The design of lights and colors within the environments lived by people suffering from neurodegenerative diseases - and in particular by frail elderly people suffering from Alzheimer's disease - can lead to a series of health benefits. This thesis collects a series of researches and studies carried out both in the medical and design fields, analyzing this "hybrid" field which lies on the border between health and design. There is various scientific evidence that attests to the positive influence of lights and colors in people's lives, especially for those who are in need under the medical point of view. Concerning colors and their "effect", several studies have highlighted the existing relationship between well-being and colours: they can be implemented in the space in the form of wall and architectural decorations, and, depending on the shade chosen, health effects may be different; it has been discovered that "cold" pastel tones can contribute to achieving a state of calm and tranquility, while "warmer" and brighter tones have been associated with symptoms such as increased blood pressure and greater agitation. This evidence has led, over time, to the creation of medical environments with a less sterile and more welcoming appearance, with notable positive implications. Beneficial effects also occur with the inclusion of vegetation elements within the spaces inhabited by patients, which according to some studies should reduce the period of hospitalization, shortening the time required for recovery. The benefits linked to light, however, lead to the exploration of a decidedly more complex field which still requires further investigation: in fact, numerous lines of distinction must be drawn, mainly between natural and artificial light (whose beneficial or collateral effects may differ), and between light "in space" (therefore the actual lighting design) and light for healing (mostly in the medical field). A series of international studies and examples were therefore collected in order to better understand what role the lighting project can have in the lives of people suffering from neurodegenerative diseases, with an eye towards dementia and Alzheimer's (which is associated with greater progress in scientific research). Although many studies promote and elevate natural light to a true "means of treatment", others highlight potential benefits in artificial lighting, as long as it respects the patients' circadian cycle. And it is precisely in this phase of the research that it is interesting to note the slow and gradual imposition of a lighting design that is more "anthropocentric", more attentive to the needs of human beings. At the end of the study, a brief investigation was carried out on two of the most famous methods for managing the spaces lived by frail elderly people, the Montessori Method and the Gentlecare Model, two systems capable of guaranteeing the maximum possible psychophysical well-being. To put into practice what was previously researched, a brief project has been realized, concerning the spaces of the RSA in Carpenedolo, in particular one of its bedrooms, one corridor and its living room.
La progettazione di illuminazione e colore all’interno degli ambienti vissuti da persone affette da malattie neurodegenerative - ed in particolare dagli anziani fragili affetti da Morbo di Alzheimer - può portare ad una serie di benefici sulla salute. Questa tesi raccoglie una serie di ricerche e studi effettuati sia nel campo medico, che in quello del design, analizzando questo ambito “ibrido” che si trova al confine tra salute e progettazione. Sono diverse le evidenze scientifiche che attestano l’influenza positiva di luci e colori nella vita delle persone, soprattutto per chi manifesta delle fragilità dal punto di vista medico. Per quanto riguarda i colori ed il loro “effetto”, diversi studi hanno messo in risalto la relazione esistente tra benessere e cromie: esse possono essere implementate nello spazio sotto forma di tinte e decorazioni murali ed architettoniche, e, a seconda della tonalità scelta, gli effetti sulla salute possono essere diversi; si è scoperto che toni pastello “freddi” possono contribuire al raggiungimento di uno stato di calma e tranquillità, mentre a toni più “caldi” e accesi si sono associati sintomi come l’aumento di pressione sanguigna e maggiore agitazione. Queste evidenze hanno portato, nel corso del tempo, alla creazione di ambienti medici dall’aspetto meno sterile e più accoglienti, con notevoli risvolti positivi. Effetti benefici si hanno anche con l’inclusione di elementi vegetali all’interno degli spazi abitati dai malati, che secondo alcuni studi dovrebbe ridurre il periodo di degenza, accorciando i tempi richiesti per la guarigione. I benefici legati alla luce, invece, portano all’esplorazione di un campo decisamente più complesso e che necessita ancora di ulteriori approfondimenti: si devono infatti tracciare infatti numerose linee di distinzione, principalmente tra luce naturale ed artificiale (che possono avere effetti benefici o collaterali anche diversi), e tra luce “nello spazio” (quindi la progettazione illuminotecnica vera e propria) e luce per curare (perlopiù in campo medico). Sono quindi stati raccolti una serie di studi internazionali e di esempi al fine di comprendere meglio quale ruolo possa avere il progetto illuminotecnico nella vita delle persone affette da malattie neurodegenerative, con un occhio di riguardo verso le demenze e l’Alzheimer (alle quali è associato un maggior progresso nella ricerca scientifica). Sebbene molti studi promuovano ed elevino la luce naturale a vero e proprio “mezzo di cura”, altri evidenziano potenziali benefici nell’illuminazione artificiale, a patto che essa rispetti il ciclo circadiano dei pazienti. Ed è proprio in questa fase della ricerca che è interessante notare la lenta e graduale imposizione di una progettazione illuminotecnica che sia più “antropocentrica”, più attenta ai bisogni degli esseri umani. A conclusione dello studio è stata svolta una breve indagine su due dei metodi più famosi per la gestione degli spazi vissuti da anziani fragili, il Metodo Montessori ed il Modello Gentlecare, due sistemi in grado di garantire il massimo benessere psicofisico possibile. Al termine della ricerca è stato svolto un breve progetto, ambientato nella RSA di Carpenedolo, che ha visto la progettazione degli spazi interni e delle luci in tre ambienti principali: la camera di degenza, il corridoio e il salone polifunzionale.
Curare il Buio: analisi e progettazione di luci e colori per il benessere nelle malattie neurodegenerative
Ciceri, Francesco
2022/2023
Abstract
The design of lights and colors within the environments lived by people suffering from neurodegenerative diseases - and in particular by frail elderly people suffering from Alzheimer's disease - can lead to a series of health benefits. This thesis collects a series of researches and studies carried out both in the medical and design fields, analyzing this "hybrid" field which lies on the border between health and design. There is various scientific evidence that attests to the positive influence of lights and colors in people's lives, especially for those who are in need under the medical point of view. Concerning colors and their "effect", several studies have highlighted the existing relationship between well-being and colours: they can be implemented in the space in the form of wall and architectural decorations, and, depending on the shade chosen, health effects may be different; it has been discovered that "cold" pastel tones can contribute to achieving a state of calm and tranquility, while "warmer" and brighter tones have been associated with symptoms such as increased blood pressure and greater agitation. This evidence has led, over time, to the creation of medical environments with a less sterile and more welcoming appearance, with notable positive implications. Beneficial effects also occur with the inclusion of vegetation elements within the spaces inhabited by patients, which according to some studies should reduce the period of hospitalization, shortening the time required for recovery. The benefits linked to light, however, lead to the exploration of a decidedly more complex field which still requires further investigation: in fact, numerous lines of distinction must be drawn, mainly between natural and artificial light (whose beneficial or collateral effects may differ), and between light "in space" (therefore the actual lighting design) and light for healing (mostly in the medical field). A series of international studies and examples were therefore collected in order to better understand what role the lighting project can have in the lives of people suffering from neurodegenerative diseases, with an eye towards dementia and Alzheimer's (which is associated with greater progress in scientific research). Although many studies promote and elevate natural light to a true "means of treatment", others highlight potential benefits in artificial lighting, as long as it respects the patients' circadian cycle. And it is precisely in this phase of the research that it is interesting to note the slow and gradual imposition of a lighting design that is more "anthropocentric", more attentive to the needs of human beings. At the end of the study, a brief investigation was carried out on two of the most famous methods for managing the spaces lived by frail elderly people, the Montessori Method and the Gentlecare Model, two systems capable of guaranteeing the maximum possible psychophysical well-being. To put into practice what was previously researched, a brief project has been realized, concerning the spaces of the RSA in Carpenedolo, in particular one of its bedrooms, one corridor and its living room.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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https://hdl.handle.net/10589/218917