A trans-disciplinary approach to the spatial interaction of light and colour

There has so far been very little research on the spatial interaction between light and colour. The Nordic trans-disciplinary project SYN-TES: Human and light synthesis is a recent attempt to develop colour and light into a coherent field of knowledge. This paper presents some of its results: A summary of a research overview; discussions, based on literature and own observations, on the relationship between human experience and physical measuring and on the spatial interaction of colour-light-shape; and an empirical study of how colours are perceived behind windows with energy saving filters. We conclude that adaptation should not be regarded as a merely physiological process but that it also includes important cognitive aspects. We also conclude that descriptions and analyses of the spatial interaction between colour and light must be based on visual assessments. The methodology for this needs further development.