Ellen Hansen - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Ellen Hansen
Indoor and Built Environment
The experiment was targeted to develop design strategies and methods by testing the complex inter... more The experiment was targeted to develop design strategies and methods by testing the complex interplay between the dynamics of daylight and electrical lighting in an office. The double dynamic lighting design concept is based on the idea of adding task lighting, with a directionality referring to the daylight inflow and a variation on direct/diffuse lighting and respective changes in colour temperature respond to sky conditions and daylight levels. The experiment was conducted in an office space at Aalborg University in Copenhagen from September to December 2019. Four participants moved in and worked in the office with four-week periods of respective standard static lighting as a baseline, and dynamic lighting. In a parallel mixed method approach with interviews and questionnaires, the dynamic lighting was compared to the baseline and to a control group. The results indicate that the dynamic lighting periods had a positive effect on visual comfort, perceived atmosphere and work engag...
Main topics in this category involves quality in briefing, design process, user involvement and t... more Main topics in this category involves quality in briefing, design process, user involvement and the impact on the architectural esthetical quality of the built environment in healthcare. Some papers have also a more theoretical perspective towards evidence-based design and how to integrate research in design processes. Main focus groups are administrators, client organisations and architects.
Sustainability
A holistic approach to daylight dynamics in our built environment can have beneficial outcomes fo... more A holistic approach to daylight dynamics in our built environment can have beneficial outcomes for both physiological and visual effects on humans. Simulations of how daylight variables affect light levels on the horizontal work plane are compared to their physiological effects, measured as melanopic EDI (Melanopic Equivalent Daylight Illuminance) on a vertical plane. The melanopic EDI levels were calculated in a simulated office space in ALFA software (Adaptive Lighting for Alertness) employing the daylight variables of orientation, time of day, season, sky conditions and spatial orientation. Results were analyzed for how daylight design can contribute to the physiological effects of dynamic light in office buildings. Daylight is shown to be a sufficient light source in the majority of cases to meet the recommended values of EDI and provide the suggested horizontal lx level according to the Danish Standards. A mapping of daylight conditions, focusing on the specific factors present...
Lecture Notes of the Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering
People currently exist mainly indoors, detached from their natural surroundings. During times of ... more People currently exist mainly indoors, detached from their natural surroundings. During times of rapid growth, globalization and digitalization, it has never been more important to investigate how to reconnect to our natural environment. In this paper we develop a design to investigate how a lighting design concept can act as a tool to understand the geometry of sunlight on Earth and thereby meet human needs to be in touch with the environment. A design is developed by redefining an ancient analogue technology, the sundial. The path of the Sun is translated into a design concept and is demonstrated in a three dimensional time and sight specific prototype. This design concept creates embodied experiences where viewers interact with their ever-changing daylight and surroundings. The aim with this exploratory design is to create a visual tool for learning about complex natural phenomena and understanding our relation to Earth and the Sun. It thereby discusses how a design can put humans in touch with their natural surroundings to satisfy individual biological needs in order to better understand contemporary environmental needs at large.
In Finland the social and health care sector is undergoing major changes. The percentage of elder... more In Finland the social and health care sector is undergoing major changes. The percentage of elderly population is growing due to longevity and low birth rates. Twice as many elderly need to be taken care of with the current amount of human and economic resources. New housing options to better support elderly and their family members have to be developed. The aim of the ongoing project is to develop a new model of a service block, with integrated care and housing. Pilot projects are developed in different size municipalities with several stakeholders. Local housing options are studied with attention to the user empowerment. Master level students in architecture will do their thesis in ten of the municipalities. The result of the project is a vision and a new model of elderly housing. The model will adapt to different size municipalities and will promote efficient use of existing infrastructure. It takes into account future resources and trends developed together with the stakeholders...
Lecture Notes of the Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering
Through a case study, this paper presents a new way of designing intelligent classroom lighting t... more Through a case study, this paper presents a new way of designing intelligent classroom lighting to meet the users' needs. A mix of ethnographic methods (field observations and interviews) were used to investigate the everyday learning activities at a middle school in Copenhagen in order to determine how lighting can support the learning environment. Based on the investigations, lighting design criteria and three predefined lighting scenes are proposed as a new design for meeting the needs of students and teachers during three types of activities. The scenes focus on smartboard visibility and on creating a visual focus on the teacher who is the centre of attention during most activities. It is hypothesised that if the scenes are used according to the different types of activities this would enable the teacher to create structure in the lessons and through this improve the behaviour of the students.
This article presents the results of a spatial experiment, which investigates the ambience potent... more This article presents the results of a spatial experiment, which investigates the ambience potential of coloured illuminations in architecture. The experiment took place over a period of two weeks, situated in a semi-laboratory setting of a performance art installation. Qualitative methods inspired by sensory ethnography and cultural probes were applied to grasp the fullness and originality of human bodily sensations of coloured illumination by exploring its effects on participants’ perception of body-space interaction. During the days of experimentation participants were interviewed on their bodily sensation in and perception of a space, while being blindfolded and exposed to three different hues of illumination; red, blue and amber. Findings from the experiment showed how participants sensed their bodies and perceived the space around them in a comparatively different manner in relation to the different hues of illumination, independently of being blindfolded or not. By this, the ...
Lecture Notes of the Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering, 2021
People currently exist mainly indoors, detached from their natural surroundings. During times of ... more People currently exist mainly indoors, detached from their natural surroundings. During times of rapid growth, globalization and digitalization, it has never been more important to investigate how to reconnect to our natural environment. In this paper we develop a design to investigate how a lighting design concept can act as a tool to understand the geometry of sunlight on Earth and thereby meet human needs to be in touch with the environment. A design is developed by redefining an ancient analogue technology, the sundial. The path of the Sun is translated into a design concept and is demonstrated in a three dimensional time and sight specific prototype. This design concept creates embodied experiences where viewers interact with their ever-changing daylight and surroundings. The aim with this exploratory design is to create a visual tool for learning about complex natural phenomena and understanding our relation to Earth and the Sun. It thereby discusses how a design can put human...
In higher education, transdisciplinary master programs have been developed to afford students to ... more In higher education, transdisciplinary master programs have been developed to afford students to combine knowledge and methodologies from different fields and thereby develop an understanding of how to create new innovative solutions. An international and transdisciplinary science and engineering master programme in Lighting Design (LiD) at Aalborg University (AAU) in Copenhagen, bases its teaching on problem-based learning (PBL) and a process model “The Lighting Design Experiment” (LDE), which integrates innovation processes and design research methodologies [1] [2]. Knowledge and methods from the fields of architecture, media technology and lighting engineering are to be synthesized and applied into a problem-based semester project. To investigate to which degree students do consider creativity and innovation as integrated parts of their semester projects, a survey was carried out with 20 students from seven semester project groups, looking for aspects within two creativity compon...
For students starting at a master program where transdisciplinary processes are an integrated par... more For students starting at a master program where transdisciplinary processes are an integrated part of the curriculum, it can be a difficult adaption when they have to mix methods and theories across boundaries. The overall questions dealt with in this paper are how to introduce students to understand and use the transdisciplinary approach through a problem based design project, and how to give the students a meaningful and engaging introduction to their future study. The theory behind the pedagogical approach Problem Based Learning (PBL) is reflected in a “Kick-off Project” from a new transdisciplinary master programme in Lighting Design. During the project the transdisciplinary elements of creating meaning and value through lighting design, the important elements of PBL and the process of applying this through a playful process model developing and realizing a 1:1 lighting design project in a specific context will be introduced. The results show that it is possible for students to ...
Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology
This paper presents the results of a field study on the use of lighting as a tool to structure an... more This paper presents the results of a field study on the use of lighting as a tool to structure and support teaching and learning activities by teachers. In a Danish elementary school, a dynamic lighting technology with the option of choosing four different lighting scenarios was installed in classrooms. The teachers' use of the lighting was studied combining qualitative research material from observations and interviews and quantitative data from the lighting control system which indicated the teachers' choices for lighting scenarios. As a result, different types of motivations for interacting with lighting emerged in the analysis: Supporting and structuring learning activities; Communicating with lighting and involving students; Affecting students activity level and behavior; Creating atmosphere; and Supporting visual task and visual comfort. All these motivational aspects should be considered when designing dynamic lighting systems for learning environments, thus creating a new interactive tool for teachers.
Ambiances
General rights Copyright and moral rights for the publications made accessible in the public port... more General rights Copyright and moral rights for the publications made accessible in the public portal are retained by the authors and/or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. ? Users may download and print one copy of any publication from the public portal for the purpose of private study or research. ? You may not further distribute the material or use it for any profit-making activity or commercial gain ? You may freely distribute the URL identifying the publication in the public portal ? The Ambience Potential of Coloured Illuminations in Architecture A spatial experiment exploring bodily sensations Le potentiel de l'ambiance d'illuminations colorées dans l'architecture. Une expérience spatiale explorant les sensations corporelles
LEUKOS
Human perception and vision have evolved in response to dynamic daylight, a combination of radiat... more Human perception and vision have evolved in response to dynamic daylight, a combination of radiation from direct sunlight and diffuse skylight, which has created a flow of variations in light, in terms of direct:diffuse distribution, intensities and spectrum. This study investigates the qualities of the flow of light in an office after adding ceiling-mounted spotlights (32° tilt angle) to traditional diffuse ceiling panels. The intention is to create a flow of task light-a light-zone at each work-plane-complementing the directionality of the natural daylight inflow from the windows. An experiment was carried out in an office, in two parts. Four ratios of direct:diffuse light were tested by 30 people. Then one ratio was tested in five combinations of high, neutral and low color temperatures by 15 people in two daylight situations: overcast and clear sky. The visual light quality and perceived atmosphere of the office environment was tested through questionnaires, reaction cards and semistructured interviews. The direct flow of light is recommended to be more than 15% of the total illuminance at the work-plane to provide the distinct visual appearance of modeling and a cozier atmosphere, which is preferable for socializing, and less than 45% to avoid glare and high contrast for visual tasks. Direct warm and diffuse cool lighting were perceived as the most natural but were not always preferred. There is an indication of slight preference for cooler ambient lighting in clear sky situations and warmer ambient lighting in overcast situations. Especially the preference in relation to sky conditions needs to be further investigated. A field study will implement these findings in a double dynamic lighting concept responding to daylight level and sky character. Strong individual preferences for combinations of color temperatures was identified, this open up new research areas for personalized flows of light in future dynamic lighting designs.
Lecture Notes of the Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering
Through the last decades there has been a growing interest in quantitative assessment of building... more Through the last decades there has been a growing interest in quantitative assessment of building performance in line with the technical and practical development of sustainable buildings. Now, contours of a more holistic approach to sustainable buildings begin to emerge, for instance in the Active House vision, and the technological and practical development follow suit. The holistic approach calls for new ways to assess and evaluate our buildings, not solely based on quantitative means but particularly also based on qualitative means, so we can determine qualities and life improving factors in order to develop sustainable, energy-producing, CO2neutral buildings, with good and healthy indoor climate, designed with regard to the surrounding environment. In this paper we will review existing quantitative evaluation methods and study state-of-the-art in qualitative evaluation methods. We will discuss potential in a holistic evaluation method as a symbiosis of quantitative and qualitative assessment with the objective to evaluate sustainable buildings.
Indoor and Built Environment
The experiment was targeted to develop design strategies and methods by testing the complex inter... more The experiment was targeted to develop design strategies and methods by testing the complex interplay between the dynamics of daylight and electrical lighting in an office. The double dynamic lighting design concept is based on the idea of adding task lighting, with a directionality referring to the daylight inflow and a variation on direct/diffuse lighting and respective changes in colour temperature respond to sky conditions and daylight levels. The experiment was conducted in an office space at Aalborg University in Copenhagen from September to December 2019. Four participants moved in and worked in the office with four-week periods of respective standard static lighting as a baseline, and dynamic lighting. In a parallel mixed method approach with interviews and questionnaires, the dynamic lighting was compared to the baseline and to a control group. The results indicate that the dynamic lighting periods had a positive effect on visual comfort, perceived atmosphere and work engag...
Main topics in this category involves quality in briefing, design process, user involvement and t... more Main topics in this category involves quality in briefing, design process, user involvement and the impact on the architectural esthetical quality of the built environment in healthcare. Some papers have also a more theoretical perspective towards evidence-based design and how to integrate research in design processes. Main focus groups are administrators, client organisations and architects.
Sustainability
A holistic approach to daylight dynamics in our built environment can have beneficial outcomes fo... more A holistic approach to daylight dynamics in our built environment can have beneficial outcomes for both physiological and visual effects on humans. Simulations of how daylight variables affect light levels on the horizontal work plane are compared to their physiological effects, measured as melanopic EDI (Melanopic Equivalent Daylight Illuminance) on a vertical plane. The melanopic EDI levels were calculated in a simulated office space in ALFA software (Adaptive Lighting for Alertness) employing the daylight variables of orientation, time of day, season, sky conditions and spatial orientation. Results were analyzed for how daylight design can contribute to the physiological effects of dynamic light in office buildings. Daylight is shown to be a sufficient light source in the majority of cases to meet the recommended values of EDI and provide the suggested horizontal lx level according to the Danish Standards. A mapping of daylight conditions, focusing on the specific factors present...
Lecture Notes of the Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering
People currently exist mainly indoors, detached from their natural surroundings. During times of ... more People currently exist mainly indoors, detached from their natural surroundings. During times of rapid growth, globalization and digitalization, it has never been more important to investigate how to reconnect to our natural environment. In this paper we develop a design to investigate how a lighting design concept can act as a tool to understand the geometry of sunlight on Earth and thereby meet human needs to be in touch with the environment. A design is developed by redefining an ancient analogue technology, the sundial. The path of the Sun is translated into a design concept and is demonstrated in a three dimensional time and sight specific prototype. This design concept creates embodied experiences where viewers interact with their ever-changing daylight and surroundings. The aim with this exploratory design is to create a visual tool for learning about complex natural phenomena and understanding our relation to Earth and the Sun. It thereby discusses how a design can put humans in touch with their natural surroundings to satisfy individual biological needs in order to better understand contemporary environmental needs at large.
In Finland the social and health care sector is undergoing major changes. The percentage of elder... more In Finland the social and health care sector is undergoing major changes. The percentage of elderly population is growing due to longevity and low birth rates. Twice as many elderly need to be taken care of with the current amount of human and economic resources. New housing options to better support elderly and their family members have to be developed. The aim of the ongoing project is to develop a new model of a service block, with integrated care and housing. Pilot projects are developed in different size municipalities with several stakeholders. Local housing options are studied with attention to the user empowerment. Master level students in architecture will do their thesis in ten of the municipalities. The result of the project is a vision and a new model of elderly housing. The model will adapt to different size municipalities and will promote efficient use of existing infrastructure. It takes into account future resources and trends developed together with the stakeholders...
Lecture Notes of the Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering
Through a case study, this paper presents a new way of designing intelligent classroom lighting t... more Through a case study, this paper presents a new way of designing intelligent classroom lighting to meet the users' needs. A mix of ethnographic methods (field observations and interviews) were used to investigate the everyday learning activities at a middle school in Copenhagen in order to determine how lighting can support the learning environment. Based on the investigations, lighting design criteria and three predefined lighting scenes are proposed as a new design for meeting the needs of students and teachers during three types of activities. The scenes focus on smartboard visibility and on creating a visual focus on the teacher who is the centre of attention during most activities. It is hypothesised that if the scenes are used according to the different types of activities this would enable the teacher to create structure in the lessons and through this improve the behaviour of the students.
This article presents the results of a spatial experiment, which investigates the ambience potent... more This article presents the results of a spatial experiment, which investigates the ambience potential of coloured illuminations in architecture. The experiment took place over a period of two weeks, situated in a semi-laboratory setting of a performance art installation. Qualitative methods inspired by sensory ethnography and cultural probes were applied to grasp the fullness and originality of human bodily sensations of coloured illumination by exploring its effects on participants’ perception of body-space interaction. During the days of experimentation participants were interviewed on their bodily sensation in and perception of a space, while being blindfolded and exposed to three different hues of illumination; red, blue and amber. Findings from the experiment showed how participants sensed their bodies and perceived the space around them in a comparatively different manner in relation to the different hues of illumination, independently of being blindfolded or not. By this, the ...
Lecture Notes of the Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering, 2021
People currently exist mainly indoors, detached from their natural surroundings. During times of ... more People currently exist mainly indoors, detached from their natural surroundings. During times of rapid growth, globalization and digitalization, it has never been more important to investigate how to reconnect to our natural environment. In this paper we develop a design to investigate how a lighting design concept can act as a tool to understand the geometry of sunlight on Earth and thereby meet human needs to be in touch with the environment. A design is developed by redefining an ancient analogue technology, the sundial. The path of the Sun is translated into a design concept and is demonstrated in a three dimensional time and sight specific prototype. This design concept creates embodied experiences where viewers interact with their ever-changing daylight and surroundings. The aim with this exploratory design is to create a visual tool for learning about complex natural phenomena and understanding our relation to Earth and the Sun. It thereby discusses how a design can put human...
In higher education, transdisciplinary master programs have been developed to afford students to ... more In higher education, transdisciplinary master programs have been developed to afford students to combine knowledge and methodologies from different fields and thereby develop an understanding of how to create new innovative solutions. An international and transdisciplinary science and engineering master programme in Lighting Design (LiD) at Aalborg University (AAU) in Copenhagen, bases its teaching on problem-based learning (PBL) and a process model “The Lighting Design Experiment” (LDE), which integrates innovation processes and design research methodologies [1] [2]. Knowledge and methods from the fields of architecture, media technology and lighting engineering are to be synthesized and applied into a problem-based semester project. To investigate to which degree students do consider creativity and innovation as integrated parts of their semester projects, a survey was carried out with 20 students from seven semester project groups, looking for aspects within two creativity compon...
For students starting at a master program where transdisciplinary processes are an integrated par... more For students starting at a master program where transdisciplinary processes are an integrated part of the curriculum, it can be a difficult adaption when they have to mix methods and theories across boundaries. The overall questions dealt with in this paper are how to introduce students to understand and use the transdisciplinary approach through a problem based design project, and how to give the students a meaningful and engaging introduction to their future study. The theory behind the pedagogical approach Problem Based Learning (PBL) is reflected in a “Kick-off Project” from a new transdisciplinary master programme in Lighting Design. During the project the transdisciplinary elements of creating meaning and value through lighting design, the important elements of PBL and the process of applying this through a playful process model developing and realizing a 1:1 lighting design project in a specific context will be introduced. The results show that it is possible for students to ...
Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology
This paper presents the results of a field study on the use of lighting as a tool to structure an... more This paper presents the results of a field study on the use of lighting as a tool to structure and support teaching and learning activities by teachers. In a Danish elementary school, a dynamic lighting technology with the option of choosing four different lighting scenarios was installed in classrooms. The teachers' use of the lighting was studied combining qualitative research material from observations and interviews and quantitative data from the lighting control system which indicated the teachers' choices for lighting scenarios. As a result, different types of motivations for interacting with lighting emerged in the analysis: Supporting and structuring learning activities; Communicating with lighting and involving students; Affecting students activity level and behavior; Creating atmosphere; and Supporting visual task and visual comfort. All these motivational aspects should be considered when designing dynamic lighting systems for learning environments, thus creating a new interactive tool for teachers.
Ambiances
General rights Copyright and moral rights for the publications made accessible in the public port... more General rights Copyright and moral rights for the publications made accessible in the public portal are retained by the authors and/or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. ? Users may download and print one copy of any publication from the public portal for the purpose of private study or research. ? You may not further distribute the material or use it for any profit-making activity or commercial gain ? You may freely distribute the URL identifying the publication in the public portal ? The Ambience Potential of Coloured Illuminations in Architecture A spatial experiment exploring bodily sensations Le potentiel de l'ambiance d'illuminations colorées dans l'architecture. Une expérience spatiale explorant les sensations corporelles
LEUKOS
Human perception and vision have evolved in response to dynamic daylight, a combination of radiat... more Human perception and vision have evolved in response to dynamic daylight, a combination of radiation from direct sunlight and diffuse skylight, which has created a flow of variations in light, in terms of direct:diffuse distribution, intensities and spectrum. This study investigates the qualities of the flow of light in an office after adding ceiling-mounted spotlights (32° tilt angle) to traditional diffuse ceiling panels. The intention is to create a flow of task light-a light-zone at each work-plane-complementing the directionality of the natural daylight inflow from the windows. An experiment was carried out in an office, in two parts. Four ratios of direct:diffuse light were tested by 30 people. Then one ratio was tested in five combinations of high, neutral and low color temperatures by 15 people in two daylight situations: overcast and clear sky. The visual light quality and perceived atmosphere of the office environment was tested through questionnaires, reaction cards and semistructured interviews. The direct flow of light is recommended to be more than 15% of the total illuminance at the work-plane to provide the distinct visual appearance of modeling and a cozier atmosphere, which is preferable for socializing, and less than 45% to avoid glare and high contrast for visual tasks. Direct warm and diffuse cool lighting were perceived as the most natural but were not always preferred. There is an indication of slight preference for cooler ambient lighting in clear sky situations and warmer ambient lighting in overcast situations. Especially the preference in relation to sky conditions needs to be further investigated. A field study will implement these findings in a double dynamic lighting concept responding to daylight level and sky character. Strong individual preferences for combinations of color temperatures was identified, this open up new research areas for personalized flows of light in future dynamic lighting designs.
Lecture Notes of the Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering
Through the last decades there has been a growing interest in quantitative assessment of building... more Through the last decades there has been a growing interest in quantitative assessment of building performance in line with the technical and practical development of sustainable buildings. Now, contours of a more holistic approach to sustainable buildings begin to emerge, for instance in the Active House vision, and the technological and practical development follow suit. The holistic approach calls for new ways to assess and evaluate our buildings, not solely based on quantitative means but particularly also based on qualitative means, so we can determine qualities and life improving factors in order to develop sustainable, energy-producing, CO2neutral buildings, with good and healthy indoor climate, designed with regard to the surrounding environment. In this paper we will review existing quantitative evaluation methods and study state-of-the-art in qualitative evaluation methods. We will discuss potential in a holistic evaluation method as a symbiosis of quantitative and qualitative assessment with the objective to evaluate sustainable buildings.