The ideal relationship between people and light (Part 1)

Most buildings have windows, and architects design with light in mind.

If you put a window on the south side, warm sunlight can pour in, and the window on the north side can bring in soft light. The transparent morning sun comes in from the east window, and from the west window, you can see the sad orange light that marks the end of the day in the evening.

People wake up in the morning light and sleep with the darkness. Our bodies are equipped with a biological rhythm called "circadian rhythm" according to the day and night cycle. This biological rhythm, which promotes good quality sleep and is the foundation of a healthy body and mind, is actually deeply related to light. In order to live a comfortable life, it is important to understand the mechanism of circadian rhythm and create a home that incorporates light well.

There are many people who say, "It's hard to fall asleep even if you go to bed at night" and "It's hard to wake up and your body is sluggish in the morning". Humans have a body clock, which controls the rhythm of sleep and wakefulness along with physical functions such as changes in hormone secretion, body temperature, and blood pressure. The daily cycle created by this internal clock is called "circadian rhythm", and one of the hormones deeply involved in light, sleep, and awakening is melatonin.

Melatonin increases secretion when it gets dark, and when it gets brighter, it is suppressed. As a result, people wake up naturally when it's bright, and when it's dark, they get sleepy. Therefore, if you stay in a bright environment until midnight, melatonin will continue to be suppressed, which will reduce the quality of sleep.

Recent studies have shown that the secretion of melatonin is affected not only by the amount of light entering the eyes, but also by the type of light. In daylight white lighting (5000K) and bulb-colored lighting (2300K), the increase in melatonin is most suppressed at 5000K, while the damage is less at 2300K.

People wake up with the morning light, and spend the night with a warm light like a candle. The ideal relationship between people and light is a life itself that is in lie with the providence of nature.

(Continue to the second part...)