Applying a parametric design approach for optimizing daylighting and visual comfort in office buildings

Abstract

This study adopts an empirical research method to investigate a number of design parameters for achieving a balance of daylight availability and visual comfort in office buildings using a double skin façade (DSF). This includes its perforation ratio, depth and the gap width from the outer wall. The study refers to the guidelines and performance metrics of the latest Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design system; spatial daylight autonomy (sDA300/50%) and Annual Sunlight Exposure (ASE1000,250) to investigate the daylighting performance of an existing case study building in Egypt. Accordingly, 36 combinatorial simulations have been developed and statistical correlations have been carried out to scrutinize the interrelations between the defined parameters and their effect on the sDA and ASE values. The result indicated that acting on the perforation percentage and skin depths of a DSF provides the greatest influence on buildings’ daylight performance.