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International Journal of Advanced Biotechnology and Research (IJBR)
ISSN 0976-2612, Online ISSN 2278–599X,
Vol-7, Special Issue3-April, 2016, pp1664-1675
http://www.bipublication.com
Case Report
The Study of Energy Efficiency by Central Atrium in
Residential Complexes
Mehdi Niknam1 and Nasim Najafgholipour 2
1
Student in Master of Architecture,
Islamic Azad University, International Branch,
Jolfa, Art & Architecture Department, Jolfa, Iran ( [email protected])
2
Faculty member, Art & Architecture Department,
Islamic Azad University, Tabriz Branch, Tabriz, Iran ([email protected])
ABSTRACT
Atrium with a history of several thousand years, in various forms, in all climates was observed and in the last century
with a glass roof and different features, despite the high heat dissipation and interaction of comfort conditions are
welcomed in public buildings for reception and living room, providing interior lighting and creating interior green
spaces. Limitations of energy resources make necessary optimizing in various ways. By applying the principles of
sustainable architecture and modern methods of architecture in addition to the optimized use of sunlight in building,
creating a comfortable space for life is possible and energy resources is maintained for future generations. One of the
most important ways to use solar energy in the buildings is atriums or middle-forums. Before the atrium is one of the
building components, it is the last human achievements and also is the result of his efforts during the history of
building for recruiting and better use of sunlight. Atriums due to the physical and environmental factors have a
changeable thermal performance that non-consideration of designers to them makes disturbing individual’s comfort
and waste of energy. Atriums also have proper capabilities of solar energy gaining and saving that. Energy can reduce
40% of the energy used to provide thermal comfort within the atrium. This paper using library based and descriptiveanalytical study, investigates the effect of optical reflectors of atrium as a important space in today’s architecture and
its importance in sustainable and solar architecture and atrium is known as a architectural spaces with a formal,
conceptual and functional richness that its existing in a building aside the other spaces leads to pure spatial
experiences.
Key words: Atrium, optical reflectors, energy, residential complex
1. INTRODUCTION
In 1970s, by starting energy crisis in the world,
sustainable era began and followed by it, three
effective domains-social values, environmental
resources and designing skills-arrived in
developmental discussion. According to three
major issues as energy, environment and ecology,
the subjects of designing skills and technical
knowledge has redefined and in approach of
sustainable development in the scale of city to
building were evaluated. Today, architecture as an
ultra-system has an important task, since 50% of
global energy consumption in this area has been
spent or lost. In order to improve the quality of
life in sustainable development, architecture in
addition to reduce energy consumption and reduce
environmental pollution, its elements, it should
coordinate its elements as smaller systems for
goals of sustainable development. Today,
considering the goals of sustainable architecture,
not only atrium that has low energy loss can be
designed, but also plays a new role in reducing
energy consumption in the form of natural heating
The Study of Energy Efficiency by Central Atrium in Residential Complexes
and cooling and passive solar performance and
according to its thermal-inference characteristics,
it makes possible the possibility of increasing
internal opening surfaces to receive more natural
light. Since the atriums on the one hand lead to
create a sense of integration and interaction in the
interior space and on the other hand like a mutual
border highlight the interaction between building
and city; the goals of sustainable architecture to
improve the quality of urban life and public
participation is manifested through it. In fact,
atriums like other parts of a building should
follow physical objectives of architecture in a
process from total to particular and appropriate
action in accordance with it. Today, atriums are
known as the most popular parts of buildings due
to the sense of openness and light. Therefore,
atriums could give natural light and space
protected from wind and rain as well as
facilitating accesses and existing green cover and
beautiful tropical trees for inhabitants. But
according to the comprehensive approach to issue
of sustainable architecture, how can these spaces
provide the goals of architecture? To achieve the
respond, the atrium should be questioned and
examined from the different aspects of sustainable
architecture. These aspects include:
1. How much are atriums appropriate to save
and maintain energy?
2. How does atrium act to establish a temperate
micro climate and provide human welfare
and ecological relationship with the
environment?
3. How does atrium make social interaction
based on the framework of sustainable
development and what role does it play
between building and city?
4. How can we solve roofed-being problem of
atrium in different seasons?
With regard to conducted studies in the field
of designing kinds of atriums and according to the
climate conditions of the places, the various
aspects of these spaces are investigated. Atriums,
in general, divided into five different categories as
central, integrated, linear, interfaced, and
environmental atriums. Atriums also are
considered based on the thermal interface role and
the possibility of saving energy, the effect on the
welfare conditions of its surrounding space, types
of glass-making, the amount of thermal storage
and values of its internal turbidity levels, effects
of reducing or distributing sound and the amount
of natural lighting and the way of formation of
public spaces inside and outside the atrium.
1.1. Review of the Literature
Table 1- Literature review of Iranian authors
Column
Authors
’ name
1
Nouhi,
Hamid
2
Sayadi,
Ehsan
Year of
publication
Reference name
2000
Meditation on Art
and Architecture
2012
Sustainable
Architecture
3
Ghiabakl
ou,
Zahra
2014
Fundamentals of
Building Physics
2
4
Moradi,
Sasan
2012
Adjusting
Environmental
conditions
Mehdi Niknam, et al.
conclusion
Trying to link art, philosophy and religion with the
basic categories of life, it means architecture,
urban planning, and environment is an issue that
should be considered in current era.
In sustainable architecture, building not only
adapts to the climatic conditions in its areas, but
also it establishes a reciprocal relationship. Thus,
according to Richard Rogers, buildings are like
birds that cover its plumage in winter and adapt it
own to new conditions and based on it adjust their
metabolism.
Atrium method cause to great saving home
heating costs and is easily adaptable to the
building. The system does not have mechanical
and electrical components associated with
depreciation and has a long life, including noncreation of noise and smoke and lack of need to
the plumbing.
By using some strategies like atrium, it can be
participated in further sustainability of
contemporary architecture and urban planning,
reference
Gam-e-No
publication,
P. 142
Loutous
publication,
Tehran, 1,
P.14
ISBN
publication,
Tehran, 1(7),
P. 52-55
Arman Shahr
publication,
P. 54-56
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The Study of Energy Efficiency by Central Atrium in Residential Complexes
growth and development to protect environment
by designing atrium aside nature instead of
dealing with it.
Atrium, Central-light Capturer, is one of the most
prominent and the most identify-maker of spaces
used in the past and especially in the modern
architecture, that can be used and considered as a
symbol of sustainable architecture beyond the role
of providing light and internal access.
Atium, by simulating external environment,
increases natural light of own atrium and
surrounding areas. This leads to the creation of
natural and memorable space which will provide
different experience of the artificial environment
for space users.
5
Madi,
Hossein
&Mofidi
, SeyedMajid
2007
Atrium As a
Symbol of
Sustainable
Architecture
6
Barzgari,
Hoda
2013
Investigating
Atrium As a
Supplier element
of light
2012
The Role of
Atrium in
Optimizing Fuel
Consumption in
the Building
Atriums due to its physical and environmental
factors have changeable thermal performance that
not paying attention of designers to them will
bring disturbing in people welfare ad waste of
energy.
Conference
on Planning
and
Management
of
Environment,
Tehran
2006
Principles and
Fundamentals of
Lighting in
Architecture
In architecture for greater emphasize on some
parts of the façade, it can be benefited from
natural light that in this way by creating bumps
and chutes on location, it can be made shadows on
some parts of the façade that can emphasize on the
considered section.
Publication
of Tehran
University,
second
edition.
7
Madani,
Ramin&
Mokhtari
, Mahsa
8
Mahmou
di,
Kourous
h
Sixth
National
Conference
on Energy,
Tehran
International
Conference
on Lighting,
Shiraz
(Reference: Authors)
1.2. Methodology
The method used I this study is consistent with
research topics, that is one type of compound
methods. So, for achieving Theoretical basis of
the research including information about the
Atrium, urban areas and familiarity to central
atrium efficiency, using comparative-survey
method for examining obtained data and analyzing
similar samples, the desired results are obtained.
2. Atrium History
Historically, atrium is a term that had been
referred to open yards or rooms with porous
within the Roman houses that had pond to collect
rain water- atrium in the side of interior spaces
had the duty of providing fresh air and controlled
light. In The Middle Ages, yards of Basilica
churches that religious groups used it to
accumulation had called atrium. After aware of
the glass properties and to attract and retain heat
in 18th century, these spaces with ceilings and
glass walls and wooden frames were used by
Dutch botanists. During the nineteenth century
and in the following of producing steel products
Mehdi Niknam, et al.
and creating large opening, the large glass areas
were designed and build for exhibitions and stores
of industrial and agricultural products of the most
famous and the oldest atrium can be referred to
Royal Pavilion in Braytvan, Crystal Palace and
Milan’s gallery. At the beginning of the 20th
century and by beginning of the modern
movements in architecture, spatial features of
atrium make that Loid Wright used it for
concentrating of employees and creating solidarity
among them in Larkin official building. In 1960s,
followed by the need to light in interior spaces and
horizontal and vertical facilitating, enjoying the
atriums were common in most public, commercial
and official buildings for living clients, travelers
and for people and students meetings.
In this context, designers accordance with the
form of major building brought in and used
atriums in their designs as central, integrated,
linear, linked and environmental forms. A large
part of these interface areas was glass surfaces that
made possible entering light, vision and
perspective for people usage, surrounding spaces
and for growth of the plants inside of buildings.
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The Study of Energy Efficiency by Central Atrium in Residential Complexes
After energy crisis and environmental problems ad
emphasizing
on
sustainable
development
necessity, designing artificial areas were
considered in a comprehensive process including
ecology, environmental and energy resources.
Therefore, the middle spaces such as the atrium
that play an important role in providing natural
light, interior welfare conditions, creating
temperate micro climate and special divider in
public buildings should be reviewed. This review,
on the one hand, considers the physical conditions
of atrium in relation to the external and internal
environment and considers utilization of
capabilities of solar energy gaining and
maintaining it in atrium and on the other hand in
functional applications, encourage designers to
provide welfare conditions based on reducing
consumption and waste of energy and using
mechanical facilities (Nouhi, 2000, 551).
3. The role of atrium in creating a sustainable
architecture
Integrated spaces of atrium make to facilitate the
move in the building and better access, presence
of people together creates a sense of focus and a
sense of solidarity and more interaction. It is one
of the pleasant spaces that people use very good to
do some of their work, or for spending free times,
friendly conversation or meetings regardless of
weather conditions and the street noise and beside
the services such as restaurants and bars and using
trees and water fountains. This condition causes
that atrium become more important day by day as
one of the architectural spaces. Atriums make
possible the closed communications of humans
and reinforce the human activities along the social
interactions. Public nature of atrium is a
background for crystallization of folk art such as
music, painting or holding celebrations or sharing
ideas. This usage makes that atrium has an
prominent importance and highlights its role to
achieve a sustainable architecture. Creating a new
relationship between the spaces inside the urban
with urban spaces is one of the most creative goals
in sustainable architecture. By this way,
convergent relationship among the people inside
Mehdi Niknam, et al.
and outside the building arisen, the key role in this
development is the responsibility of atriums.
Atriums are of the few places that can act as an
interface between two spaces. Although creating
an atrium between two building decreases the
amount of direct cold and light received from the
windows of buildings compared to before, proper
and uniform distribution of temperature, humidity
and ventilation in all rooms faced to the atriums
will follow every one’s satisfaction. Atrium is an
internal plaza that is terraced and along with it a
more private space is considered for bars and
living rooms of people. Today, a question always
is asked that whether the current public spaces do
have required quality? And the reasons is that
urban areas become more crowded and more
complex increasingly. In the old cities, hierarchy
of access from public spaces to private spaces
there has been as articulated. In these cities, public
spaces did not only have the role of accessproviding, but by opening entries to these spaces,
developed public domain caused to extend people
communication (Sayadi, 2012, 14).
4. Location of Atrium in Building
Atrium in the building should be placed in such a
way that part of it is connected with open spaces.
This arrangement makes maximum use of daylight
and benefit from natural ventilation. If the
protrusion is of the south, it has the best
performance. Based on the location of atrium in
building, it is divided into five different
categories:
4.1 Central atriums
4.2 Integrated atriums
4.3 Linear atriums
4.4 Interfaced atriums
4.5 Environmental atriums
5. Atriums Performance
Atrium can play an important role in reducing
energy consumption in buildings. So that by
inactive gaining light, in, in addition to reduce
costs of heating-cooling energy at home, it can
provide
comfort,
welfare,
durability,
attractiveness, environmental adaption and etc for
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The Study of Energy Efficiency by Central Atrium in Residential Complexes
its residents. The main goal of designing is
optimized using of reproducible solar energy with
a low risk of maintaining during the whole life of
a building. Sunlight is able in addition to provide
finite amounts of heat, light and shadow for a well
designed houses, makes possible ventilation in the
summer. Designing atrium in building able us to
reduce costs of heating-cooling energy, increase
environmental vitality and to improve comfort and
welfare, so that in a solar house built with correct
principles, following cases will be clearly visible:
5.1. Attractiveness: solar houses are full of light
and very well connected with the outdoors.
5.2. Durability and sustainability: solar houses
are usually made of material with long and low
maintenance costs.
5.3. Environmental adaption: solar houses make
an effective use of resources.
5.4. Being economic: home owners will receive
an excellent return on investment.
5.6. Convenience: solar houses are warm in
winter and cool in summer (Ghiabaklou, 2014,
55).
6. The Role of Atrium in Light Receiving
The use of canopy in the building makes to
prevent full light receiving in winter and necessity
of existing more artificial lights in other rooms,
even in own atrium that makes we have more
consideration to build a atrium inside the building.
To solve this problem, movable canopy and
different ventilation facilities in winter and
summer are usually used. Designers and architects
have always optimistic attitudes about lightening
of the rooms around the atrium naturally, but
usually some factors such as movement of clouds
causes lightening differences in different heights
(The same, 52).
7. The role of atrium in air ventilation
In atrium, mechanical ventilation systems can be
used that examples of them are refrigeration
instruments and air fans. The location of opening
inside atrium is important, when openings are only
in above the atrium, from the window that hot air
in atrium exits, the cold and heavy air is pulled
inside the atrium. Temperature inside the atrium
Mehdi Niknam, et al.
depends on the size of opening, as openings are
larger, inside and outside temperature is higher
close. In atriums that their openings are at the top
and at the bottom of it, the hot air exits from top
and cool and heavy air enter through bottom.
These opening are used better and more in
summer and this matter makes stratification of
inside air in atrium, this type of convection causes
the cross air ventilation inside the atrium. This
phenomenon has poor performance and needs
very large openings. Today, the openings and
canopies can be equipped with mechanical
systems associated with respond to temperature
sensors that in emergency time have the best
efficiency by moving.
Atrium cannot save energy and its temperature
depends on the amount of thermal conductivity,
size of separation walls, atrium covering and air is
exchanged between atrium and main building. To
provide useful light in adjacent spaces, an atrium
should be designed for maximum lighting and
walls and roofs with high reflectivity should be
used. Canopies and ventilation can reduce the
effects of high heat in summer. An ideal canopy is
movable canopy that does not allow maximum
penetration of light in winter.
8. The role of atrium as interface space
between environment and building
Nowadays many of the buildings benefit
from atrium and its characteristics. It is clear the
importance of these spaces in different climates.
In these buildings, atrium not only provides light
and fresh air for the better performance, but also is
a proper space for walking, living, playing and
discussion. Under this glass roof, people can do
many daily activities in unfavorable seasons.
Creating such conditions in atrium is possible only
by controlling in terms of ecological and
environmental. There is an environment in atrium
that plants are able to grow in it. The plants spend
solar radiation for its own growth and do not
reflect or radiate it. The plants by absorbing co2
from the atmosphere and producing oxygen
absorbed by water and particles with their leaves
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The Study of Energy Efficiency by Central Atrium in Residential Complexes
and by shading create a suitable environment for
people presence (Parizadeh, 2011).
9. Studying atrium performance in terms of the
possibility of saving and optimizing fuel
consumption in office space
Creating an atrium in a building, especially with
public usages, can be saved based on four forms:
9.1. Atrium as a buffer space, in the form of
thermal interface typically has internal
temperature of 15-18 .c, but the temperature of
atrium with frequencies of surrounding
environment temperature and time delay is
changing. Adjacent spaces of atrium protected
from drastic change in environment and decrease
the heat loss caused by transparent surfaces. The
amount of saving depends on the internal
temperature of atrium, situation of atriums airtight
and ventilation, the coefficients of thermal
conductivity of its forming elements and the
amounts of isolating its surfaces.
9.2. By creating atrium, the windows of inner
adjacent spaces can be raised to the level of need
and cause to enter natural light and decrease
electricity consumption.
9.3. By pre-heating and pre-cooling the fresh air,
heating and cooling loads are reduced. If atrium
has heat storage surfaces and also turned to the
south, it uses key factors in inactive forms of
energy that should be considered in the atrium’s
ability to create buffer space with a maintaining
source of heat to adjacent spaces.
 Type of atrium according to the climatic
conditions
 Type of glassing and amount of isolating it
 Glassing structure
 Thermal capacity of internal surfaces
Buildings that have central and linear atrium, have
better buffering effect on adjacent spaces and
conversely investigated atriums only mediate for
part of the building, but add to the beauty of
building. The power of mediation, sticking or
surrounding-round type is great potentially, but
these atriums should receive warmer air than
others. When the glasses of atrium are declivitous,
thermal loss is further than the vertical state and
Mehdi Niknam, et al.
when the surface of walls facing the sun is
increasing, heating needs will decrease up to 20%,
while do not cause to change in interior situation.
In this situation, heat gaining in atrium is
following building ventilation. Atriums face to an
increase of temperature in the summer and it can
be compensated by appropriate methods. These
methods can include shading surfaces by trees or
suspended plates or canopies attached to atrium’s
structure, ventilation and thermal mass
deployment. Energy efficiency and other aspects
of it largely depends on the choice of glassing
amount in atrium, because this factor effects on
the amount in atrium, because this factor effects
on the amount of additional light receiving in a
day,
thermal
winds
and
stratification.
Unfortunately, there were not tool is designed to
determine the physical characteristics of the
glassing amount of atrium in the early stages until
1994 (Atyf, 1994. P. 43-47).
10. Importance of Existing atrium in different
climates
Atrium usage in cold in cold climates is more as
greenhouse phenomenon that is created in it.
Today, the amount of energy that is collected
inside the atrium can be calculated by computer
systems. The amount of this energy depends on
the types of materials used, weatherization and
also type of surface. Atriums as a standard box of
natural ventilation set the air stratification,
comfort, temperature and radiation. Even if
atriums do not have heating appliances in winter,
their temperature are higher than outdoor
naturally. That this temperature differences
depend on issues such as location of the atrium
inside the building, the ways of thermal transfer
between the building and atrium, thermal transfer
between atrium spaces and outdoor, and the area
of atrium location (Moradi, 2012, 54).
In warm climates, calculating stratifications of
inner air of atriums not only requires to accurate
mathematical calculations, but also requires build
models to study the performance of air layers.
Excessive increasing temperature is the most
problem in the summer. Canopies are the first
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The Study of Energy Efficiency by Central Atrium in Residential Complexes
solution to reduce temperature during the summer,
and the effective temperature felt by the users
partially is reduced. In this case, there are ideal
canopies that are movable but fixed canopies
make to decrease temperature during the year and
are not suitable for winter. If canopies are to be
installed in south direction of the building, their
effect reach to maximum, but if they are installed
in north direction, they have more efficient in the
winter, however, they cannot reduce the high
temperature of atrium in the summer very well.
Internal canopies will have great effect on
decreasing temperature and also they are cheaper,
because costs of maintaining and controlling them
are lower (the same, 56).
Figure 1: Central atrium in the warm climate of Iran
(Moradi, 2012)
Figure 2: Central atrium in cold climate of England
(Moradi, 2012)
11. Structure
Atriums in terms of structure are a combination of
transparent, semi-transparent and opaque surfaces.
The openings, corridors and outer walls surround
the interior spaces of atriums. Geometric
characteristics of atrium, implementation material
and details used in it have significant impact on
the manner and amount of light and energy
receiving from the sun, heat loss, ecosystem
Mehdi Niknam, et al.
problems, thermal stratification and natural
ventilation. Each of these are parameters that their
combination determines final efficiency and
cannot determine or set as common methods,
separately, but must after determining the
performance scope of each, other parameters
coordinated together.
Configuration of geometric and formal structure
of atrium follows several factors:
 The form of main building, the location of
adjacent light-receiving middle spaces
required to interior landscaping.
 The amount of receiving light and required
energy from the sun for using passive
capabilities of atrium.
 Reducing the effect of cool wind and thermal
transferring through transparent surfaces,
structure maintaining glass and outer walls
(Madi, 2007).
Although considering to receiving natural
light and reducing need of electricity lighting in
the buildings are strengths of employing atriums,
by increasing glass surfaces, thermal transferring
between inside and outside is increased. For
example, a double wall glass in atrium can lose
heat to 5 times a thermal buffering wall. In this
respect, the second shell in atriums is necessary to
reduce heat exchange and cooling effect of the
wind. Although the second shell does not have
thermal relations with atrium structure to create
thermal bridge, it is not deprive the possibility to
receive light, vision and perspective from people.
On the other hand atrium has the ability to gain
and store solar energy in the form of a passive
system and in this respect, it stores solar energy in
its space below as the indirect gain. This heat
causes the average temperature of atrium remain
between 15 and 18 degrees throughout the year
that its result is non-effects of environment
temperature frequencies on the interior and
adjacent environment of atrium. In general, the
amount of intake this energy in the building
depends on orienting atrium to the sun, surfaces
without shade inside the atrium and thermal
capacity of internal vertical and horizontal
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The Study of Energy Efficiency by Central Atrium in Residential Complexes
surfaces. Distribution heat, radiation cooling and
solar chimney effect in atrium with a architectural
formation and intellectual understanding of the
relationship between the building and the
environment can reduce the heating and cooling
costs in the building up to 40% and can reduce
occupation of spaces by mechanical facilities and
related costs and pollution resulted from them
(Madi, 2007). The amount of this saving depends
on internal temperature of atrium’s airtight and
thermal conductivity coefficients of opaque and
transparent surfaces of atrium. Abd-ol- Salman
Al-Davood in 2007 examined the performance of
central atrium’s energy and compared it with the
performance of country yard energy with the same
physical characteristics. Atrium and country yard
design for analyzing is considered as a square in
the plan and surrounded by building from all four
sides. Luminosity type and percentage for the
country yard walls and skylight of atrium are
different in this analysis. Data of weather obtained
from four cities which represent conditions of
cold, temperate, hot and humid, and hot and dry
climates. The results show that generally, the
buildings with open yard have better energy
performance for shorter buildings. As much as
building height increases, in a particular
limitation, closed atrium shows better energy
performance. This particular limitation for the
number of classes depends on different factors
such as luminosity and weather (Al-Davood,
2007).
12. Types of optical reflectors
Daylight has four main components:
12.1. Direct sunlight
12.2. Skylight
12.3. The light reflected by the outer surfaces
12.4. The light reflected by the internal
surfaces
13. The light reflected from the outer surfaces
The external reflected light is reflected from the
surface of the land or the surrounding buildings.
On a sunny day with clear sky, 50 percent of the
sunlight is provided through this way. If the levels
Mehdi Niknam, et al.
around the building have a high reflective surface,
this percentage will rise. In the overcast sky, 1025 percent of daylight is provided through this
way.
14. The light reflected from the inner surfaces
The light reflected from the inner surfaces is
reflected from the internal surfaces of wall, floor
and ceiling. Brightness of surface’s color has great
effect on increasing the share of light in lighting
the room and reflected light has a large share in
determining the brightness of each space.
Therefore, the material and color of surfaces
surrounding a space have direct effect on
increasing or decreasing the amount of brightness
and can rise or reduce brightness by changing
these surfaces, without the main source of light
has changed. That is why in a bright room the
space is brighter, but in a room with the some
conditions, with dark color walls, the space seems
darker and dimmer. Climate conditions in natural
light of environment are effective. For example, in
temperate climates with high latitudes, sky usually
is cloudy and entire hemisphere of the sky is the
source of the light and brightness. In such a
climate, direct sunlight is not a problem. In hot
and dry desert climate, the sunlight is intense and
direct, generally, a cloud is not seen in the sky and
the sky is dark blue. A great deal of light
reflection from the ground surrounding the
buildings creates glaring brightness. Sometimes
existing dust and particles in the air creates a layer
of fog that reduces this brightness. In hot and
humid climates, the sky sometimes is cloudy and
its brightness intensity decreased. Glaring
brightness of skylight associated with the radiated
heat of the sun is one of the problems of this
climate.
15. The Effects of receiving surfaces
characteristics on natural lighting in atrium
Different surfaces divided into three groups in
terms of the manner of receiving solar rays:
15.1. Opaque surfaces gain more solar rays and
reflect a part of it. Gained ray is converted to heat
and reflected to the environment as heat.
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The Study of Energy Efficiency by Central Atrium in Residential Complexes
15.2. Semi-transparent surfaces gain some part of
the sun’s rays, pass through itself some parts and
also reflect some part. Gained ray is converted to
heat and radiated to the environment.
15.3. Transparent surfaces pass through
themselves much the sun’s ray, reflect some part
and gain some part. Gained ray is converted to
heat and radiated to the environment. The glass of
window as a material transferring light plays an
important role in the manner of light and heat
distribution in interior spaces. The glass is
transparent for bright and thermal ray of the sun
and shows three reactions of transferring,
reflection and gaining the sun ray.
Figure 4: Simple glass for sun rays
The reflective glass reflects much of the sun ray
like a mirror and passes part of it through itself as
light or heat. This type of glass is sensitive to light
and presents mirror properties on each side that
there are more lights. For this reason, the windows
with reflective glass provide necessary privacy
out, but at night to create privacy, screens should
be used.
Figure 3: Three features of surfaces (transferring,
reflection and gaining) for received ray of the sun
(Sayadi, 2012)
Today, industry of building glass construction has
been developed a lot and specific glass can be
produced based on the building needs. In this
industry, glass can be produced that is a
transparent for visible solar spectrum, but it can be
opaque for near infrared or ultra violet rays. Due
to the glass properties, different properties in
relation to various spectrum of the sun can be
created in it. Normal glass is a transparent for
daylight, completely and passes all-ray spectrums
through it.
Mehdi Niknam, et al.
Figure 5: Reflective glass (Ghiabaklou, 2014)
Heat gained glass gains some part of solar infrared
heat in itself and inverts it to the external
environment by the convection. This type of glass
is suitable for the places that daylight is important,
but, their heat should be controlled. Usually,
buildings that have the overall glass façade use
specific glasses that is suitable to light and thermal
needs of building.
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The Study of Energy Efficiency by Central Atrium in Residential Complexes
Figure 7: View of the atrium and its relationship with
the outside of the complex
Figure 6: Glass gaining heat (Ghiabaklou, 2014)
By using various materials and by considering
different thickness for glass, the glasses can be
produced that show different properties to wave
lengths of solar ray in various spectrums. Today,
artisans can use selective glass manufacturing
technology and thus are able to produce glasses,
depending on the need, that are transparent,
reflective or catchy as selectively rather than a
specific spectrum of the sun ray. When enjoying
the warmth of winter has high priority in
designing, the glasses that their low-e and
transmission coefficients are used. When natural
cool light is desired in designing, the spectrum
selective glasses with high transmissions
coefficient are used.
16. Central atrium of Humanytas residential
complex
Human relationship is the main concept of
designing Humanytas-Bergug. This project is a
unique residency for the elderly that in the
Netherlands for the first time establishes close
links between living and care of the elderly. This
red brick building involves an urban index site in
the region of Rotterdam in Netherlands. The
groups of EGM architects designed this residential
complex in 1996. In adjacent view of the street, a
part of the street that looks like a tower of 12
floors, its height is reduced about four floors in
153 meters along the relatively steep slope.
Mehdi Niknam, et al.
From the outside, the facade of the building is
continuous and its windows indicate reduction of
its floors. In addition to this oblique mass sloping
surface and face to the street, other elements can
also be seen in the project. At the end of the left,
the entrance of roadway to the rear yard has been
set. This entrance is a great opening with a height
of two floors in the adjacent three-floor mass of
the street. At the end of the right, there is the
pedestrian entrant that in the back of it there are
escalator and elevator to access the upper floors of
this arm. The gap between two entrances can be
seen on the ground of shops and commercial units
and on the second floor of adjacent spaces of
central atrium of project and above it there are
residential units. In the center of the system there
is an atrium with a metal truss and covered by the
glass. Access to this public space that is located at
a height of a about 4 meters above the street, is
possible by two escalators in the entrance hall.
Figure 8: Plan site and Egsonometric vision
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The Study of Energy Efficiency by Central Atrium in Residential Complexes
Public space of atrium is a location for meetings
and provides services such as restaurants,
shopping centers and places to sit and relax.
Corridors are an access to residential units located
in the first to third floors that face to this space has
been opened. This large and high space with
elements such as fountains, trees, and plants as
well as people who simply can enter it, creates the
quality of urban life in the heart of the complex
and residents life is connected to urban life. A
center of medical and nursing services in this
complex is considered that in addition to complex
residents provides services for other residents of
the neighborhood. This center includes 20 medical
care rooms and physiotherapy, speech therapy,
doctor, and dentist.
Figure 9: A view of the central atrium of Humanytas
Figure 10: Egsonometric view of Humanytas
residential center
17. CONCLUSION
Inflexibility of modern building in 20 th century
makes serious problem than environmental
conditions and reliance on the use of technology
Mehdi Niknam, et al.
and renewable energy in providing heating and
cooling energy, life of the earth and ecosystem
cycles, makes serious problems for it. In this
sense, changing attitude to human activities and
manner of developing in order to control and
compensate losses in all areas in the form of
coordinated and sustainable is emphasized by
planners and policy-makers of countries and
international organizations. Therefore, the issue of
architectural designing approach in a sustainable
development and cohesion of building
components as a system related to the
environment is of paramount importance. In this
regard, atrium, central light catching, is one of the
best and identify-giving spaces used in the past
and especially in modern architecture that can be
used and considered beyond the role of providing
interior lighting and accessibility as a symbol of
sustainable architecture, atrium in such a strategy
would be:
17.1. It can be ecological relationship between the
environment and the building and strengthens the
flexibility of building and the environment as a
microclimate than temperature frequencies,
changing the amount of humidity and outside
airflow and prevents heat loss significantly and
can be reduces power consumption by increasing
light receiving of adjacent spaces’ windows of
atrium.
17.2. It can make possible the possibility of
entering fresh air in all months of the year as preheating or pre-cooling (evaporative cooling) in the
winter and summer and it can reduce energy
consumption.
17.3. Atriums can provide various interface spaces
inside the buildings, especially public, where
social values and idea exchange and visual
communications can be increased.
17.4. Atrium can establish the relationships
between building and the city and define their
boundaries.
17.5. Atriums establish the relations of the
buildings, especially the old and new buildings
and through this way increase the sense of
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The Study of Energy Efficiency by Central Atrium in Residential Complexes
belonging to urban environments and green
spaces.
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Mehdi Niknam, et al.
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