Can light coming through a window improve concentration? Does the view behind the glass affect our immunity? Or is a lack of silence in the home a real risk factor for heart disease? These questions no longer belong to the realm of intuition or design philosophy – science provides the answers. In the latest report ‘Health begins with space’, compiled by doctor and neuroarchitecture specialist Natalia Olszewska in cooperation with the OKNOPLAST brand, living space is analysed in terms of its impact on the human body – from the perspective of neuroscience, physiology, chronobiology and environmental psychology. This publication opens a new chapter in the perception of everyday architecture as a tool to support human health and well-being.
The report makes it clear: as much as 91% of the day is spent indoors. In such a lifestyle, the window ceases to be just a source of light – it becomes a regulator of biological rhythms, a transmitter of information from the environment, and even a promoter of mood and sleep.
“When designing windows today, we think of them as the point of contact between man and the outside world. It is through them that the body receives key stimuli – light, the rhythm of the day, greenery, variability. The report confirms that health does not start with pills, but with the space we perceive with our senses every day ,” says Zuzanna Dyba, OKNOPLAST Group PR specialist.
Daylight – a natural ‘medicine’ embedded in architecture
Natural light is one of the most important and yet most underestimated regulators of human health. It synchronises the diurnal rhythm, regulates the production of melatonin and cortisol, improves mood and supports concentration. Exposure to daylight in the early hours of the morning drives us to action, improves metabolism and reduces the risk of seasonal depression.
Access to daylight also has a direct impact on sleep quality. People working in spaces with windows sleep an average of 46 minutes longer each night than those in spaces without access to daylight. Exposure to natural light during the day also reduces fatigue levels by up to 40%.
“What we see outside the window – the sky, the changing light – has a real impact on our brain function. The window therefore becomes not only a source of light, but also a factor regulating our diurnal rhythm, sleep and quality of rest,” the report’s author points out.” – Natalia Olszewska doctor, neuroscientist and co-founder of IMPRONTA
Silence that is not a luxury – but a biological need
The second key pillar of the report is noise, which is increasingly recognised not as an inconvenience but as an environmental stressor. Sounds generated by traffic, appliances or neighbours, stress the nervous system, raise cortisol levels and can lead to chronic fatigue and sleep disturbances. Even moderate night noise – above 40 dB – causes micro awakenings, disrupting the deep REM and NREM sleep phases.
The report also cites research on children: just a 5 dB difference in school or home noise translates into a 1-2 month delay in reading and working memory development. So it turns out that the sound insulation of a space – including windows – is not only important for comfort, but also for development.
Air that shapes mood and memory
Although invisible, the air in enclosed spaces is one of the most important environmental factors affecting health. PM2.5 and PM10 particulate matter, whose sources include exhaust fumes, scented candles and tobacco smoke, penetrate the bloodstream and affect the brain directly. Just a few hours’ exposure to polluted air can cause impaired concentration and reduced cognitive function.
“Interior design and fit-out companies – from architects to property developers and window manufacturers – nowadays have a real impact not only on quality of life, but also on human health. When we design spaces, we influence the functioning of the body: the diurnal rhythm, sleep patterns, energy levels, the ability to concentrate and form relationships. It’s no longer just a question of aesthetics – it’s about consciously shaping the environment in which basic biological and psychological processes take place, ” notes Natalia Olszewska of IMPRONTA.
The report also points to a link between air quality and emotional health – chronic exposure to dust can exacerbate anxiety and depressive symptoms, as well as increase the risk of neurodegenerative diseases. Thus, ventilation and air circulation, one source of which is the window, become an integral part of wellbeing concerns.
Wellness design as a building trend
The report’s conclusions leave no doubt – the design of spaces that support the biological and emotional needs of humans should become a standard in contemporary construction. Architecture is no longer merely functional and aesthetic – it is becoming preventive.
“Design should not just be a response to visual needs. It should be a support for the body – its rhythm, its regenerative needs, its ability to concentrate. The window, as the main sensory channel connecting us with the outside world, is of fundamental importance in this process,” concludes Zuzanna Dyba of OKNOPLAST.
The report “Health begins with space” is an invitation to an interdisciplinary conversation about health encoded in space – a conversation to which OKNOPLAST and Natalia Olszewska invite designers, architects, investors and users alike.
Selected data from the “Wellness Design” report for OKNOPLAST
- More than 90% of human time is spent in enclosed spaces
- Access to daylight increases sleep by an average of 46 minutes a day
- Exposure to natural light reduces fatigue by up to 40%
- A difference of 5 dB in noise affects a child’s cognitive development by 1-2 months
- PM2.5 particles impair concentration and working memory after just a few hours
The report plus interviews with Natalia Olszewska are available at: https://oknoplast.com.pl/wellness-design/.
source: Oknoplast press materials
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