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Subject Overview
This course aims at providing the tools necessary for an efficient integration of daylighting issues in the overall design process of a building. Through an optimized use of daylight in buildings and an adequate combination with electric lighting, a building's environmental impact can be reduced significantly while improving the well-being and visual comfort of the inhabitants.
Fundamentals of daylighting will be introduced and their relevance to design decisions emphasized: The benefits and availability of daylight, the sun course, solar radiation and protection, photometry and the physics of light propagation, visual and color perception, daylighting metrics, visual and thermal comfort, electric lighting and primary daylighting strategies.
More advanced lighting design topics will also be presented and practiced, both through a design project and the class lectures and homework assignments, such as advanced lighting design strategies (innovative glazing and shading technologies, advanced control), and design and assessment tools for lighting management (experimental approaches, computer-based design tools).
Learning Objectives
By getting familiar with the factors and quantities involved in a given (day)lighting situation, students will be able to assess it in different ways (visual assessment, experimental survey, calculations or computer simulations) and to propose advanced (day)lighting strategies to improve it.
Grading
Grading criteria.
| ACTIVITIES |
PERCENTAGES |
| Class participation and homework |
30% |
| In-class quiz |
20% |
| Design project |
50% |
Homework assignments will include problem sets and field studies. The design project will be organised in three parts: Lighting diagnostic of an existing building, concept for improving the lighting conditions, proposal for an optimized lighting strategy. Each group of students (2-3 per group) will be giving a short presentation of their project and submit a written report at the end of the term. There will be no final exam.
Reading
Reading in conjunction with the course will be from the following (and others):
Lechner, Norbert. Heating, Cooling, Lighting: Design Methods for Architects. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 2000. ISBN: 9780471241430.
Baker, Nick, and Koen Steemers. Daylight Design of Buildings. London, UK: James & James, 2002. ISBN: 9781873936887.
Rea, Mark Stanley. The IESNA Lighting Handbook. New York, NY: Illuminating Engineering Society of North America, 2000. ISBN: 9780879951504.
Guzowski, Mary. Daylighting for Sustainable Design. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 1999. ISBN: 9780070254398.
Fontoynont, Marc. Daylight Performance of Buildings. London, UK: James & James, 1999. ISBN: 9781873936870.
Calendar
Course calendar.
| SES # |
TOPICS |
KEY DATES |
| DESIGN PROJECTS |
HOMEWORK |
| 1 |
Introduction: class contents, daylighting in history |
|
|
| 2 |
Designing with natural light: daylight availability, benefits and issues |
|
|
| 3 |
Solar radiation and sun course: insolation, color temperature, sun charts |
|
|
| 4 |
Sunlight penetration: shading, solar gains, thermal comfort |
Diagnostic: instructions |
Homework 1 due |
| 5 |
Photometry: physics of light, vision and perception |
Diagnostic: data collection |
|
| 6 |
Photometry: lighting quantities |
Diagnostic: critique |
Homework 2 due |
| 7 |
Daylighting metrics: daylight factor, sky models, dynamic metrics |
|
|
| 8 |
Visual comfort: recommendations, glare, health issues |
Concept: instructions |
Homework 3 due |
| 9 |
On-site daylighting analysis |
|
|
| 10 |
Case studies |
Concept: critique
Proposal: instructions
|
|
| 11 |
In-class quiz |
|
|
| 12 |
Electric lighting: lamp types, light distribution |
Proposal: critique |
|
| 13 |
Electric lighting (cont.)
Guest speaker: Greg Walson, Reflex lighting
|
Proposal: ultimate questions and answers |
|
| 14 |
Color perception: colorimetry, color effects |
Final project: presentation
|
|
| 15 |
Lighting design: case studies
Guest speaker: Barry Webb
|
Final reports due |
|
| 16 |
Lighting design: case studies (cont.)
Guest speaker: Barry Webb
|
|
Homework 4 due |
| 17 |
Design and assessment tools: manual methods |
|
|
| 18 |
Design and assessment tools: experimental methods, MIT heliodons |
|
|
| 19 |
Design and assessment tools: computer simulations (overview) |
|
Homework 5 due |
| 20 |
Design and assessment tools: computer simulations (practice) |
|
|
| 21 |
Advanced daylighting strategies: complex fenestration systems |
|
|
| 22 |
Case studies |
|
Homework 6 due |
| 23 |
Visit of a landmark building: Genzyme headquarters, Cambridge, MA |
|
|
| 24 |
Student presentations |
|
|
| 25 |
Student presentations (cont.) |
|
|
| 26 |
Ongoing research in daylighting at MIT Guest speakers: MIT Building Technology students |