Layout and Daylight Optimization of a Residential Module using Syntactic Design Strategies

Abstract

Rapid urbanization in developing countries has residential units suffering from inadequate daylighting and inefficient space utilization. As technology advances, buildings are more likely to be mass-manufactured using various prefabrication techniques and modular principles. The conventional strategy mainly prioritizes building services and market economics resulting in light-intensive spaces getting locked into the unit at the cost of visual comfort. This approach also increases energy demand due to poorly lit rooms. This research intends to mix syntactic design strategies while using relevant daylighting standards as a basis for design. This method makes it easier to filter out desirable plans from a generated sample set. It involves employing the space syntax theory by using tools like Rhino, Grasshopper, and Syntactic, among other software plug-ins, to generate layouts while integrating daylighting norms, functionality, modularity, and user preference into the process. In this approach, several configurations can be generated by adding, joining, and moving spaces according to their proximity to neighbouring areas and spatial needs. For this study, a tropical Indian context is taken, with the spatial requirements of an average dwelling unit in an apartment as the reference scheme. Being wholly automated and flexible allows for the accommodation of plan changes without redesigning the layout manually. This method provides the end-user with options filtered out to optimize functionality and visual comfort. With enhanced modularity and customization of unit plans, end-users would select their apartment unit configuration. Future residents of high-density living areas would have better-daylit options to pick from based on their requirements and liking.