The thoughtful expression of building components provides a conceptual framework through which we can come to an understanding of architecture. Beyond the appreciation of individual elements involved in an assembly, numerous opportunities emerge to form architectural conditions and places. An envelope that oscillates between transparency and opaqueness introduces a modern conception of boundary. The control of natural light can also contribute to a compact space without compromising the desired level of privacy that is expected from a house. / Master of Architecture

Light and architectural design are inseparable. Light plays a significant role in the perception of the place. One of the main reasons a good number of today's buildings are unsuccessful regarding visual conditions and comfort is because they are only focused on function and structure without considering the quality of the place. Design for spaces often does not fully consider the setting where the building is placed. This connection with the surrounding environment can turn the space into a place where an occupant feels his existence and sense of dwelling while being at peace. Daylight is one aspect that can enhance the sense of place and influence the personal interpretations and impressions that last long after leaving the place. Today, architects are being asked to consider low-energy design with daylighting in their designs. In response to this, there is growing interest in the study of visually disturbing effects such as glare and poor visual comfort that can adversely impact the sense of dwelling. While several studies on visual comfort have been conducted, very little research addressed movement through space and the time-dependency of daylighting. Concern for daylight control is needed in buildings especially museums and art galleries because of their exhibits' sensitivity to light. To address the dynamic daylight conditions, this research proposes a framework for an innovative approach to improving design decision-making by evaluating visual comfort during the early stages of design, which can alter the design process. A framework-based prototype has been designed for this research that uses Grasshopper and its sub-components to interface with Radiance and Daysim. In addition to quantitative outputs, special re-representation is used for qualitative analysis to support design decision-making. Through logical argumentation, prototyping, immersive case study, and member impressions via a Delphi panel, an interpretive approach is used to demonstrate the enhancement in design decision-making that occurs when one considers dynamic daylighting. The research outcomes are expected to provide researchers, designers, and decision makers with a new approach to designing and re-imagining spaces to improve visual comfort and the quality of the place. / Ph. D.

Light in nature is a unique element affecting man completely. The nature of daylight as well as its meanings are examined, to show that both stages decisively determine the application of light within architecture and, moreover, that man still remains capable of controlling that which affects him and generates meanings for him. Unveiling the unconscious, conscious, and applied relations between man and light as inseparable stages, demonstrates how the human can achieve unification with architecture by virtue of light. Light and man meet in space. It is architectural space that provides the only control over natural light and allows light to act upon man in striking perfection. Consequently, inquiring into light will improve the definition of architectural space. Beyond being a mere three-dimensional void or simply the object of imaginations, concepts, intentions, etc., architectural space becomes a new dimension. / M. Arch.

The use of daylight brings many advantages, as a better quality lighting, psychophysiological benefits and the outside view. In addition, it minimizes the use of artificial lighting and it contributes to the recent interest in energy efficiency. But, despite the daylight s availability existing in Brazil, especially in its Northeast, and despite the great number of daylighting simulation tools, the concern with its optimization hardly takes part on the inicial design of buidings. This thesis is embedded within this context and it aims to analyze and compare the lighting performance between classrooms, trying to support daylighting in these environments. With the TropLux, the simulation of a standard classroom in the city of Aracaju, state of Sergipe, designated Geometry 1, the simulation of some changes in its characteristics, designated Geometries 2 and 3, and the simulation of new geometries with daylighting systems, designated Geometries 4 and 5, were proceeded. In both cases, the CIE Sky types 1 (overcast), 10 (partly cloudy) and 14 (clear) were considered. To analyze the lighting performance of these geometries, it was created isocurves graphics with percentages of illuminances inside the interval 300 lx < E < 2000 lx. From these isocurves graphics, different behaviours of the geometries under the Sky types analyzed were observed. To compare its performances, the average of illuminance s average, the average of the illuminance s percentages inside the interval above and the maximum and minimum values of the illuminance s average were calculated. These values evidence that isolated interventions in the standard classroom (Geometry 1), like increasing the ceiling reflectance (Geometry 2) or adopting a dropped ceiling plan (Geometry 3), does not contribute with the lighting performance s improvement in the illuminance`s interval considered. Nevertheless, they evidence na evolution in the lighting performance of Geometry 5 in relation to the standard classroom (Geometry 1). / O uso da luz natural traz diversas vantagens, dentre as quais destacam-se uma melhor qualidade da iluminação, benefícios psicofisiológicos e o contato com o meio exterior. Além disso, reduz o uso dos sistemas de iluminação artificial, contribuindo com o recente interesse pela eficiência energética. Mas, apesar da disponibilidade de luz natural existente no Brasil, especialmente na sua região Nordeste, e da existência de ferramentas de simulação computacional da luz natural, a preocupação com a sua otimização dificilmente faz parte da fase inicial de projeto das edificações. É dentro desse contexto que o presente trabalho está inserido, com o objetivo de analisar e comparar o desempenho luminoso entre salas de aula, tentando favorecer o uso da luz natural nesses ambientes. Utilizando-se o TropLux, procedeu-se à simulação de uma sala de aula padrão da cidade de Aracaju, no estado de Sergipe, designada Geometria 1, e de duas salas com alterações de algumas de suas características, designadas Geometrias 2 e 3, além de duas novas geometrias contendo elementos de controle e redirecionamento da luz natural, designadas Geometrias 4 e 5. Em ambos os casos foram considerados os céus CIE 1 (encoberto), 10 (parcialmente encoberto) e 14 (claro). Para a análise do desempenho luminoso das geometrias foram gerados gráficos de isocurvas contendo os percentuais de iluminâncias dentro do intervalo 300 lx < E < 2000 lx. A partir deles, observou-se os diferentes comportamentos das geometrias sob os tipos de céu analisados. Para a comparação entre os seus desempenhos, foram calculadas a média das iluminâncias médias, a média dos percentuais de iluminâncias dentro do intervalo proposto e os valores máximo e mínimo das iluminâncias médias. Tais valores demonstram que intervenções isoladas na sala de aula em estudo (Geometria 1), como o aumento da refletância do teto (Geometria 2) ou a inclusão de um teto rebaixado plano (Geometria 3), não trazem melhorias em relação ao seu desempenho luminoso dentro do intervalo de iluminâncias considerado. Apesar disso, sugerem uma evolução no desempenho luminoso da Geometria 5 em relação à sala de aula em estudo (Geometria 1).

Master of Science / Department of Architectural Engineering and Construction Science / Rhonda Wilkinson / Until recently sunlight was the primary source of illumination indoors, making perimeter fenestration essential and impacting the layout of buildings. Improvements in electric fixtures, light sources, control systems, electronic ballasts and dimming technology have influenced standard design practices to such a degree that allowing natural sunlight into a room is often seen as a liability. In the current climate of increasing energy prices and rising environmental awareness, energy conservation and resource preservation issues are a topic of governmental policy discussions for every nation on the planet. Governmental, institutional, social and economic incentives have emerged guiding the development and adoption of advanced daylighting techniques to reduce electric lighting loads in buildings used primarily during the day. A growing body of research demonstrates numerous health, occupant satisfaction, worker productivity and product sales benefits associated with natural lighting and exposure to sunlight. However, incorporating natural light into a lighting strategy is still complicated and risky as the intensity, variability and thermal load associated with sunlight can significantly impact mechanical systems and lead to serious occupant comfort issues if additional steps aren’t taken to attenuate or control direct sunlight. Fiber optic daylighting systems represent a new and innovative means of bringing direct sunlight into a building while maintaining the control ability and ease of application usually reserved for electric lighting by collecting natural light and channeling it through optical fibers to luminairies within the space. This technology has the ability to bring sunlight much deeper into buildings without impacting space layout or inviting the glare, lighting variability and heat gain issues that complicate most daylighting strategies. As products become commercially available and increasingly economically viable, these systems have the potential to conserve significant amounts of energy and improve indoor environmental quality across a variety of common applications.

published_or_final_version / Architecture / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

A novel and original category of low-cost static solar-daylighting-collectors named Keywo solar energy, solar collectors, daylighting systems, nonimaging optics, Refractive Integrated Nonimaging Solar Collectors (RINSC) has been designed and thoroughly tested. The RINSC category is based on nonimaging optics and integrates several optical elements, such as prismatic arrays and light guides, into a single-structured embodiment made of solid-dielectric material. The RINSC category is sub-divided in this thesis into four distinctive and original sub-categories/systems: Prismatic Solar Collectors (PSC), Multi-Prismatic Solar Collectors (MPSC), Integrated Multi-Prismatic Solar Collectors (IMPSC) and Vertically Integrated Nonimaging Solar Collectors (VINSC). The optical configuration and compact embodiment of these systems allows them to be integrated into a building façade without creating any protrusion, indicating that they can lead to solar collector systems with high building integration potential. Laboratory and outdoor experimental tests conducted with a series of demonstration prototypes made of clear polymethyl-methacrylate (PMMA) and manufactured by laser ablation process, yield peak transmission efficiencies TE varying from 2% to 8%. Computer simulations indicated that transmission efficiencies TE > 30% are possible. The design and development of the innovative optical systems introduced in this thesis were backed-up with extensive computer ray-tracing analysis, rapid-prototyping, laboratory and outdoor experimental tests. Injection moulding computer simulations and surface analysis concerning the development of the RINSC systems were also conducted. Basic theory and comprehensive literature review are presented. This research has also resulted in the design and prototyping of a novel optical instrumentation named Angular Distribution Imaging Device (ADID), specially developed to analyse the spatial distribution of light emerging from the exit aperture of solar collectors/concentrators. The systems and knowledge described in this thesis may find application in areas such as solar collector systems to harvest sunlight for natural illumination in buildings, solar-photovoltaic and solar-thermal.

Esta tese parte da hipótese de que nem todos os edifícios de escritório com certificação ambiental na cidade de São Paulo, construídos entre os anos 2000 a 2016, atendem de modo satisfatório as condições de iluminação natural, segundo as recomendações hoje em vigor. Esses edifícios contemporâneos possuem grandes áreas envidraçadas em suas fachadas, sem proteção solar, que causam problemas de conforto térmico e luminoso. Para evitar o ofuscamento, os usuários acionam proteções solares internas como telas e persianas, o que acaba por impedir ou diminuir o acesso à luz natural. A pesquisa realizada fez um levantamento dos padrões construtivos prevalecentes em 28 edifícios de escritório que se enquadram na especificação descrita acima para verificar questões como: a profundidade da planta, transmissão luminosa dos vidros, WWR (Wall Window Ratio), entre outras. Os dados encontrados serviram para a elaboração de modelos referenciais, usados em simulações computacionais, com o objetivo de verificar a influência de variáveis arquitetônicas no desempenho da iluminação natural. As simulações foram realizadas no plug-in Diva do programa Rhinoceros 3D, que simula a iluminação natural de forma integrada com os softwares Radiance/DAYSIM, já validados pela comunidade científica internacional. O tratamento dos dados foi feito através de um método inédito de avaliação do desempenho luminoso e os resultados obtidos mostraram que 60% dos cenários analisados foram reprovados. Esta tese propõe uma metodologia de avaliação do desempenho luminoso de edifícios de escritório que considere de modo integrado a disponibilidade de luz natural, o conforto visual e o consumo de energia. / This thesis is based on the hypothesis that not all office buildings with environmental certification in the city of São Paulo, constructed between 2000 and 2016, meet satisfactorily the conditions of daylighting, according to the recommendations currently in force. These contemporary offices have large glass areas without sun protection in their facades, causing problems of thermal and luminous comfort. In order to avoid glare, users employ indoor shading devices such as rollers and blinds, which ultimately prevent or reduce access to daylight. This research has carried out a survey on the prevailing constructive patterns of 28 office buildings that follow the specifications described above, to verify issues such as plan depth, light transmission of glasses, WWR (Wall Window Ratio), among others. The collected data were used to elaborate reference models used in computational simulations, aiming at verifying the influence of architectural variables on the performance of daylighting. The simulations were carried out with the Diva plug-in for Rhinoceros 3D program, which simulates daylighting, integrated with software Radiance/DAYSIM, already validated by the international scientific community. The data treatment was carried out through an innovative method for evaluating luminous performance, and the obtained results showed that 60% of the analyzed scenarios were disapproved. This thesis proposes that the methodology for evaluating the luminous performance of office buildings should consider the availability of daylight, visual comfort, and energy consumption in an integrated way.

Esta pesquisa resultou na proposição de um conjunto de diretrizes que viabilizem a implementação e a redação de um projeto de regulamentação energética para edifícios de escritórios, no que se refere à luz natural. Para tanto, foi efetuado um levantamento das leis, normas e certificações em vigência nos países: Brasil, Estados Unidos, Canadá, Portugal, Reino Unido, França e Alemanha, que se referem à iluminação natural e sua interface com a iluminação artificial, em edifícios de escritórios. Foram incluídos neste conjunto de regulamentos, normas da ISO e CIE, por se tratarem de referências internacionais. A partir deste levantamento foram destacados e agrupados por assunto, os itens que continham indicadores para a avaliação da admissão de luz natural em prédios de escritórios. No Capítulo 5, Estudos de Caso, foram analisados cinco projetos de escritórios, de prédios construídos na cidade de São Paulo, quanto aos aspectos da insolação e admissão da luz natural. Os projetos foram simulados em computador e, pelos resultados obtidos com a aplicação do software Radiance, verificou-se a conformidade destes projetos com os indicadores coletados. Estas avaliações permitiram conclusões sobre os projetos e, também, sobre os indicadores utilizados. A partir destas conclusões foram apresentadas diretrizes para o caso brasileiro, apontando itens para regulamentos que quando aplicados otimizem o uso da luz natural nos ambientes de escritórios. / This research has resulted in the proposition of a group of directives which may enable the implementation and outlining of an energetic regulation project for office buildings as related to daylighting. To that end, current codes, norms and certification systems, in use in Brazil, United States, Canada, Portugal, United Kingdom, France, and Germany, all regarding daylighting and its interaction with artificial lighting in office buildings, were raised. We have added to this group of regulations the ISO and CIE norms, due to their being international references. Starting out from these regulations, the items that contain indicators for the evaluation of daylight admission in office buildings have been grouped and outlined by category. In chapter 5, Case Studies, five office buildings in Sao Paulo city have been analyzed regarding their insolation and daylight performance. The projects were computer-simulated and, through the results obtained by applying the Radiance software, the conformity of these projects with the collected indicators were verified. These evaluations led to conclusions about the projects, as well as about the used indicators. From these conclusions, directives have been presented for use in the Brazilian case, identifying items for regulations that, when applied, will optimize the use of daylight in offices.

O presente trabalho se propõe a analisar o método para avaliação da iluminação natural, utilizando os modelos físicos reduzidos como ferramenta, com o intuito de avaliar os aspectos quantitativos e qualitativos da luz. Foi realizado um diagnóstico deste método mostrando suas qualidades e limitações. O uso de modelos físicos reduzidos é um dos métodos mais antigos de avaliação da iluminação natural. Este é um instrumento preciso, caso o modelo seja executado de forma correta, considerando-se que a propagação da luz segue os mesmos princípios tanto em um modelo físico reduzido, como em um edifício em escala real. Através deste instrumento, torna-se possível testar as diversas soluções em busca da eficiência energética e do conforto visual. Para verificar o grau de confiabilidade dos resultados através da aplicação deste método foi feita uma comparação entre medições da iluminância em um modelo físico reduzido e medições realizadas em um ambiente real correspondente. Com o objetivo de demonstrar os procedimentos necessários para o uso de modelos físicos reduzidos no estudo da iluminação natural, foram feitas medições em dois modelos com estratégias de iluminação diferenciadas. Um deles possui iluminação natural unilateral, ao passo que, o segundo possui as características da abertura unilateral semelhante ao primeiro, porém, com a inclusão de uma prateleira de luz. Já o ambiente real foi selecionado devido à simplicidade de sua geometria e a facilidade de acesso para a realização das medições. As conclusões demonstram que para alcançar resultados confiáveis é necessário construir os modelos com precisão, sendo recomendável medir a iluminância dos mesmos sob diversas condições de céu, para que desta forma seja possível avaliar o desempenho médio da iluminação natural por um longo período. / The present work considers the analysis of scale models for daylighting evaluation, aiming at investigating quantitative and qualitative aspects of light. A diagnosis of scale modeling was carried out, showing its strengths and limitations. Scale modelling is one of the oldest methods for daylighting evaluation. It is also a precise instrument, when properly constructed, considering that light propagation follows the same principle in a scale model as it does in a full-scale room. Through this method, it is possible to test different solutions towards energy efficiency and visual comfort. To verify the trustworthiness of scale modeling, a comparison between illuminance measurements in a scale model against a corresponding full-scale room was carried out. Two scale models with different daylighting systems were built to demonstrate the necessary procedures in utilizing scale models for daylighting studies: one of them had embedded a sidelighting system, and the other one, which held similar characteristics, comprised also a lightshelf. Nevertheless, the full-scale room was selected taking into consideration the simplicity of its geometry and the easiness of the access for the measurement procedures. The conclusions demonstrate that in order to reach trustworthy results, it is necessary to construct scale models in a precise way. Furthermore, its recommended to measure the illuminance under diverse sky conditions, enabling the evaluation of average daylighting performance within long terms.