In an effort to reduce energy consumption and costs, many designers are focusing on producing buildings that make effective use of natural lighting. Numerous studies have shown how natural lighting holds a variety of potential benefits for building inhabitants; however, further research is needed to better understand how interior and exterior building designs can promote or hinder occupant exposure to natural lighting.
To describe a parametric study that measured daylight levels in rooms featuring different architectural features.
The authors studied the interior daylight conditions of a single room using computer simulations that modeled several different daylight settings. The simulated room model incorporated real-world data on the room’s latitude, climate, orientation, external obstructions, window area, depth, and visible glazing transmittance. Data were analyzed to understand how climate-based daylight patterns might be altered by architectural features. A graphical tool is then provided for future design teams considering how to optimize room orientation for daylight exposure.
General observations made from data analysis were as follows: 1) Room orientation has a significant effect on overall daylight amount (ALE), and the absence of blinds can result in frequent cases of overheating within a given space. 2) Room orientation, even with the presence of blinds, can still greatly influence lighting and temperature levels depending on the overall orientation of the hospital and other outdoor factors. 3) Room depth directly affects lighting levels. The researchers suggest that simple considerations of window sizes, shapes, and glazes could better manage the effects of natural lighting in all structures.
The authors note that their study design and proposed tool for daylight analysis is inherently limited due to its design as a visual tool; only certain variables that arise within daylight analysis can be accurately represented visually. The data analyzed in this study are derived largely from computerized simulations rather than real-world rooms.