Daylight, views + direct connections

Even in a completely enclosed space the tiniest pinhole of light seeping into the room can give the space depth and give the occupant comfort.  In thinking about connections from inside to outside, is it enough to have daylight entering in, even if you cannot see where it comes from?  Is Solatube the right answer to getting people their essential daylight? 

glass blocks - obscure but bright; bring daylight into a workshop

I believe given a choice between no light and Solatube, most people would pick the Solatube.  But if an architect wants to give people a sense of comfort and a sense of place, then a visual connection is essential.  And if you want to give people a space that they can have the ultimate control of their environment, then they should have a physical as well as a visual connection to the space outside. 

Can the front door be the only connection to the outside?  In some instances, it might be the best choice.   Certainly some places are better suited to views of the landscape than others.  But even a small deck or balcony that is built for only one person to sit or stand and catch some fresh air is much better than a dark enclosed room with no connection to the exterior.  Fresh air in the central business district or a dense urban environment is still fresh air.  Even though the landscape is paved in urban areas, it is still the landscape – just a little less grassy. 

I believe that people need shelter, too.  I’m not advocating we all live outside, which would obviously be the extreme connection to the earth.  Nor am I advocating that we should all live on farms or communes or vast open countryside.  I just think we need to connect to our surroundings, and that buildings should be built to complement, connect to and strengthen the existing context.