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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 1665 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. 1666 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 1667 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 1668 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 1669 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 1670 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. 1671 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. 1672 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 1673 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 1674 The Study of Energy Efficiency by Central Atrium in Residential Complexes belonging to urban environments and green spaces. REFERENCES 1. Barzgari, Hoda (2013). Investigating Atrium as a Supplier element of light, International Conference on Lighting, Shiraz, Iran. 2. Parizadeh, Mohsen (2011). Studying the Role of Solar Cells in Building Architecture Through Atrium Way, National Conference on Energy and Environment Management, Tehran, Iran. 3. Sayadi, Ehsan (2012). Sustainable Architecture, Loutous publication, Tehran, 1, P.14. 4. Ghiabaklou, Zahra (2014). Fundamentals of Building Physics 2, ISBN publication, Tehran, 1(7), P. 52-55. 5. Mahmoudi, Kouroush (2006). Principles and Fundamentals of Lighting in Architecture, Publication of Tehran University, second edition. 6. Madani, Ramin&Mokhtari, Mahsa (2012). The Role of Atrium in Optimizing Fuel Consumption in the Building, Conference on Planning and Management of Environment, Tehran, Iran. 7. Madi, Hossein&Mofidi, Seyed-Majid (2007). Atrium as a Symbol of Sustainable Architecture, Sixth National Conference on Energy, Tehran, Iran. 8. Moradi, Sasan (2012). Adjusting Environmental conditions, Arman Shahr publication, 1, P. 54-56. 9. Nouhi, Hamid (2000). Meditation on Art and Architecture, Gam-e-No publication, P. 142. 10. Al-davood, Abd-ol-Salam, clark, Ray, 2007, Comparative Analysis of Energy Performance Between Courtyard and Atrium in Building. 11. Atyf M, 1994 , Top Glazed Public Spaces: Amenities, Energy, Costs and Indoor, Construction Canada. 12. Atrium (architecture), Available from: 13. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atrium_%28a rchitecture%29#Ancient_atrium Mehdi Niknam, et al. 14. Graham, Franci, Shepperd, Robson, 2003, The Green Buildings Pay, Edited By Edward Brian. 15. Gratia, E.andDeherd, A. Solar Energy in European office Buildings, Mid-Career Education, erg/ucd/ie/mid_career/pdfs/techf. 1675