Studies Note Healing Through Daylight
Exposure to daylight and window views within buildings is linked with decreases in recuperation times for hospitalized patients.
New York, NY (PRWEB) June 15, 2005 -- Building developers, architects,
hospital and city planners, and interior designers take note: according to Dr.
Asher Derman, building and design environmental consultant (Battery Park City,
AOL-Time Warner), a small but important group of recent medical and health care
related studies are beginning to link exposure to daylight and window views
within buildings with decreases in recuperation times for hospitalized
patients.
Previously, in somewhat parallel studies dealing with the
treatment of some forms of depression identified as Seasonal Affective Disorder,
a direct connection was established between morning light therapy and the
reduction of symptoms.
These new studies extend the healing impact that
daylight/sunshine and views have on specific physical conditions. The reasons
for these effects are still conjectural. Some explanations stress the role of
serotonin, the body’s circadian rhythm response to light, and possibly to the
role of Vitamin D., which is formed naturally in the body as a result of the UV
rays in sunlight.
In another correlation study, demographic and health
data were studied relative to select cancer deaths. Those who lived in
geographic areas with higher amounts of seasonal sunlight tended to die less
frequently of those cancers then those in geographic areas with lesser amounts
of daylight exposure.
These studies taken together begin to reinforce the
importance that day lighting interior spaces has, not only in reducing the need
for electric power and lighting, but in the role daylight has in maintaining
work productivity and the healing properties of medical facilities.
Dr.
Derman is a consultant to developers, architects, and engineers in the design of
high performance, sustainable building, and has worked as the environmental
consultant on projects such as AOL Time Warner on Columbus Circle, Scholastic
Inc. Manhattan headquarters, and Conde Nast Publishing in shaping their head
offices at Four Times Square. He is one of the authors of the Battery Park City
Environmental Residential Guidelines-the largest green residential complex in
the world. He is a founding member and current board member of the USGreen
Building Council/NY Chapter.
Dr. Derman's book of photographs, "The
Green Man in New York City, and other foliate heads," is a collection featuring
'Green'-oriented architectural ornaments from late 19th century buildings in
Manhattan characterized by sculpted heads surrounded by
foliage.
Sculptural images of Green Men began appearing in Western
architecture as early as the First Century AD and were widely used in Romanesque
and Gothic churches. In their most ancient manifestation, the Green Man
originated in mythology as a pagan forest archetype embodying growth, decay, and
resurrection/rebirth. Today they are a consistent reminder of the power of our
connection with nature and what we now call the environment.
These
buildings and their 'in your face' connectedness to nature, are disappearing
from our landscape.
To view images and for further information on "The
Green Man in New York City” visit www.greenmannyc.com
Contact:
Jacqueline
Herships
973-763-7555
e-mail protected from spam bots
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/6/prweb251378.htm