The #1 Office Perk? Natural Light • Hacker News Board

Re: The #1 Office Perk? Natural Light

#171

Post by betterworldb » Wed, Sep 05, 2018, 1:54 PM UTC

ehnto wrote: post #100

another-cuppa wrote: post #88

I think some comments are missing the point. I used to work in an office that definitely had "natural light" because it did have windows, but the view from the windows was basically just other grey buildings about 10 metres away. I now work in an office where I can look out and see grass, trees, and the sky, and it's much nicer.

Trees and greenery in general take a space from "concrete wasteland" to "human living space" for me. I have no idea why we build plazas as big concrete slabs. Who thought that was what people wanted? Who has every thought to themselves, gee, I sure wish there was more flat concrete to look at.

It's modernist design. And it sucks.

Re: The #1 Office Perk? Natural Light

#172

Post by srge » Wed, Sep 05, 2018, 1:55 PM UTC

rplnt wrote: post #98

srge wrote: post #96

Very often on TV when I see office spaces in the US, I see rarely natural lights. They often seem to be underground or inside some refurbished industrial buildings. Here in France we all have well lit offices with natural lights and windows. Well not all but the vast majority. To me it seems punitive to work in a blind/artificially lit office.

I'd guess the number one reason is it's easier (cheaper) to film if you don't have to fake natural light.

Not only films but documentaries or YouTube videos. Seems like a lot of workers in the US are working in such environments.

Re: The #1 Office Perk? Natural Light

#173

Post by EricLemieux » Wed, Sep 05, 2018, 1:56 PM UTC

CalRobert wrote: post #109

Legogris wrote: post #14

Am I the only one here who actually likes it dark? It might be healthier with natural light, but my personal preferences has always been darkness. I wonder if it is related to coming from a northern country (Scandinavia) where ~1/4 of the year is really dark.

My preference is nearly a dark cave and people think I'm odd. I also use a plugin to make FF have dark backgrounds and light text. I don't enjoy squinting all the time. In at least one case, it wasn't just me. I used to work editing photos on California's central coast and after we moved to a building with loads and loads of skylights, and got a bunch of new glossy-screen iMacs, it was really hard to get color accura…

What plugin are you using in firefox?

I have just been using stylus and using dark themes for sites I use often, but would love a more automated approach, especially for sites I don't use that often.

Re: The #1 Office Perk? Natural Light

#174

Post by pjc50 » Wed, Sep 05, 2018, 1:57 PM UTC

ensignavenger wrote: post #145

Someone wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Certainly the EU. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A... : ”8. Natural and artificial room lighting 8.1. Workplaces must as far as possible receive sufficient natural light and be equipped with artificial lighting adequate for the protection of workers' safety and health. […] 10. Windows and skylights 10.1. It must be possible for workers to open, close, adjust or secure windows, skylights an…

"as far as possible"... I wonder how that is interpreted? Does that exclude buildings older than the code? Does it prevent new buildings from being constructed without these features? It would always be "possible" if enough money was spent on it (and you ignore other considerations, like historical values)...

It essentially means that you have to have a real reason not to have windows, not just "it was slightly cheaper". So new buildings would get them, intentionally windowless spaces (darkrooms, freezers) are allowed for a purpose, and adapted historical buildings are allowed.

Re: The #1 Office Perk? Natural Light

#175

Post by JackMorgan » Wed, Sep 05, 2018, 1:57 PM UTC

tdehollain wrote: post #102

I sometimes wonder how light fixtures that mimic natural light are not a thing yet. They exist, but somehow they remained a niche product.

Oh they do, but they are expensive and rare. http://www.coelux.com/en/products/index

I have been trying to figure out how to make my own, but it's tricky.

Re: The #1 Office Perk? Natural Light

#176

Post by adiusmus » Wed, Sep 05, 2018, 2:01 PM UTC

gambiting wrote: post #71

Oh yes please. I work as a games programmer at a massive studio and it looks like 90% of people here prefer complete darkness during the day, to the point where they have these umbrella-like covers above their desks to cover any light from the lamps that somehow miraculously are still on. Me and few other people occupy a little corner next to a window that we stubbornly refuse to close the blinds on, despite bi-weekl…

I did some contract work with some mushroom people. I was in the minority of staff that wanted sunlight. We got a large office for the four of us, the other 30 were in almost complete darkness in a sea of cubicles. They actually blacked out their spaces with material.

We had plenty of plants, fishtank and my customary giant Pac-Man. Good times.

Re: The #1 Office Perk? Natural Light

#177

Post by microcolonel » Wed, Sep 05, 2018, 2:01 PM UTC

Get some high quality LEDs, like those produced by Yuji[0] (not associated/sponsored), it's the next best thing. Bad LEDs are the worst, fluorescents are second, then incandescents, then good LEDs, then natural light (when it's not too gloomy outside).

[0]: https://www.yujiintl.com/

Re: The #1 Office Perk? Natural Light

#178

Post by betterworldb » Wed, Sep 05, 2018, 2:02 PM UTC

INTPenis wrote: post #166

#1 Office perk: Not being required to be in the office.

+1

Re: The #1 Office Perk? Natural Light

#179

Post by neonIcon » Wed, Sep 05, 2018, 2:04 PM UTC

For the most part I agree with the sentiment of this article. However, I am currently in my office with sunglasses on because of the abundance of 'natural light'.. It can definitely be a hindrance at certain times, but overall it is a perk.

Re: The #1 Office Perk? Natural Light

#180

Post by H1Supreme » Wed, Sep 05, 2018, 2:06 PM UTC

hatsubai wrote: post #123

The interesting thing is that too much light can take its toll on productivity as well. When I was working at another company, it was inside an essentially "all glass, modern" building on the top floor overseeing a creek which led to the Bay. Between about 10 am until 3 pm, everyone would always scramble to find whatever random objects they could to block the light because management never paid for any blinds. We'd g…

My desk gets the full force of the sun after noon. I have blinds, and still build a makeshift sun-blocker out of an old box. Too much light can definitely be a negative.