Day Lighting - Case Study Example

The best way to introduce light into the interior is by designing the fenestration in such a way that helps avoid the in-pour of the direct sun into the eyes of the occupants or over the task surfaces. This is achieved by using the devices of suitable glare remediation. Such devices include but are not limited to shades and blinds. Fig. 1 shows an example of such blind in the form of wiring on the windows that limit the in-pour of the light to reduce the glare.

                   Fig. 1

Fig. 2 shows the benefit of using the wiring as it creates an aesthetically appealing pattern in the shadow. In the figure, it is clearly visible that the sunlight reflecting directly on the floor at the base of the glass doors is brighter as compared to that pouring through the windows because of the filter. Moreover, the location of windows has been chosen very carefully so as to ensure that people sitting on the chairs get the light rather than the ones passing through the corridor. So the design selected to use the light is successful as it fulfills the purpose of its in-pour.

Fig. 2

Fig. 3 shows another room of the same building in which there is no in-pour of sunlight and the source of light is basically the reflection of sun rays from the floor of the terrace into the room. Here, the room has been purposefully designed in such a way that there is no direct in-pour of light and yet there is sufficient illumination in the room.

Fig. 3

In Fig. 4, the filtering windows have been placed atop the room to reduce the intensity of light without reducing the illumination. This is a successful use of light as the design ensures that the occupants of the building receive just the amount of light that is sufficient for them. Without the filter glass on the top, the space would be capturing direct sunlight that would be even more intensified after diffusing from the white floor.

Fig. 4

In Fig. 5, the room has been oriented in such a way that the window captures the brightness of the sunlight outside without increasing the glare inside the room. A very important purpose that this design serves is that it creates no significant shadows of the furniture placed in the room which enhances the visual appeal of the room. Since it is a room with limited space, a heavy in-pour of sunlight would have been irritating for the inhabitants.

Fig. 5

In Fig. 6, the benefit of daylighting is shown as it provides the occupants of the building with a direct link to the evolving outdoor illumination patterns, thus creating a productive and visually stimulating environment along with reducing the energy costs of the entire building. However, the architectural design shown in Fig. 6 is not successful as it provides no point of entry to the sunlight into the room, which is why the room is dark. Ideally, the design should have been such that allowed the sunlight to enter the threshold of the room to provide it with enough natural light.

Fig. 6