Abstract
In the vast majority of new buildings, energy and comfort requirements are met mostly by active systems that are often expensive, energy intensive, and complex to maintain. At the same time, advances in the use of digital tools for the design and fabrication of unitised curtain wall systems have substantially reduced the costs associated to non-planar surfaces in building envelopes. As a result, buildings deploy an increasing level of surface geometry articulation that is mostly used for decorative effects. By and large, the flourishing of a new formal vocabulary, enabled by digital tools, rarely translated into buildings that perform better. The research proposes the use of non-planar surface geometries for precise calibration in tilt angle and orientation of individual panels in curtain walls, as an effective passive design strategy. The goal is to improve visual comfort for users, limiting potential glare without the use of shading or blinds and, at the same time, to provide high potential for PV production without negatively affecting daylighting levels in the building interiors. The study explores four families of three-dimensional geometries, based on size limitations and other design constraints typically associated to unitized curtain wall systems. The investigation takes into account aspects such as local climate data, orientation, glass properties, morphology of the façade unit, indoor visual comfort, energy efficiency and energy production. Results show that all four families can be optimised to meet LEED requirements of sDA > 50% and ASE < 10% in office buildings, delivering better performances when compared to a flat facade.
Highlights
IntroductionVisual comfort Daylight is recognised to be a significant factor contributing to indoor environmental quality
The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential of folded surface geometries alone to deliver satisfying levels of visual comfort for users, while increasing solar potential for energy generation, as compared to a flat surface curtain wall
The initial assumption was that the articulation of facade units by way of relatively simple tessellation would be, in several instances, sufficient to meet the LEED requirements about Spatial Daylight Autonomy (sDA) and Annual Sunlight Exposure (ASE) without any additional shading devices
Summary
Visual comfort Daylight is recognised to be a significant factor contributing to indoor environmental quality. Several methods integrate daylighting and thermal analyses to reduce energy consumption in buildings, linking a range of occupant’s environmental preferences, optimisation of energy costs and office workers’ productivity [1]. Researches and reviews have been exploring the effects of daylight on users’ behaviour as a way to achieve higher levels of environmental quality inside buildings [2]. Indoor visual performance has been linked to the physiological comfort of users [3] and defined through parameters such as illuminance and luminance levels, exposure to natural light, and others [4]. Daylight and view have been found to be beneficial in creating a comfortable and productive working environment, albeit an excessive exposure towards the outdoor often leads to glare problems, especially for south facing facades [5]
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