26-11-2012, 11:43 AM
NATURAL-LIGHTING DESIGN IN ARCHITECTURE: FILLING IN THE BLANKS
[attachment=41124]
ABSTRACT
This paper discusses the first full version of IDEA-l,
a new natural-lighting design tool for the early stages
of the architectural design process. This computer
program, which is part of the larger IDEA+ research
project, allows the user to judge the impact of natural
light on his architectural design. For this purpose a
number of tests are provided, covering different
aspects of natural lighting. This paper will discuss
each of the tests and the involved algorithms. The
paper will end with a reflection on the IDEA+
project, which aims at providing a new integrated
design environment for architecture
PURPOSES AND FEATURES
Lighting design in architecture
The past few decades an increasing number of
research projects have illustrated a growing interest
in natural lighting. Rising ecological awareness,
combined with new insights into the psychological
and physical effects of daylight and daylight
deprivation, have sparked a number of research
initiatives worldwide that study the potential of
daylight for decreasing energy consumption,
reducing carbon-dioxide emissions and improving
the well-being of our buildings’ inhabitants.
These projects have resulted in the definition of the
daylight factor, in the introduction of standard skies
and of design guidelines, in a few “manual”
computation methods and, more recently, in the
development of a number of computer tools. Most of
these computers tools aim at an in-depth simulation
of the light propagation in a building, sometimes
even combined with a full thermal simulation.
Examples include Radiance, Adeline, DOE2, and
ESP-r. Most of these programs can produce amazing
results when operated carefully, i.e. by a skilled and
knowledgeable user and based on elaborate and
accurate input. Because of their nature these
applications are best suited for the later stages in the
architectural design process.
General requirements
The development of IDEA-l is governed by one basic
principle: it has to be easily accessible in an early
design stage. This entails ensuring ease-of-use,
requiring only a low level of expertise and avoiding
excessive work. A great deal of the program’s
structure, features and functionality is determined by
this principle: data input is kept to a minimum, and
throughout the program the user is offered assistance
in choosing appropriate tests, in performing them, in
interpreting results and in making decisions based
upon these results.
Aspects, quantities and criteria
Lighting is a complex amalgam of different aspects.
They can roughly be categorized into three groups:
functional requirements, visual comfort and aesthetic
quality. Depending on the functional brief of a
building or a room one or more of these aspects will
become important and will require assessment.
Additional features
Extensive help functions assist the user in every
stage, including help files, “tooltip help”, message
fields in dialog boxes and an online glossary. They
explain the relevance of different aspects, the
corresponding tested quantities and help interpreting
the test results. In conflicting situations the program
helps the user in finding a solution by suggesting a
range of possible design options to explore. This last
feature is deliberately kept rather general: it is not the
computer’s task to produce a limited set of
alternatives from which to choose, but to steer the
designer in the right direction. Creativity is in no way
jeopardized.
[attachment=41124]
ABSTRACT
This paper discusses the first full version of IDEA-l,
a new natural-lighting design tool for the early stages
of the architectural design process. This computer
program, which is part of the larger IDEA+ research
project, allows the user to judge the impact of natural
light on his architectural design. For this purpose a
number of tests are provided, covering different
aspects of natural lighting. This paper will discuss
each of the tests and the involved algorithms. The
paper will end with a reflection on the IDEA+
project, which aims at providing a new integrated
design environment for architecture
PURPOSES AND FEATURES
Lighting design in architecture
The past few decades an increasing number of
research projects have illustrated a growing interest
in natural lighting. Rising ecological awareness,
combined with new insights into the psychological
and physical effects of daylight and daylight
deprivation, have sparked a number of research
initiatives worldwide that study the potential of
daylight for decreasing energy consumption,
reducing carbon-dioxide emissions and improving
the well-being of our buildings’ inhabitants.
These projects have resulted in the definition of the
daylight factor, in the introduction of standard skies
and of design guidelines, in a few “manual”
computation methods and, more recently, in the
development of a number of computer tools. Most of
these computers tools aim at an in-depth simulation
of the light propagation in a building, sometimes
even combined with a full thermal simulation.
Examples include Radiance, Adeline, DOE2, and
ESP-r. Most of these programs can produce amazing
results when operated carefully, i.e. by a skilled and
knowledgeable user and based on elaborate and
accurate input. Because of their nature these
applications are best suited for the later stages in the
architectural design process.
General requirements
The development of IDEA-l is governed by one basic
principle: it has to be easily accessible in an early
design stage. This entails ensuring ease-of-use,
requiring only a low level of expertise and avoiding
excessive work. A great deal of the program’s
structure, features and functionality is determined by
this principle: data input is kept to a minimum, and
throughout the program the user is offered assistance
in choosing appropriate tests, in performing them, in
interpreting results and in making decisions based
upon these results.
Aspects, quantities and criteria
Lighting is a complex amalgam of different aspects.
They can roughly be categorized into three groups:
functional requirements, visual comfort and aesthetic
quality. Depending on the functional brief of a
building or a room one or more of these aspects will
become important and will require assessment.
Additional features
Extensive help functions assist the user in every
stage, including help files, “tooltip help”, message
fields in dialog boxes and an online glossary. They
explain the relevance of different aspects, the
corresponding tested quantities and help interpreting
the test results. In conflicting situations the program
helps the user in finding a solution by suggesting a
range of possible design options to explore. This last
feature is deliberately kept rather general: it is not the
computer’s task to produce a limited set of
alternatives from which to choose, but to steer the
designer in the right direction. Creativity is in no way
jeopardized.