The Impact of Lighting Design on Visual Comfort in Architectural Design Studios

Abstract

Lighting design, including both daylight and artificial light, significantly influence visual comfort and productivity of users, particularly in educational environments. Architecture students, for instance, spend most of their time in the studio, engaging in various activities. Each of these activities requires adequate illumination, especially for drawing and painting tasks. This study aims to evaluate the lighting quality in two design studios within the Department of Architecture at Umm Al-Qura University in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. In addition, it aims to realize the relationship between the illuminance design and the visual perception of the students. Data were collected through observation to obtain physical studio data and existing lighting design. DiaLux evo 12.1 software is used to simulate the lighting performance. User perception of the studio quality was obtained through a questionnaire distributed to students. The results show that the below-standard illumination level reflects on the students' responses. The study concluded that to create visually comfortable learning environments, task lighting should be utilized to ensure uniformity, and sunshades should be installed to mitigate harsh sunlight.