ARTICLES ON DAYLIGHT

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DESIGN GUIDES FOR STUDENTS

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Access articles and publications on architecture, daylighting strategies for interiors, algorithmic design tools, Open BIM workflows, and basic principles for low-energy building design.

Explore design guides created for architecture students, and equally valuable to practicing architects. Discover how light, form, function, and technology shape sustainable and human-centered buildings.

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Shaping spaces with light - design principles and the EN 17037 EU standard

Light is one of architecture’s most powerful materials. It transforms spaces, influences well-being, and brings buildings to life. This presentation invites students of architecture and practicing architects alike to explore the art and science of daylighting, guided by the design principles outlined in the EN 17037 standard. Get to know the basics of natural and artificial lighting, the regulatory framework, and design strategies. Discover how thoughtful daylight design not only enhances comfort and sustainability but also elevates the human experience of architecture.

Well-being and energy performance through daylight - the 17037 EU standard

This article compares the current Hungarian building code regulations and the normative proposals of the EN 17037 European Standard. The EU standard addresses both the quantity and quality of daylight in buildings. It encourages architects and owners to design and create buildings and indoor spaces that are more comfortable for occupants, promote psychological well-being, reduce operational costs, and support the active use of renewable energy sources.

Algorithmic design for low-energy architecture

This presentation introduces architecture students to the fundamentals of algorithmic design and its role in creating sustainable, low-energy buildings. Discover how advanced design tools can enhance performance, reduce energy consumption, and promote sustainable architecture. Topics include the basics of algorithmic design, its use in sustainable building strategies, and the tools that enable architects to develop smarter, energy-efficient solutions, with case studies.

Algorithmic design for energy-efficient and site-responsive buildings

This article provides a concise and straightforward introduction to algorithmic design, with a focus on its applications in architectural practice. It demonstrates how algorithmic methods can be utilized to design energy-efficient, cost-effective buildings that fully respond to site and climate conditions, while meeting regulations and supporting all necessary functions. A case study presents a real-world design scenario, outlining the workflow steps involved in using computer software applications.

Building smarter together - the power of Open BIM

This presentation offers a historical overview of the evolution of Building Information Modeling (BIM). It highlights the principles of Open BIM, focusing on collaborative design and integrated workflows, while emphasizing its core values and the business benefits it offers to architects, engineers, developers, and building owners. The session also explores how Open BIM supports the entire building life cycle—from design and procurement to construction, assembly, and long-term operation.

Big data for smarter cities - save resources and improve the built environment

Smart cities use Information Technology (IT) infrastructure to lower maintenance costs, save natural resources, and improve living conditions for residents. Various sectors, such as traffic and healthcare, are developing smart city technologies. However, energy, water, and waste-management sectors greatly impact our sustainable future; thus, these sectors are leading the way in technological advancements.

Why early design choices matter the most for building energy performance

In sustainable design, nearly 80% of decisions influencing a building’s energy performance are made by architects during the early design stage. The remaining 20% usually occur later and are handled by engineers. This emphasizes the importance of providing architects with quick and reliable energy performance assessment workflows—right from the beginning of the design process and regardless of the software tools they select.

Daylighting principles for architects for the early design stage

This article introduces tools that help architects understand how their design choices impact the daylighting performance of buildings during the early or conceptual phase. These tools deliver quick results, require no preliminary studies, and produce appropriate sizing outcomes within 15 minutes.

Climatic adaptation of modern housing within a traditional environment

This article features an architectural design competition entry that highlights the traditional, cultural, and economic advantages of the building's energy strategy, emphasizing its significance in the architectural design process. The house responds to Bahrain's hot and dry climate. It achieves thermal comfort with a modern look by using traditional methods such as reflective surfaces, managing external gains, daylighting, natural ventilation, and evaporative cooling.

Artificial lighting in buildings - essential design guidelines

This design guide helps architecture students and practicing architects develop effective interior artificial lighting solutions. As part of the Comprehensive Design 2 semester project, students create detailed architectural working drawings at scales of 1:50, 1:10, and 1:5. This exercise not only develops technical skills but also enhances the integration of lighting design into architectural practice.

Electric power demand of buildings - essential design guidelines

This design guide helps architecture students understand the basics of electrical power planning in buildings. It offers guidance on predicting power supply options, calculating total electrical demand, and designing key technical spaces such as switch rooms, battery (UPS) rooms, transformer stations, and generator facilities. By applying these principles in architectural design, students will develop the skills to create buildings that are both functional and ready for modern energy needs.

Transparent matters - the NBC office building

The NBC Building is situated in Budapest, near the Hungarian Parliament on Kossuth Lajos tér and Honvéd utca, directly next to the BNP-Dresner Bank headquarters. It offers seven floors of fully air-conditioned, bright, stylish, and versatile space within a highly modern and technologically advanced design. A significant new addition to the district's architectural landscape, it will likely enhance its environment.

From sunlight to savings - improving indoor spaces with daylighting

Well-designed natural lighting systems can cut electricity use for lighting by an average of 30–60%, depending on factors like the room’s purpose, occupancy, and building structure. People working in naturally lit spaces tend to feel less fatigue compared to those under artificial light. Additionally, retail spaces with natural lighting often see a notable boost in customer traffic. Daylighting systems provide zero-carbon natural sunlight for indoor areas by capturing sunlight and directing it—via fiber optics—deep into the building, away from windows.

From calculations to collaboration: the impact of Open BIM workflows

MEP engineers design and assess a building’s heating and cooling systems, creating piping networks and mechanical units—both indoor and outdoor—based on precise calculations. In doing so, they may also suggest adjustments to architectural elements, such as slab or wall openings, partition wall placement, or the shape of suspended ceilings. Besides the mechanical systems that directly influence architectural design, an open and shared design environment encourages more effective collaboration, easier design revisions, and more efficient project delivery.

Integrating BIM for smarter MEP engineering​

The BIM environment allows architects and engineers to filter and selectively display elements before sharing the design with the extended team. The open collaboration workflow ensures smooth exchange of design information among architects, engineers, and all co-designers without any loss. At the same time, it provides powerful tools for version control—enabling teams to track revisions, review deviations and modifications, and decide whether to accept or reject them.

Building Information Modeling (BIM) basics

The strategic goal - which also offers several business benefits - of a model-based design environment is to ensure everyone involved—designers, engineers, consultants, contractors, and facility managers—works within a shared model. This environment goes beyond just visualizing building geometry; it also incorporates essential input data for planning and supports processes like sizing, analysis, and budgeting. Equally important, it provides a platform for capturing, sharing, and reusing knowledge generated throughout the design process.

Architectural design and building energy performance

About 80% of a building’s fundamental energy performance is determined by architects during the early design and conceptual stages. In contrast, only around 20% of energy-related planning decisions are made with the involvement of energy experts—generally much later in the process. Designers often are not fully aware of how their early choices impact overall building performance. However, practical and easy-to-use tools are available to help architects make better-informed decisions and include energy considerations from the start.

Let the sunshine in with hybrid solar daylighting systems

Lighting accounts for nearly 30% of electricity use in our buildings. By implementing solar and hybrid solar daylighting systems, we can significantly reduce this consumption while improving indoor lighting quality. These systems not only lower energy costs but also introduce healthier, more natural daylight into our spaces, making them brighter and more comfortable.

Daylighting analysis of rooflights through model measurements in the artificial sky

The artificial sky can replicate various sky luminance distributions by switching the light sources. The interiors of any shape, surfaces of any material, and any type of opening can be tested using physical models and miniatures. This method's accuracy meets all practical needs. The sky itself is a hemisphere with a 6-meter diameter, illuminated around its perimeter beneath the horizontal plane. All standard sky conditions, such as IEC Overcast Sky, can be created and maintained throughout the measurements.