Visual delight in architecture : daylight, vision and view / Lisa Heschong.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction -- Part 1: Prediction -- Planetary rhythms -- Chronobiology and human health -- The evolving and aging eye -- The predictive brain -- Attention and insight -- Part 2: Perception -- Learning to see -- patterns of daylight illumination -- Designing with daylight -- Elements of view -- Part 3: Motivation -- Daylighting education -- Selling daylight -- Enduring urban forms -- The value of view -- Working with daylight -- Healing daylight -- Part 4: Meaning -- Iconic daylight and views -- Visions of nature -- Biophilia and technophilia -- Synthesis and next steps -- Conclusion: the case for visual delight.

"Visual Delight in Architecture examines the many ways that our lives are enriched by the presence of natural daylight illumination and window views within our buildings. It makes the case that appropriately timed exposure to daylight is essential to our health and well-being, tied to the very genetic foundations of our physiology and cognitive function. It then goes on to help the reader appreciate the subtlety, beauty and pleasures of well-daylit spaces and attractive window views, and how these are woven into the fabric of our daily sensory experiences, and determined by the design of our buildings, cities, and cultural perspectives. The book is written to engage and challenge a variety of readers, including all forms of building and urban designers, plus anyone interested in human health and wellbeing, from medical researchers to the occupants of all types of buildings. Examples range in detail from common everyday experiences to the latest findings in cognitive research. An important goal of the book is integration across perspectives, such as helping designers to become more comfortable with the scientific basis of their work, and scientists more curious about the design implications of their research"-- Provided by publisher.