Spatial Interpretations in Relation to Designer Intentions: A Combined Strategies Study in an Auditorium with Variable Lighting

From a lighting designer perspective, it is of great interest to know if users will experience the final lighting design as it was in-tended to be experienced. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to interview the lighting designer in charge about his design intentions and compare this to the user’s visual observations. The investigation took place in a real-life university auditorium, where it was possible to monitor the lighting, made up of five different scenarios. 21 informants participated in the study. Combined strategies were used in a questionnaire with semantic scales and a verbal description. In addition to these, the inquiry was followed by in-depth interviews. How the various lighting scenarios affected experienced spatiality, size and shape as well as spatial atmos-phere were compared to the design intentions. Discrepancies between the observers’ spatial interpretations and the interpretation of spatial concepts are also discussed in relation to the lighting design.