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I’m not sure where there is a large demand for natural light amongst people who both can’t get it otherwise and are in a position to do something about it. Ev

I’m not sure where there is a large demand for natural light amongst people who both can’t get it otherwise and are in a position to do something about it. Every home I’ve had (including starter apartments and a basement bedroom) was well lit by natural light. Offices have been more problematic, but decision makers generally aren’t effected by it, almost universally having window offices. Factories (at least the few I’ve been at) are often heavily lit with natural light via skylights. That being said, there is probably a market in the higher end office design market and possibly for basements, like in the I like to make stuff video. I think the problem then is “how do I design around/with this product.” Designers and builders roughly know how to use existing lighting products. How do you utilize this artificial sunlight product in your lighting design. Those wall mounted led windows look cool, but I’d be super annoyed if my desk were facing them. The fresnel lens looks nice in that accent position, but if it got in people’s eyes or strained them it’s a problem. Finally, the two examples you showed are using stock led panels. As others have said, you can get some interesting effects from them, but I strongly suspect you’ll end up in the “uncanny valley” with that sort of lightning- the spectrum and consistency just isn’t quite right, the light doesn’t feel “warm” enough in the infrared, etc. Try it out- see if you can get a lighting setup you and others love. I suspect the product is restricted to the high end currently because it’s genuinely hard to get right in a way that doesn’t feel cheap or artificial. But I’d love to be proven wrong.

cycomanic 4y ago
It seems like you don't live very far up north. In southern Sweden where I am we have less than 8h of daylight and I would love a sunlight. I've toyed with the idea of building one when I watched one of the many videos mentioned, but we live in an apartment with little room for it atm.
- nicoburns 4y ago
  Yes, even in the south of the UK this is an issue. I imagine it's worse in Sweden!
stevage 4y ago
> I’m not sure where there is a large demand for natural light amongst people who both can’t get it otherwise and are in a position to do something about it. Owners of old houses, particularly in inner urban areas. Lots of old houses had small windows, to keep heat in. Or have been overshadowed by taller buildings being built nearby. Or both. Source: am one. > think the problem then is “how do I design around/with this product.” Designers and builders roughly know how to use existing lighting products. How do you utilize this artificial sunlight product in your lighting design. Those wall mounted led windows look cool, but I’d be super annoyed if my desk were facing them. The fresnel lens looks nice in that accent position, but if it got in people’s eyes or strained them it’s a problem. I'm imagining the market is people improving an existing room, perhaps even renters. So, designers and builders wouldn't really come into it.
- 8n4vidtmkvmk 4y ago
  sounds like it'd be easier to make the windows. bigger than replace them with artificial sunlights. unless it's already blocked by shadow
  - kristiandupont 4y ago
    Possibly but at least here in Denmark, there are lots of regulations regarding what you can do to your house, especially if it's an old one.
  - gommm 4y ago
    I have an older apartment in Lisbon, I cannot make any of the windows bigger without a permit and there's no way to get a permit (I know I've tried).
  - stevage 4y ago
    You obviously have no idea how expensive construction is in Melbourne.
- dx034 4y ago
  New houses aren't much better. Windows are much larger, but triple glazing windows keep a lot of light out. A winter in Europe will be dark in nearly any home.
closeparen 4y ago
Your standard multifamily unit is long and skinny with windows only on one short side (hallway on the other). Even if the window has great exposure, the light cannot penetrate far into the home unless the angle is perfect. In expensive cities even million dollar plus units are like this.
jacknews 4y ago
It's not just lack of windows. It gets dark at 4:30 or earlier at higher/lower lattitudes in winter, so there is demand for good lighting during the dark daytime. Those regions are often heavily overcast too.
wink 4y ago
The window in my office room at home is east/north with my desk already on south wall - I need to pull down the blinders to be able to work at all in the morning just from reflection from a white wall next to the window, and as my living room is next to this room we have meh light at best in the afternoon, especially in winter. So I can't really agree on it being well-lit, despite having actual windows on two sides of the apartment. Not to the point of complaining, but if only your kitchen (small, no table) and bedroom are on the west and you live in the northern hemispher... let's just say from a lighting perspective I've had 2 better apartments before this.

cycomanic 4y ago

It seems like you don't live very far up north. In southern Sweden where I am we have less than 8h of daylight and I would love a sunlight. I've toyed with the idea of building one when I watched one of the many videos mentioned, but we live in an apartment with little room for it atm.

nicoburns 4y ago
Yes, even in the south of the UK this is an issue. I imagine it's worse in Sweden!

stevage 4y ago

> I’m not sure where there is a large demand for natural light amongst people who both can’t get it otherwise and are in a position to do something about it. Owners of old houses, particularly in inner urban areas. Lots of old houses had small windows, to keep heat in. Or have been overshadowed by taller buildings being built nearby. Or both. Source: am one. > think the problem then is “how do I design around/with this product.” Designers and builders roughly know how to use existing lighting products. How do you utilize this artificial sunlight product in your lighting design. Those wall mounted led windows look cool, but I’d be super annoyed if my desk were facing them. The fresnel lens looks nice in that accent position, but if it got in people’s eyes or strained them it’s a problem. I'm imagining the market is people improving an existing room, perhaps even renters. So, designers and builders wouldn't really come into it.

8n4vidtmkvmk 4y ago
sounds like it'd be easier to make the windows. bigger than replace them with artificial sunlights. unless it's already blocked by shadow
- kristiandupont 4y ago
  Possibly but at least here in Denmark, there are lots of regulations regarding what you can do to your house, especially if it's an old one.
- gommm 4y ago
  I have an older apartment in Lisbon, I cannot make any of the windows bigger without a permit and there's no way to get a permit (I know I've tried).
- stevage 4y ago
  You obviously have no idea how expensive construction is in Melbourne.
dx034 4y ago
New houses aren't much better. Windows are much larger, but triple glazing windows keep a lot of light out. A winter in Europe will be dark in nearly any home.

closeparen 4y ago

Your standard multifamily unit is long and skinny with windows only on one short side (hallway on the other). Even if the window has great exposure, the light cannot penetrate far into the home unless the angle is perfect. In expensive cities even million dollar plus units are like this.

jacknews 4y ago

It's not just lack of windows. It gets dark at 4:30 or earlier at higher/lower lattitudes in winter, so there is demand for good lighting during the dark daytime. Those regions are often heavily overcast too.

wink 4y ago

The window in my office room at home is east/north with my desk already on south wall - I need to pull down the blinders to be able to work at all in the morning just from reflection from a white wall next to the window, and as my living room is next to this room we have meh light at best in the afternoon, especially in winter. So I can't really agree on it being well-lit, despite having actual windows on two sides of the apartment. Not to the point of complaining, but if only your kitchen (small, no table) and bedroom are on the west and you live in the northern hemispher... let's just say from a lighting perspective I've had 2 better apartments before this.