Geometric Optimization of Atriums with Natural Lighting Potential for Detached High-Rise Buildings

Abstract

Detached high-rise office buildings with more than 15 floors in high density areas have floor plans with large surfaces that prevent natural lighting from entering their central areas. Therefore, artificial lighting is used to substitute the lighting comfort needs of their occupants for a large proportion of operational hours, resulting in high energy expenses for the building. The goal of this study is to evaluate the lighting potential of a central atrium with added clerestories and/or side lighting every four levels in a parametric 15-floor theoretical model and two floor surface areas of 900 m2 and 2500 m2, compared to a 40% glazed surface on façades without solar control devices. A total of 108 geometric variations of the atrium and adjoining spaces were analyzed using a climate-based daylight dynamic simulation method (CBDM), using DIVA-for-Rhino as the integrated evaluation tool in Rhino’s Grasshopper software, where the parametric model was built. The geometric optimization results show the design variables that allowed a significant illuminance of between 60 and 70%, using the Useful Daylighting Illuminance (UDI) indicator in a range of 100 to 2000 lux, demonstrating that the incorporation of atrium spaces as a controlled natural lighting strategy in these buildings is an environmental and sustainable perspective for architectonic design.