Cities
City Design with Daylight A new design method is optimizing distribution of daylight in cities to revitalize buildings and neighborhoods while reducing energy consumption.
ENVIRONMENTAL In 2012, Henning Larsen Architects designed more than 500,000 m2 of buildings with an energy consumption of 40 kWh/m2/yr, a reduction of 15 million kWh compared to Danish regulatory standards.
SOCIAL More daylight will increase the social capital of a neighborhood, due to a comfortable and improved microclimate.
ECONOMIC Daylight is a marketable attribute in real estate. It reduces energy consumption and increases the appeal and market value of buildings.
Daylight is a valuable resource to harness in cities. Henning Larsen Architects and partners have developed a method for sustainable urban planning that systematically analyses and maps daylight in urban areas and buildings, putting in place an operational strategy for sustainable renovation in residences and on a city level. The method is a scalable tool for urban planners, with value-adding benefits for residents, owners, and authorities. The new design method has been developed based on scientific research, which proves that using daylight as the sole means of revitalizing cities and buildings has a tremendous positive influence on the environment in cities and the energy consumption of buildings.1 Why a Sustainia100 solution? Daylight has a significant influence on the health and comfort of citizens. It is essential that urban planners incorporate daylight in their designs, and acknowledge the possibility of energy-related synergies between the various elements that make up a city. This method makes possible the design of cities and buildings that improve the quality of urban life while reducing environmental impact.
Through daylight simulations, urban areas can be planned to optimize the distribution of daylight. This approach reduces the energy consumption of buildings and increases the quality of its indoor and outdoor spaces.
Developed in Denmark
Deployed in Denmark, Faroe Islands, Germany
1 Henning Larsen Architects: “What about daylight?�
Solution by Henning Larsen Architects, Algreen Arkitekter, The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, and Realdania 138