thp4

Course Overview

• Course Title: Sun, Light, Wind and Architecture

• Instructor: Dr. TEBBANI Habiba

• Scope: Study of the interactions between sunlight, architecture, and environmental factors.

Sunlight and Architecture

• Key Focus: The relationship between the sun, the site, and the building.

• Objectives:

  • Predict the influence of sunlight on buildings (insolation, shading, energy reception).

  • Define technical means for evaluating and controlling sunlight based on site data (location, terrain shape).

• Significance:

  • Solar radiation is critical for aesthetic and functional aspects of architecture.

  • F. Bouvier emphasizes the passion architects have for sunlight and its effects.

Aspects of Sunlight in Architecture

• Scientific: Understanding solar angles and energy distribution.

• Cultural/Psychological: Affects perception and experience of built environments.

• Geometric and Energetic: Important for architectural design and urban planning.

• Environmental Influences: The role of urban masks (buildings, vegetation) and reflective surfaces in managing sunlight.

Earth's Movements and Climate Effects

• Earth’s Movement: The elliptical orbit and axial tilt affect sunlight distribution, influencing climate and seasons.

• Concepts:

  • Relative changes in temperatures and daylight hours throughout the year.

  • Sun’s position and its geometric role in climate considerations.

Geographic Coordinates

• Latitude and Longitude: Used to determine sunshine conditions at different locations.

• Variability: Sunshine conditions fluctuate based on geographic coordinates.

Solar Geometry

• Key Terms:

  • Azimuth: Angle between the vertical sun position and North-South vertical plane. Positive towards the west, negative towards east.

  • Elevation: Angle from the horizontal plane to the sun.

• Implications: These angles help in determining sun positions throughout the day.

Solar Charts and Diagrams

• Utility: Solar diagrams allow tracking of the sun’s path to optimize building design.

• Construction of Charts: Involves plotting azimuth and solar height values across different times of the day.

• Examples: Polar diagrams used for quick references on solar position.

Solar Radiation Types

• Direct Solar Radiation: Unobstructed sunlight.

• Diffused Solar Radiation: Scattered sunlight due to atmospheric conditions.

• Global Solar Radiation: Total of direct and diffuse radiation reaching Earth's surface.

Solar Heat Collection and Distribution

• Components:

  • Aperture/Collector: Glass area for sunlight entry.

  • Absorber: Surface capturing sunlight as heat.

  • Thermal Mass: Materials to store collected heat.

  • Distribution Methods: Heat transfer through conduction, convection, and radiation.

• Control Measures: Use of architectural features such as overhangs to manage solar heat gain.

Site Analysis for Sunlight Potential

• Site Assessment: Identify potential shading masks (topography, vegetation, structures).

• Strategies: Determine optimal building placement and orientation based on sunlight availability.

• Shape and Orientation:

  • Building shapes and orientations significantly affect solar gain, especially seasonally.

Architectural Design Considerations

• Planning for Sunlight:

  • Building Orientation: Maximizing sunlight exposure in winter while minimizing it in summer.

  • Impact of Form: Shape factor affecting solar interactions (envelope area vs. volume).

Shading Strategies for Comfort

• Visual Comfort: Ensure natural light without glare.

• Thermal Comfort:

  • Summer: Minimize solar gain.

  • Winter: Maximize solar gain to reduce heating needs.

Daylighting vs. Sunlight

• Definition: Daylighting focuses on managing natural light while minimizing direct sunlight's adverse effects.

• Benefits: Enhances aesthetics, energy efficiency, and occupant comfort.

Wind and Ventilation in Architecture

• Wind Dynamics: Understanding the effects of building layout on wind movement, influenced by local climatic conditions.

• Pressure Differences: Wind movement is caused by uneven air pressure across different areas.

• Building Interaction: Buildings should be designed to either enhance or mitigate wind effects for comfort.

Designing for Ventilation

• Nature of Wind: Incorporate wind patterns to promote natural ventilation.

• Thermal Comfort: Seek a balance between wind protection and promoting natural air flow.

Implementing Natural Ventilation Strategies

• Configuration of Openings:

  • Directions, sizes, and types of openings affect ventilation efficiency.

• Building Designs: Need to adapt to natural airflow while considering occupant comfort and energy systems.

Course Overview

Course Title: Sun, Light, Wind and Architecture

Instructor: Dr. TEBBANI HabibaScope: This course focuses on the intricate interactions between sunlight, architecture, and various environmental factors, essential for sustainable architectural practices.

Sunlight and Architecture

Key Focus

The primary focus is to explore the relationship between the sun, the architectural site, and the building's design elements. Understanding how sunlight interacts with various architectural features can lead to improved energy efficiency and enhanced occupant comfort.

Objectives

• Predicting Solar Influence: Analyze the influence of sunlight on buildings through detailed metrics such as insolation (the amount of solar radiation received), shading techniques, and overall energy reception by building surfaces.

• Evaluating Sunlight Controls: Define and apply technical means for evaluating and controlling sunlight based on comprehensive site data, including location specifics and terrain shape, contributing to informed architectural decision-making.

Significance

Solar radiation is not only crucial for the aesthetic appeal of buildings but also plays an essential role in their functionality. F. Bouvier highlights the profound passion architects have for understanding sunlight and its various effects on architectural spaces, encouraging a deeper appreciation of solar dynamics in design decisions.

Aspects of Sunlight in Architecture

Scientific Dimension

A thorough understanding of solar angles and energy distribution patterns is vital for optimizing building designs for sunlight.

Cultural/Psychological Impact

Sunlight dramatically affects individuals' perception and experience of built environments, influencing mood and spatial awareness.

Geometric and Energetic Concerns

Geometric properties and energy efficiency considerations are fundamental for both architectural design and effective urban planning.

Environmental Influences

The role of urban masks, such as surrounding buildings and vegetation, as well as the impact of reflective surfaces, are crucial factors in managing sunlight in a sustainable manner.

Earth's Movements and Climate Effects

Earth’s Movement: The elliptical orbit and axial tilt of the Earth significantly influence the distribution of sunlight across different regions, thereby affecting global climate patterns and seasonal changes.

Concepts

• Temperature Variation: Understanding the relative changes in temperatures and daylight hours throughout the year is crucial for predicting building performance.

• Sun’s Position: Analyzing the sun's position and its geometric role is important for considering climate adaptations in architecture.

Geographic Coordinates

Latitude and Longitude: These geographic coordinates help determine specific sunshine conditions at various locations across the globe, essential for site analysis and architectural planning.

Variability

Sunshine conditions can vary significantly based on geographic coordinates, necessitating tailored architectural responses to local climates.

Solar Geometry

Key Terms

• Azimuth: The angle between the sun's position and the North-South vertical plane. Azimuth is positive towards the west and negative towards the east, crucial for solar path calculations.

• Elevation: The angle from a horizontal plane to the sun, which is essential for understanding solar radiation impacts on building surfaces.

Implications

These angles allow architects to determine precise sun positions throughout the day, facilitating effective design strategies.

Solar Charts and Diagrams

Utility

Solar diagrams serve as tools for tracking the sun's path, which is instrumental in optimizing building design to make the most of natural light.

Construction of Charts

Constructing solar charts involves plotting azimuth and solar height values across different times of the day to enhance the accuracy of solar analysis.

Examples

Polar diagrams provide quick references on the solar position, allowing architects to make informed decisions about sun exposure.

Solar Radiation Types

• Direct Solar Radiation: Unobstructed sunlight that directly reaches the Earth's surface.

• Diffused Solar Radiation: Sunlight that is scattered due to atmospheric conditions, affecting the overall light quality inside buildings.

• Global Solar Radiation: The total amount of direct and diffuse radiation that reaches the Earth’s surface, critical for energy efficiency calculations in architecture.

Solar Heat Collection and Distribution

Components

• Aperture/Collector: The surface area designed for sunlight entry, typically made up of glazing materials.

• Absorber: The surface that collects sunlight and converts it into heat.

• Thermal Mass: Building materials that store the collected heat for later use, contributing to thermal efficiency.

Distribution Methods

Heat can be transferred through conduction, convection, and radiation, and designs should include architectural features, such as overhangs, to effectively manage solar heat gain.

Site Analysis for Sunlight Potential

Site Assessment

An effective site assessment necessitates the identification of potential shading masks, which can include topography, existing vegetation, and nearby structures.

Strategies

Determining the optimal placement and orientation of buildings based on sunlight availability can lead to better energy management and occupant comfort.

Shape and Orientation

The shape and orientation of buildings significantly affect solar gain, and seasonal adjustments can enhance efficiency and comfort.

Architectural Design Considerations

Planning for Sunlight

• Building Orientation: Strategies should emphasize maximizing sunlight exposure in winter and minimizing it during summer.

• Impact of Form: The relationship between the shape factor (the envelope area versus the volume of the building) influences how solar interactions are mediated.

Shading Strategies for Comfort

Visual Comfort

Design solutions should ensure natural light enters without causing glare, enhancing overall comfort for occupants.

Thermal Comfort

• Summer: Incorporate measures to minimize solar gain to prevent overheating inside buildings.

• Winter: Maximize solar gain during these months to reduce heating energy requirements, enhancing living conditions.

Daylighting vs. Sunlight

Definition

Daylighting focuses on effectively managing natural light while mitigating the adverse effects of direct sunlight, aiming for a balanced light environment.

Benefits

Optimizing daylighting can lead to enhanced aesthetics, improved energy efficiency, and greater occupant comfort, contributing to overall building performance.

Wind and Ventilation in Architecture

Wind Dynamics

Understanding the effects of building layout on wind movement is critical, as local climatic conditions heavily influence these dynamics.

Pressure Differences

Wind movement occurs due to uneven air pressure across different areas, which architects can manipulate through design.

Building Interaction

Designing buildings to enhance or mitigate wind effects is essential for maximizing occupant comfort and minimizing energy costs.

Designing for Ventilation

Nature of Wind

Architectural strategies should incorporate prevailing wind patterns to promote effective natural ventilation.

Thermal Comfort

Successful designs seek to balance protecting users from harsh winds while promoting natural airflow within buildings.

Implementing Natural Ventilation Strategies

Configuration of Openings

The directions, sizes, and types of openings are pivotal in determining ventilation efficiency, influencing how fresh air is introduced into spaces.

Building Designs

Architectural designs must adapt to accommodate natural airflow while considering the comfort of occupants and energy system efficiencies.