Measuring Biophilic Design Impacts: Daylight Exposure and Circadian Rhythm in Work Settings

Yıl 2026, Cilt: 3 Sayı: 1, 43 - 59, 31.01.2026

İdil Bakır Küçükkaya , Deniz Hasırcı

https://doi.org/10.65775/livenarch.1714547

Öz

The increasing emphasis on integrating natural elements into interior spaces has made biophilic design a prominent approach in interior architecture, architecture, and design disciplines. This orientation has been further strengthened by the increased focus on nature in the post-COVID-19 era. In this context, sustainability concerns and biophilic strategies have gained greater importance in interior spaces, with daylight and natural lighting emerging as fundamental design parameters. Although the relationship between daylight exposure and human well-being has been widely discussed, differences and uncertainties in the definition of biophilic design have created a research environment dominated by qualitative approaches, limiting the transferability and practical applicability of findings to daylight-focused interior design in the workplace. Previous studies emphasize that the circadian rhythm is strongly regulated by exposure to daylight and is a critical factor affecting health, well-being, productivity, and sleep patterns throughout the life cycle in the workplace. Addressing these limitations, this study investigates the interaction between daylight, circadian rhythm, and biophilic design through a more objective and generalizable framework supported by mobile technologies. Data were analyzed using evidence-based research methods and contemporary technological tools, enabling a more unbiased assessment of biophilic design performance. The results demonstrate that increased exposure to daylight positively affects circadian regulation and improves sleep quality, particularly in terms of REM and deep sleep, thereby reinforcing the role of daylight in indoor work environments in supporting well-being and mood. Overall, the findings contribute to a clearer understanding of the connections between daylight conditions in indoor work environments and participants' circadian rhythms, offering implications for future research methodologies and design-oriented applications.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Biophilic Interior Design , Sustainability , Work Settings , Daylight , Circadian Rhythm

Etik Beyan

The article is produced from the (Ph.D. dissertation and BAP (2024-03) Scientific Research Project, titled, “Daylight as a Biophilic Design Element in Work Environments”, completed at (İzmir University of Economics, Graduate School, Design Studies Program, in 2025).

Destekleyen Kurum

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided by Izmir University of Economics through the Scientific Research Project funding process (BAP No. 2024-03).

Proje Numarası

BAP 2024-03

Teşekkür

The article complies with national and international research and publication ethics. This research was carried out with the permission of (İzmir University of Economics), (Graduate School/Design Studies/Institute/) with the decision numbered (B.30.2.ieü.0.05.05-020-339), dated in (22/01/2024).

Biyofilik Tasarımın Ölçülmesi: Ofis İç Mekanlarında Gün Işığı ve Sirkadiyen Ritim

Öz

Biyofilik tasarım, doğal unsurların yapılandırılmış çevrelere entegre edilmesini vurgulayan bir yaklaşımdır ve iç mimarlık, mimarlık ve tasarım alanlarında yaygın bir yaklaşım haline gelmiştir. Özellikle COVID-19 pandemisinden sonra, doğaya yönelme isteğiyle birlikte iç mekânlara doğal unsurlar ekleme arzusu artmıştır. Bu doğrultuda biyofilik tasarım ve sürdürülebilirlik konuları iç mekânlarda daha etkili hale gelmiştir. Işık ve doğal aydınlatma, bu konular arasında en önemlilerinden biridir. Ancak biyofilik tasarım tanımlarındaki tutarsızlıklar ve farklılıklar nedeniyle, çoğu çalışma niteliksel olup niceliksel çalışmalar sınırlıdır. Bu durum, biyofilik bağlamda gün ışığıyla tasarlanan iç mekânların genellenebilirliği ve pratik uygulamaları açısından zorluklar yaratmaktadır.

Literatüre göre, sirkadiyen ritim gün ışığından etkilenmekte olup yaşam döngüsü, sağlık, iyilik hali ve iş ortamında verimlilik açısından önemli bir bileşendir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, sirkadiyen ritim, gün ışığı ve biyofilik tasarım arasındaki ilişkiye daha nesnel ve genellenebilir bir bakış açısıyla, mobil teknolojiler aracılığıyla yaklaşmak ve bu ilişkiyi araştırma literatüründe karşılaştırılabilir hale getirmektir. Çalışmada elde edilen veriler, kanıta dayalı araştırma yöntemleri ve yapıcı teknolojik araçlar kullanılarak analiz edilmiştir. Kullanılan yöntemler, biyofilik tasarım çalışmalarını daha tarafsız hale getirmek amacıyla kullanılan yeni araçlar ve enstrümanlar hakkında yeni tartışma alanları açmaktadır.

Elde edilen bulgular, ofis iç mekânındaki gün ışığı ile kullanıcıların sirkadiyen ritimleri arasındaki bağlantıların özelliklerini, doğasını ve etkilerini yansıtmakta olup hem araştırma hem de tasarım uygulamaları için geleceğe yönelik yollar sunmaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Biyofilik iç mekan tasarımı , sürdürülebilirlik , günışığı , sirkadiyen ritim , İş ortamı

Proje Numarası

BAP 2024-03

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