Prize(s) Winners in Healthcare Lighting Design
Lighting Design/Product Company Architectural Lighting Group
Lead Designers Miho Konishi
Architecture Company Takehiko Iseki
Client Shigemitsu Kim
Photo Credits Nick van der Giesen
Other Credits Takehiko Iseki (Executive Architect), Toshihiro Yoshimura (Local Executive Architect)
Completion Date 12 May, 2025
Project Location Ishikawa-Ken, Japan
Entry DescriptionThis lighting design project for a dental clinic in Kanazawa, Japan, explores how light supports both physiological and psychological well-being. In close collaboration with the client and architect, the design team implemented a circadian lighting system responsive to ipRGC (intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells), using Azure-colored light peaking at 480 nm and approximately 20000K.
Three principles guided the concept: (1) harmony between daylight and artificial light, (2) dynamic control based on circadian rhythm, and (3) integration with architectural materials. A square layout of tunable indirect lighting, ranging from 2700K to 20000K, was installed in the ceiling to evoke the sensation of an open sky. Waiting room with natural plaster finishes were softly illuminated via concealed uplighting to enhance tactile comfort.
In corridors, Azure lighting extended through elliptically projected light, creating a spatial flow and immersive experience like “Blue Cave.” Color temperature followed the daily schedule: 20000K in early morning for alertness, 3500K during operating hours for focus, and 2700K in the evening to promote relaxation.
High CRI fixtures (Ra90+) in treatment areas met dental diagnostic requirements. This case shows how healthcare lighting can go beyond functionality to enrich human experience through dynamic, biologically aligned light environments.
Sustainability ApproachBalancing sustainability and well-being through a human-centered lighting strategy. Combining daylight with 14.4W/m high-efficiency indirect lighting, validated through illuminance calculations, creates an energy-saving yet comfortable environment. The system automatically adjusts color temperature and brightness throughout the day. At peak, it delivers Azure light at 20000K, optimizing melanopic lux to stimulate serotonin, regulate circadian rhythms, and enhance alertness—reducing reliance on artificial lighting and supporting long-term health. Indirect lighting with natural plaster finishes ensures brightness while minimizing glare. Meeting WELL Building Standards, the design considers both environmental impact and human health. Scalable to medical, educational, and community spaces, this next-generation model proves lighting can unite energy efficiency with physiological benefits.
