jaue2023008: Optimizing Natural Lighting Effects in Non-Polar Oriented Museums: A Genetic Algorithm Approach for Sawtooth Skylight Design

Abstract

In the realm of museum design, adept management of natural light stands as a cornerstone for achieving energy efficiency, fostering a comfortable indoor ambiance, and ensuring the preservation and display of exhibits. Among popular skylight systems, the sawtooth skylight draws significant attention and finds widespread application in museum architectural paradigms. However, challenges emerge when a building's orientation deviates from true north, potentially resulting in localized variations of light intensity. This study extensively investigates the application of genetic algorithms as a forward-looking approach to optimizing the geometric configuration of sawtooth skylights, thereby ensuring optimal natural light distribution in museums situated away from the polar regions. The genetic algorithm framework emerges as a feasible problem-solving method. The research leverages the Octopus and Ladybug tools to define the shading system's design parameters, fitness function, and genetic algorithm settings, all built upon comprehensive year-round sunlight simulations to facilitate the optimization process. Employing an iterative approach, the study generates and assesses diverse shading system configuration variations, progressively honing in on the optimal design solution. Ultimately, this research tailors an optimized shading system for buildings oriented at 45 degrees northeast, effectively ensuring an ideal balance of interior luminosity while meeting the necessary exhibit protection standards. The findings introduce an innovative methodology for refining architectural designs within specific lighting constraints, thereby enriching the spectrum of strategies employed for comprehensive light control.