The invention concerns an improved system and method for ventilating and illuminating an operating area. The system comprises an air pressure chamber and a lighting system, the lighting system providing one or more directed light beams of which the origin and direction can be controllably altered with respect to the air pressure chamber. The chamber comprises a transparent wall with a set of perforations for creating a substantially laminar air flow on the outside of the air pressure chamber. It further provides a use of a transparent plate for illuminating and creating a laminar air flow in an operating area, the transparent plate comprising a set of perforations through which a substantially laminar air flow is provided towards the operating area, said plate having a minimal transmittance of 30% for directed light beams with an angle of incidence on said plate below 45°.
