156-page paperback

Health, Architecture and the Sun

The profoundly positive effect that light has on both the immune system and a person's emotional stability is examined in this informative reference that pays particular attention to naturally lit interior spaces. Although architects and physicians in the ancient world recognized that the light levels necessary to promote well-being were much higher than those required for vision, the knowledge seems to have been lost from regular practice. Bringing together historical evidence, traditional wisdom, and the latest scientific findings, this comprehensive reference explains how to use light -- especially sunlight -- to promote health in architecture and enclosed environments.

Review in Network Review the Journal of the Scientific and Medical Network

The sequel and update to the author’s book The Healing Sun: Sunlight and Health in the 21st Century. As can be gleaned from the subtitle, health is still an essential concern in this new book.

Overall, this extensively referenced (over 30 pages) volume is an antidote to the view that sunlight is invariably harmful and may lead to cancer. The central contention is that the way we have been building and designing towns and cities over the last 50 years has neglected the benefits of sunlight in a way which our ancestors would have thought extraordinary. He also argues that natural light is fundamental to human health, and shows that few of us receive either the amount or the intensity that we need because we spend so much time indoors. This can also increase our overall susceptibility to mood disorders and depression. It is interesting that some of the pioneers of the modernist architectural movement did design explicitly for maximum amount of light. The book is full of fascinating historical and cultural details, and will certainly change the way the reader understands the subject. It is also full of practical suggestions and advice. I hope that it will help re-frame the debate about the beneficial and harmful effects of exposure to sunlight.