Integration of Daylight Use and Analysis in Double Skin Facades: a Literature Review

Abstract

Double skin facades (DSF) aim to save energy reducing the heat losses in buildings. They are visually appeal while allowing to use daylight efficiently. Such facade systems can reduce glare and distribute daylight evenly in the interior when compared to conventional facade systems. That is a result of cavities between two glass facades and locating sun shading elements in them, although this system provides a high level of transparency. As their primary purpose of application is to ensure thermal performance and ventilation, most studies in literature have focused on these. This study started with the hypothesis that studies examining daylight performance in DSFs are more limited than studies examining thermal performance and that daylight optimization methods are not used sufficiently in DSFs. In this context, the study aims to analyze studies focusing on daylight performance of DSFs. The review targets results of such current studies to guide future ones providing feedback knowledge. This may help to better technical developments in such facades and make them prevail in constructions or in retrofitting So, it contributes to literature in this sense. Recent studies are shown in tabulated form and interpreted in detail with graphics. considering their methodologies, daylight parameters and findings. Results show that the daylight parameter is one of the most important issues that architects or designers should consider from the moment they start the design, and they should make their designs based on the optimum penetration of daylight into the building. Consequently, this review presents that the use of daylight optimization has started to be used in recent studies dealing with DSFs. A DSF design can optimally get daylight into the interior can be made by using this method more frequently.