An environmental quality assessment of office buildings: The impact of glass façade on internal and external users

Abstract

People are spending an increasing amount of time inside buildings. Working spaces have a very strong influence on peoples’ activities and well-being. Therefore, the quality of indoor environment is important for all occupants, as it can contribute to illness and lack of productivity. An increasing number of office buildings with glass facades impact not only internal occupants, but also external users who spend time around those buildings. This paper aims to assess the interaction of internal and external users and the glass façades of office buildings in Zagreb, Croatia. The focus of this research is not only physical parameters of glass facade: materials, proportions, colours, thermal and acoustic characteristics, airtightness, and its impact on occupants. Also, the relationship between inside and outside is essential for spatial awareness. Having access to views of the outside and providing natural light are important for occupants’ well-being. Solar shading system, anti-glare protection, the tint of the glass, transparency and translucency of glass façade also significantly affect external users and their perception of the building. The graduate course ‘Architecture and Technology 1’ at the Faculty of Architecture, University of Zagreb, aims to educate master students on assessing the environmental performance of existing buildings. Analysing examples of built office buildings with glass facades and the results of student survey of internal and external users of those buildings, this paper discusses working conditions, indoor and outdoor atmosphere, technical solutions, as well as architectural approaches in accordance with implementation of principles of sustainable development. The results of this research should provide useful information on users’ satisfaction, well-being, and requirements for future application in glass facade design for office buildings.