Daylight Analysis

Figure 6.5 Sun angles determining the depth of Liwan

6.3 Daylight Analysis

This daylighting analysis aims to study the impact of replacing glazing units and windows with jali regarding illuminance levels in labor rooms. The analysis is carried out for the summer period, the 21st of June at 1200pm, when shading is required the most.

The room’s size is in accordance with the defined requirements and layouts suggested in Chapter 2 and is tested within the confines of the proposed urban context defined in Chapter 5.

Moving ahead, four scenarios were tested with varying WWR from 100% to 35% ( as per Estidama standards) and the subsequent addition of a 2m deep liwan followed by replacing the glazing unit with a jali screen. The depth of the liwan was determined based on solar angles on solstices and equinoxes in Sharjah (Figure 6.5). Glare is considered above 2000 lux as per Estidama standards.

The results (Figure 6.6) show that the four chosen parameters successfully achieve visual comfort inside the rooms while reducing glare. The last case is also then studied in varying orientations (Figure 6.7). Results show similar illuminance levels in all orientations. This is probably because orientation doesn’t make much difference when the form is compact. It was also established in Chapter 5.

As per the programmatic requirement, since there will always be one person occupying the room, especially the night-shift worker sleeping during the day, it was essential to provide adaptive control over illuminance levels. Therefore, blinds and shutters were introduced that could be shut entirely (rotated at 60O) to decouple the room from the outdoors while providing minimum daylight and airflow. They could also be rotated to 30O, partially or entirely drawn per the occupant’s requirement. The jali could also be further slid open to increase the natural ventilation rate. Figure 6.8 analyzes the daylight performance and airflow rates of various configuration of jali and blinds

Figure 6.6 Daylight analysis for south-facing bedroom in proposed context.

Figure 6.7 Daylight analysis for all orientations with jali in proposed context.

Figure 6.8 Daylight and airflow analysis for south-facing bedroom in proposed context.