Improving Visual Comfort and Health through the Design of a Local Shading Device

Abstract

As people develop higher standards for the beauty of urban architecture, more and more architectural designs are exploring sources of natural lighting, such as glass curtain walls and glass domes. However, the pursuit of architectural design aesthetics introduces glare into buildings, which can be uncomfortable and even dangerous for health. Scholars in related fields have carried out many theoretical studies and design activities based on this problem. In this study, we focus on issues of glare in public buildings, aiming to improve light comfort by solving this problem. First, we propose an improved design strategy based on IDEO design thinking by adding the step of diverging from the design scheme. Second, guided by the results of a questionnaire survey and light environment simulations, we avoided the subjective simplicity of the traditional design process. Third, taking the main library of Shanghai Jiao Tong University as an example, we designed a movable sunshade that could effectively reduce glare effects and improve visual comfort, which improved the light comfort in public buildings. The simulation results show that the proposed design can be useful in buildings to effectively control glare and improve visual comfort and health.

Evaluation of the Visual Comfort and Daylight Performance of the Visual Art Classrooms

“…The application of artificial lighting with LED light sources and the generation of various lighting strategies with different dimming zones can provide a satisfactory level of the visual comfort and contribute to the students' well-being and overall study performance [16]. Students prefer the seating places near the windows, which have good view and no glare, for reading [17], [18]. Organization of the environment with high contrast positively affects the productivity of work [19].…”

Biomimicry as an Approach to Improve Daylighting Performance in Office Buildings in Assiut City, Egypt

“…According to a survey on 20 office buildings, 60% of the employees prefer direct sunlight in their offices rather than artificial lighting; for at least one season of the year [1]. In office buildings, daylighting affects indoor environmental quality, occupants' mental and psychological conditions, absenteeism reduction, productivity, and visual comfort [2][3][4][5][6]. Poor lighting levels cause several symptoms (e.g., eye stress, headache, and seasonal affective disorder) [2].…”

“…Visual comfort: via controlling the amount of light and reducing glare, is pivotal to the indoor environmental quality [7], especially in hot arid regions, which are characterized by high solar radiation levels during the year. In these regions, building orientation and shading systems are commonly used tools to promote visual comfort [6,8].…”