Mapping Danish lighting trends

Abstract

The goal of this paper is to provide information on Danish lighting trends.
The agenda is to present a method for documenting sensory qualities of
light, which are often described as subjective preferences and not documentable.

The impacts of light on the atmosphere are discussed against sociocultural
aspects of light. By analysing 3,483 images in the Danish trend magazine
BO BEDRE in the period 19612010, the study investigates the identifying
marks of arranging artificial light in a horizontal tripartition of a
space: High Lighting Zone (HIGH), Centre Lighting Zone (CENTRE) and Low
Lighting Zone (LOW). The results show that a horizontal tripartition can
be used to describe the various uses of light in Danish homes and, thereby,
the sociocultural trends in residential lighting. In the living room, dining
room, multifunctional rooms and rooms for sitting activities, lighting
placement dominates in the CENTRE. The HIGH and CENTRE are normally
used in rooms for standing activities. In rooms such as corridors and the
bathroom, most light is arranged in the HIGH, and finally the LOW characterizes
bedroom lighting.

Finally, the paper discusses results, advantages and disadvantages of
the analysis and the method for collecting data.