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Lightbox
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The Carbon Neutral Design Project:
Carbon Neutral Teaching: Curriculum Materials Development
Terri Meyer Boake
School of Architecture, University of Waterloo

Core Technical Courses in Environmental Design
Beginning Design Course Projects

The Lightbox

lightbox lightbox
lightbox lightbox

Design Performance Objective

The Lightbox
Various lightboxes showing interior and exterior views.

 

Winter 2008 - Arch 125: Intro to Environmental Design

The Lightbox

The purpose of the project is twofold:

1. to be able to design so that the sun can heat your building in the winter and that the same openings will be shaded as of August 21 noon in the summer, to prevent overheating.

2. to understand the effect of natural lighting on the quality of light in the interior environment.

Our investigation of Passive Solar Design and the Vernacular has led us to an appreciation of the need for a certain quantity of south light, and an avoidance of east and west light on the basis of its difficulty in terms of shade control. The quality of natural light in a room, its amount, its evenness, and the impact of glare, are of equal importance in the creation of good architecture. This project will examine the implications of the geometry and placement of glazing, as it relates to the room size/proportions, ceiling height, wall dimensions and shading devices -- and intended use of the room. The function of the room, the way it is used, the desire for direct vs. indirect light, the relationship with the exterior and issues of view -- will drive the design of the daylighting.

course outline

project outline

Investigative Strategy

Using rough calculations, prepare a light study model that demonstrates shading and solar penetration into a simple room. Normally foamcore is used as it is quick and easy to pin together (so you can take it apart). We are looking for a more environmentally friendly, yet speedy, material.

 

Evaluation Process

The students present their models on two heliodons - one set at the proper sun angle for noon on December 21, the other for noon on August 21. We do not use June 21 (summer solstice) as it does not address the issue of August overheating.

The pattern for the heliodon can be found in Heating, Cooling, Lighting.

Evaluative Criteria

Does the lightbox show full shading on August 21 and maximum solar penetration on December 21? Is is contructable? Aesthetics of the light and suitability of same to the function of the room. Neatness of the model. Did they do "more" by thinking about materials or exterior conditions?

Cautions - Possible Confusions
The students forget to consider the effects of rain and snow on the design of their roofs. We often see negative sloping roofs into glazed clerestories or skylights. Clerestories seldom show upstands and once they would be properly detailed, would be too small to accommodate glass! Understanding the constructablity implications of their strategies. They tend to overcomplicate the proposal and try to use systems that require mechanical means - difficult to do in this scale of model.
Range of Applicability in terms of CLIMATE
This project can be done for any climate. Students must have access to the sun angles for their particular latitude and understand that they are designing for this location in particular.
Range of Applicability in terms of TYPE
This type of approach is suitable for any scale or type of building. We normally select a residential room as the students are familiar with the type, but the lightbox can be done for any type of room in any scale of building.
Reference Material
Heating, Cooling, Lighting. Norbert Lechner
Class powerpoints: Solar Geometry. Shading.
Duration of Exercise
The project has a two week turnaround but takes only several hours to complete.
Degree of Difficulty / Previous Knowledge Required
Easy. This is an initial exercise, attempted after a lecture on solar geometry and shadiing.
lightbox lightbox
lightbox lightbox
Various Lightboxes showing interior and exterior views
   

 

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