When we talk about healthy housing, we usually think of natural materials, ventilation or absence of toxics.
But there is an equally important and often ignored factor.: the light.
And we're not just talking about having good natural lighting or quality light bulbs.. We talk about light spectrum and how it influences our body depending on the time of day.
We are not designed to live under any type of lighting and this is something that we are very aware of in bioarchitecture..
Healthy house and chronobiological system: the light that regulates your body
Our eye not only “sees”. It also sends information to the brain about the full spectrum of light it receives.. This information regulates our chronobiological system.
In the morning, when the luminosity and the blue component of the light increase until midday, the body activates. The production of serotonin, an essential neurotransmitter that influences mood, the concentration, energy and emotional regulation. Lack of serotonin can lead to the appearance of depression and other imbalances.
The opposite happens at night..
When the light decreases and the blue component disappears, the body begins to produce melatonin, the hormone that regulates sleep quality, strengthens the immune system, acts as a powerful antioxidant.
And there is something fundamental: Melatonin is derived from serotonin. Night balance begins with correct exposure to light during the day.
This is also sustainable architecture applied to well-being.
The problem of artificial blue light in modern homes
The imbalance appears when we overexpose ourselves to intense, bluish artificial light at night..
The shortest wavelengths (blue zone of the spectrum) They are absorbed with greater intensity by the photosensitive ganglion cells of the retina.
The brain interprets that it is daytime and we wake up when we should calm down.. We sleep worse and weaken the immune system.
The problem is that we spend most of our lives indoors.. Many times we only perceive the passing of the day through a window (and the glass does not allow the entire solar spectrum to pass through).
A poorly designed home can completely disconnect us from the natural rhythm..
Bioarchitetura: design spaces that respect natural cycles
this is where the bioarchitetura makes the difference again. Designing a healthy home involves:
- Good solar orientation
- Deep entry of natural light
- Contrasts and variations throughout the day
- Avoid flat and homogeneous interiors
- Create spaces that accompany the biological rhythm
Natural light is a physiological need and a healthy house must allow the body to feel the dawn, noon and sunset.
Sustainable architecture and conscious artificial lighting
We know that artificial light will never replace natural light but that does not mean we should ignore it..
We have normalized being exposed to blue light until just before going to sleep: screens, white ceilings illuminated with cool LEDs, baths with intense light… It is a deeply harmful habit.
In a work or renovation with criteria of bioarchitetura, lighting design must adapt to:
- – Use of space
- – Time of day
- – color temperature
- – Intensity
- – Distribution of light points
For example:
- – During the day → neutral or slightly cold lights
- – Afternoon → warm and reddish tones to promote melatonin
And other factors that we have talked about previously and that are also important:
- – Color rendering index (CRI)
- – Real quality of the light spectrum
- – No flicker (flicker)
Nuestra Newsletter
Sign up and you will receive an email with Reflections, Learning and experiences of my path like bioarchitecta and entrepreneur conscious. I accompany you to create a most consistent life, One more house healthy and a project with purpose.
We are already a community of thousands of people committed to better inhabiting this world, in harmony and with ourselves. Do you join?
Design the light for your well-being, not just for aesthetics
If you are thinking about renovating or building your home or have projects in your studio that you want to improve, lighting should not be decided at the end.
A healthy home is not just about eliminating toxins. It's about aligning space with your biology.
That's why we created the Guide to the 7 Construction Decisions for a Healthy and Natural House.
You don't need to do everything today, but yes start doing it differently.
A hug,
Carmen Vazquez
Bioarchitect and founder of Habitabio
