Abstract
This paper investigates enhancing internal natural illumination levels of existing drawing studios in the Architecture Engineering Department at the University of Jordan for the purposes of securing a better learning environment and lowering energy costs. These studios are artificially lit all daytime despite the existence of large side windows. By using the daylight factor method, the daylight factor was measured inside a selected studio and then via a scale model in the Artificial Sky Lab under clear sky conditions. The scale model enabled us to study several elements or factors affecting daylighting. By using high transmittance glass, changing the windows' wide frames, adding reflective panels facing the studied studio's windows and using bright white paint for the studio's interior walls, the daylight factor increased by 6-13.5% in the studio model. These interventions can be applied on existing and other studios and labs in the University. Moreover, the method used can be replicated to improve daylighting in similar deep-plan rooms due to its easily applicable and simple low-cost tools.
Highlights
Daylighting is defined as [the “active” use and control of natural light to achieve a particular purpose, be it to save burning fossil energy or to improve building occupants’ comfort and well-being or both.] (Boubekri, 2014, p. 54)
The highest change in daylight factor (DF) was at the points next to the courtyard
The findings revealed that replacing the wide frames and steel guard of the windows with thin ones, cleaning glass panes and adding white paint to the inner walls of the studio and to the courtyard walls, increased DF by 3-6.5%
Summary
Daylighting is defined as [the “active” use and control of natural light to achieve a particular purpose, be it to save burning fossil energy or to improve building occupants’ comfort and well-being or both.] (Boubekri, 2014, p. 54). It has been proven that providing buildings with natural light is necessary for good vision (Ruck et al, 2000) and visual comfort (Das and Paul, 2015); it offers comforting space for building occupants (Boubekri, 2014; Müller and Schuster, 2003). Room depth: Affects the natural illumination level inside (Müller and Schuster, 2003). Current practices to improve daylighting inside deep-plans: Planned courtyards are used to illuminate fulltime work stations at the lower levels (Müller and Schuster, 2003). The studios are equipped, on the long walls, with large side windows that are expected to increase natural illumination (Das and Paul, 2015), yet these windows do not deliver the required lighting level to the studios' required activities, which consist of detailed drawing work. Improve students' mood and enhance their productivity, in order to secure a better learning utilization, decreasing natural illumination inside buildings (Müller and Schuster, 2003).
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