This research is based on my master project, New Generation of Mashrabiya, and only a brief look of this scientific project is presented. I selected one of my Mashrabiya designs to study the effect of façade shading pattern on the quality of daylight in buildings. The aim of this research is to explore the potential use of oriental geometry design for façade openings as an optimization tool so as to answer the following question: How can a generative geometry (geometry that is generated by a set of rules or an algorithm) and shading system, inspired by traditional Mashrabiya, help us to improve the building daylighting performance which, in turn, affects human comfort and building energy efficiency.
To assess the daylighting performance of a typical room in an office building, architectural design tools and computer simulation tools such as Diva for Rhino, are used.
The simulations include the daylight performance metrics such as Daylight Autonomy, Continuous Daylight Autonomy, Useful Daylight Illuminance and Daylight Factor throughout the year, and Illuminance Level in two critical months of the year. These metrics are attributed to lighting spaces for three different positions of shading layers which create three different patterns based on their opening ratio. The results indicate the benefit of using a geometric façade design, for particularly hot-arid climate (Abu Dhabi, UAE). However, the results are compared with temperate climate (Geneva, Switzerland).
The manual movements of three shading layers in order to change the opening ratios, depending on the weather conditions, façade orientations, improve the design quality as well as the indoor environment.
The top and front view of the reference model in Rhinoceros, the nods arrangement in the reference model through Diva
Schematic drawing of the shading system – the geometrical pattern concept and layer movements in three configuration:
i) when 3 layers are overlapped,
ii) When 2 layers are fixed and 1 layer moves vertically,
iii) When 1 layer is fixed, second layer moves vertically and third layer moves horizontally.
i) when 3 layers are overlapped,
ii) When 2 layers are fixed and 1 layer moves vertically,
iii) When 1 layer is fixed, second layer moves vertically and third layer moves horizontally.
The façade opening view and the perspective of the reference model in Rhinoceros
The Diva Illuminance simulation on the workplane is shown as an example
The Diva Illuminance simulation on the workplane is shown as an example
The simulation is performed during the typical office working hours from 8 am to 6 pm. The time and date of the simulations were set on:
• Annual (for DA, CDA, UDI and DF)
• August 16th , at 12:00 (For illuminance value)
• January 17th, at 9:00 (For illuminance value)
• Annual (for DA, CDA, UDI and DF)
• August 16th , at 12:00 (For illuminance value)
• January 17th, at 9:00 (For illuminance value)
The analyses of this research are conducted with three main purposes:
• Compare three different façade patterns based on architectural aesthetic potentials
• Compare different room orientations (south, east, north, south and optimum)
• Compare different locations (Abu Dhabi and Geneva) when the office rooms are situated in the optimum orientation
• Compare three different façade patterns based on architectural aesthetic potentials
• Compare different room orientations (south, east, north, south and optimum)
• Compare different locations (Abu Dhabi and Geneva) when the office rooms are situated in the optimum orientation
Following, Some results and analysis of Daylight Autonomy (DA) in “Abu Dhabi”, are presented as an example:
Simulation information for Abu Dhabi
Daylight Autonomy and Continuous Daylight Autonomy radiance legend for south orientation
Daylight Autonomy, horizontal distance from window for south orientation
Daylight Autonomy as function of three patterns and for the four main orientations as well as optimum orientation
Credits
M.Sc. Thesis Project in Energy Management and Sustainability, EPFL | Fall 2014
Title: A geometric facade design for improving daylight performance
Supervisors: Prof. Jean-Louis Scartezzini and Dr. Mohajeri | LESO-PB Laboratory
Title: A geometric facade design for improving daylight performance
Supervisors: Prof. Jean-Louis Scartezzini and Dr. Mohajeri | LESO-PB Laboratory
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