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Skylights for Everyone: Productivity-Boosting Optical Illusions for the Office (and Beyond)

By erika - July 16, 2014

in Lighting

An installation at Kingwood Medical in Houston, Texas

For those of us who live on the top floors of the pre-war walk-up buildings that line the streets of certain New York neighborhoods, a skylight can be a perk—not enough to make up for the five flights of stairs, perhaps, but at very least a welcome source of light. But the upshot of a skylight isn't just illumination: Not only has it been scientifically proven that natural light boosts productivity levels, it's also good for morale and mental health. Unfortunately, most office buildings weren't designed with white collar vitamin D deficiency in mind. This is where Sky Factory comes into play with their "embedded" skylights.

The impact of Revelation SkyCeiling in an office space

Sky Factory is based in Fairfield, Iowa—and take it from an Iowa native, no one knows the big blue better than the those of us who live against a backdrop of never-ending corn fields. The cerulean ceiling projections are designed to produce psychophysiological relaxation responses. In other words, the simulated natural light may well get you through that moment of midday work panic or waiting room purgatory.

Measuring in at 8’×8’, the company's recently launched Revelation SkyCeiling features their biggest panels to date. The light is comprised of four layers: a fluorescent lighting system, an acrylic tile featuring a photographic reproduction of the sky, "elevators" that gives the system structural depth into the ceiling, and a customized ceiling grid to top it all off (see the exploded view of a similar product here). While diaphanous clouds and a blue sky are a given, scenes can also include sunlit trees, which fauna-deprived New Yorkers might appreciate more than anything.

The COSEM Auber reception lounge in Paris, France

According to the press release, the launch of the Revelation SkyCeiling coincides with the publication of a recent study, "Neural Correlates of Nature Stimuli: An fMRI Study," in the Winter 2014 issue of the Health Environments Research & Design Journal. "The study explored the unique neural pathways involved in the perception of open sky photography, a key component in the design of virtual skylights that deepen biophilic engagement." (No word on whether Sky Factory's offerings incorporate the lighting innovation we noted just a couple of months ago.)

Another angle of the COSEM Auber reception lounge in Paris, France

While there aren't enough skylights in the world to get us excited for Monday mornings, this could be a step in the right direction. One can only hope that they'll offer stormier variations on the sunny skied panels—just think of the fun you could have with unsuspecting visitors and a killer storm depiction.

The impact of Revelation SkyCeiling in a retail space

Architizer seems convinced that this is the "finest and most realistic example of imitation skies available in architecture since the painstakingly rendered frescoes we all love to admire." Ok, but I just can't seem to kick memories of those kitschy "moving mirrors"—you know, the ones that most commonly feature exotic waterfalls and beach scenes—out of my head.

Via Architizer

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David Navarrete

9 years ago

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It is worth pointing out that Sky Factory's virtual skylights are designed to engage areas of the brain involved in spatial cognition. Peer-reviewed research on illusions of nature have earned international awards such as the Design & Health International Academy Award for Best Research Project of 2014. There's a reason why only our installations have won international architectural awards.

As to your point, why not project exactly what's above the ceiling? Projecting the actual sky above any metropolitan center will yield a pale, not-so-blue sky that is high in pollutants, distorting the sky's actual hue and color saturation. Part of what makes our Open Sky Compositions compelling is the richer, deep blue of high altitude skies that trigger the non-visual biological effects of light in our circadian rhythm. (There's a receptor in our eye that identifies this light frequency or color temperature to trigger biophilic engagement.)

There are over 20 design parameters to consider in triggering a biophilic response. The core physiological benefit of a biophilic illusion has to do with its spatial component, mitigating the deleterious effects of enclosed interiors.

As for the second comment, we do have a line of Digital Cinema products featuring real-time dynamic motion of sky events. However, the power of biophilic illusions is not in whether they are in motion or not, or whether they reflect what's outside the building--that's why they are illusions! Their healing power comes from creating a palpable sense of open, undisturbed sky as part of the perceived external perimeter. This effect, when achieved, provides multiple cognitive benefits.

Also, the "lighting innovation" referenced in the article does not change the perceived dimensions of the environment as the "skylight effect" is achieved by directing the observer's attention within the space--to follow the simulated sun light moving across the room--rather than set one's gaze "outdoors" by providing a neurological stimulating biophilic composition. Moving light around within a room may mimic sunlight, but it is completely different from creating a palpable sense of open skies above you.

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powers

10 years ago

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Or why not even figure out a way to get the panels to project exactly what is happening above the ceiling they are installed in? I agree with kostas, this is fairly obvious, and have even seen it done in my local same-day vinyl print shop. And upon further thought, I can't help but think of those scenes in the movie "Brazil" wherein the sides of the road were paneled in billboards of beautiful countryside, but the environment behind them was trashed.
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kostas

10 years ago

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I wonder why the IDs behind this won't go any further: sky images should change according to time and season. What if I enter the room late at night while snowing outside and I see a summer sunny sky above my head? I'll have convulsions instead of "relaxation responses"!
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