Daylight Design of Buildings: A Handbook for Architects and Engineers Book

Typically one third of the energy used in non-domestic buildings is for artificial lighting. Good daylight design in buildings offers huge potential savings -- as high as 70% -- for both new and refurbished buildings. There is also growing evidence that daylit buildings have fewer problems relating to health and well-being of the occupants. Daylight design should be a high priority in new building design and refurbishment.

"Daylight Design of Buildings" provides the necessary tools to assist the designer to provide well-daylit interiors. It also shows that good daylight design is not a restriction on architectural expression -- on the contrary, it is more likely to act as an inspiration and foundation for good architecture.

The book begins with an historical overview against the background of climate, building use and cultural values. It demonstrates the huge impact that the provision of daylight within a building has had upon the architectural expression and meaning, at all levels. The core of the book is devoted to design considerations and techniques, following a logical structure which moves from the geographical location, the site and form of the building, through room design to the detailed design of the windows including advanced daylighting elements. This is supplemented by a reference section including the necessary design data, tools available (both manual and computer-based), and post-occupancy evaluation procedures.

Architects, building designers and building engineers will find "Daylight Design of Buildings" a truly practical handbook applicable to both new-build and refurbishment. The book complements the critical and objective view from the study of the 60 buildings presented in the book Daylight Performance of Buildings (James & James, 1999, Editor: Marc Fontoynont, ISBN 1 873936 87 7). Together, these two books document the principal results of the Daylight Europe project funded by the European Commission.