightly lit.