Rodrigues, S.R.M.C.;
(2012)
Evaluating problems in the appraisal of lighting quality: measuring the appearance of lit environments with new tools.
Doctoral thesis , UCL (University College London).
Abstract
The present investigation examined the appraisal of lighting quality. The literature review related to research on lighting quality that was performed in the investigation indicated that the methodology used in that research seemed to present some limitations that could have influenced its outcomes. Literature concerned with research on environmental psychology (which examined the appraisal of environmental quality) was also reviewed in the investigation and this showed that studies in that area appeared to share some of the main problems identified on studies concerned with lighting quality. Therefore, the investigation proposed a different methodology for the study of the appraisal of the appearance of lit environments. The investigation performed case studies on existing buildings. The setting of the investigation was Portuguese architecture under clear skies. Six buildings were selected for the case studies. These buildings displayed a variety of scenes, representing the full scope of environments encountered in Portuguese architecture. Data collection in the investigation comprised interviews, observations, photographic records and photometric measurements. The results obtained were observers' appraisals about the appearance of light, space, objects and people and, information regarding the lit scenes and the spaces. Observers' subjective impressions were gathered using a set of new tools that included both verbal and graphic tools. The analysis and discussion of results followed strategies suited for qualitative analysis. Comparisons between subjective and objective data were performed in order to gain meaning from the evidence collected. Findings showed that visual information created by lighting seemed to induce on observers diversified opinions about the appearance of the lit environments examined. Such findings confirmed that the methodology employed in previous studies into lighting quality had indeed some limitations and also showed that the methodology proposed by the investigation required refinement so to be increasingly successful in examining the appraisal of lighting quality.
Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
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Title: | Evaluating problems in the appraisal of lighting quality: measuring the appearance of lit environments with new tools |
Language: | English |
Additional information: | Permission for digitisation not received |
UCL classification: | |
URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1338990 |
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