Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 M.A. in Architecture, Faculty of Arts and Architecture, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran
2 Associate Professor, Department of Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Introduction: In recent decades, rapid population growth, urban density, and the reduction of per capita green space have posed significant challenges to the environmental quality of residential units. Balconies, as one of the few semi-open spaces in apartments, can, if designed intelligently, serve as platforms for indoor green landscapes, enhancing user comfort and plant productivity. In the hot-arid climate of Qom, intense solar radiation not only causes glare and reduces visual comfort but also damages indoor plants. Therefore, optimizing daylight through the application of Adaptive Kinetic Skins presents an effective approach to simultaneously meeting plant lighting needs and improving the visual quality of space.
Methodology: This study adopts a mixed field–simulation approach. In the fieldwork phase, natural illuminance was measured at four points within the balcony and its adjacent bedroom from January to July 2025, at three daily time intervals, and processed using Python along with Pandas, NumPy, and Matplotlib libraries. In the simulation phase, a base model and three Adaptive Kinetic Skins with triangular, square, and hexagonal geometries—each in five opening ratios (30% to 70%)—were evaluated using Honeybee, Ladybug, and the Radiance engine. Key performance metrics included sDA, ASE, UDI, and annual hourly analysis.
Results and Discussion: Findings revealed that although the base model achieved a high sDA, its excessive ASE resulted in severe glare and unsuitable lighting conditions for plants. The square model with 40% opening achieved the highest sDA (0.60) and the greatest UDI within the target range. The hexagonal model with 30% opening recorded the lowest ASE (0.00), completely eliminating glare, albeit with lower UDI. Annual hourly analysis indicated that 30% and 40% openings across all geometries provided the best balance between adequate daylight and minimizing excessive solar exposure in the hot-arid climate of Qom.
Conclusion: The proposed final configurations are the square geometry with 40% opening and the hexagonal geometry with 30% opening, as they achieve the optimal balance between plant lighting requirements and user visual comfort, while being most compatible with the hot-arid climate and southeast-facing balconies. This climate-responsive design approach can be applied as a practical solution for daylight optimization in semi-open residential spaces. The results confirm that the designed Adaptive Kinetic Skins effectively regulate daylight within the desired range while simultaneously enhancing visual comfort and providing favorable lighting conditions for plants.
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