Users’ Perception of Artificial Lighting in Interior Spaces: A Case Study of Office Buildings in F.U.T, Akure, Nigeria

Abstract

Lighting is a significant component in interior design due to its ability to enhance aesthetic value and create the feeling and ambience of a living space. The perception of a user is also an important factor to consider when designing the lighting of a space. Seventy (70) questionnaires were administered, and fifty-nine (59) were retrieved for analysis, with a response rate of 84.29%. These were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS, version 2021). Data gathered were analyzed using percentage, tables, Dendrogram, K Means, Two-step cluster analysis, and Factor Analysis. The study found that artificial lighting causes glare in some offices having too much intensity for an enclosed space which means that distribution factor may not be considered in computing the number of luminaries. Also, office spaces get dark when all artificial lights are switched off, this is caused by inadequate natural lighting, and positioning of windows. Furthermore, users of the spaces find artificial lighting encouraging and energizing and suggest that change of wall colors and redesign of artificial lighting fixtures based on the task to perform were the major ways to improve the lighting situation in office spaces. This study recommends that natural lighting should be adequately considered when designing a building for visual comfort. Also, the task to be performed in such interior spaces should be ultimately considered during the design of the artificial lighting fixtures. Keywords: Architecture, Artificial lighting, Interior design, Users Perceptions, Office buildings DOI: 10.7176/CER/14-4-05 Publication date: June 30 th 2022