HOSPITAL LIGHTING


Figure 1a. Hospital façade: Sarah Kubitschek – Rio de Janeiro.


improved occupant comfort. Therefore, the sizing and distribution of façade openings, shading elements, and the choice of materials must be well planned to capture sufficient daylight to aid in indoor activities and avoid poor light distribution, glare, and excessive contrast.2,3 Brazilian architecture has adopted


passive lighting features for lighting comfort in hospital environments, with positive results. The architect João Figueiras Lima, Lelé, used sheds and brises to control solar rays and permanently renew the air in the hospital network of the Sarah Kubitschek network in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Fig 1a) at the end of the last century8


and currently the


office SPBR arquitectos obtained the same results by applying large horizontal brises made of perforated steel sheets to the façades of the hospitalisation floor at the Emergency Hospital of São Bernardo do Campo, 2020, (Fig 1b). The apparent path of the sun,


determined by the earth’s movements and the local latitude, along with climatic conditions, directly influences the use of natural light in buildings. In architectural design, especially when designing the building envelope, it is essential to consider aspects such as light direction, intensity, and colour to optimise its use. In healthcare settings, this attention must be redoubled, as natural light impacts patient comfort and recovery. In hospitalisation rooms, it is essential


to control light input, protect against excessive heat, and maintain visual connection with the outdoors. Kinetic shading elements offer effective solutions, regulating sunlight according to their shape and movement pattern. The use of these devices, considered from the initial


IFHE DIGEST 2026


Figure 1b. Emergency hospital – São Bernardo do Campo.9


design stages, improves the building’s environmental performance. Le Corbusier already proposed such strategies in 1933, but it was in Brazil, with the Gustavo Capanema building, that they were pioneered (Fig 2). There are two types of kinetic elements


applied to buildings: passive and active. Passive facades, which do not use electrical energy, are dependent on human movement because their opening and closing mechanisms are manually controlled. Active façades use electrical energy, which provides a technology- based innovation approach, incorporating electronic and intelligent systems through computing, automation, and robotics, providing automatic control. The main objective of an automatic control system is to control a system variable (e.g., temperature, pressure, force, displacement), allowing the system to meet a desired reference value.2,3 Performance-based design of a building, which allows the integration of computational processes and mechanical


devices in the same system, results in architecture with responsive technology. Kinetic façades with this type of technology are envelope systems that can intelligently control their movement, providing greater environmental comfort for the building, in addition to reducing energy consumption.11


Façade adaptability


is mainly related to visual and light comfort and energy performance.12 However, aspects of thermal comfort, indoor air quality, visual and acoustic performances are also considered. Façade automation allows façades to


interact with the environment and users, reacting to external conditions, adapting their behaviour and functionality. Aspects such as sensitivity to human presence and control of light, heat, and ventilation can be highlighted. Adaptability and flexibility can be achieved through the use of conventional materials, but the design trend for dynamic façades is moving toward combining (or partially replacing) traditional building materials with new technologies. This may involve the use of


Figure 2. How the Ministry of Education’s lampshade system works.10 75


Source: Bitencourt, 2024


Source: SPBR, 2020


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