Daylighting performance in UAE traditional buildings used as museums

Abstract

This article investigates how daylight performs in traditional UAE buildings that were turned into museums with specific focus on museum lighting requirements and effect on artefacts. The study used several methods such as on-site measurements, data collection and analysis, and computer simulation. It depended on the climate-based daylighting metric daylighting autonomy. The lighting performance was evaluated throughout the space of a representative model of traditional museum considering the design of the exhibit space and the light sensitivity of traditional artefacts. The results were analysed and design recommendations were presented to improve the overall luminous environment.