LIGHT SHELF DESIGN GUIDELINE FOR ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN STUDIO CLASSROOM

Abstract

         The objectives of this research article were to compare lighting illuminance and lighting uniformity from light shelf and ceiling design combinations, appropriate for architectural design studio classrooms. The case study was derived from studio classroom surveying six Thai universities. The design classroom was 9.00 m wide, 20.00 m long and 3.00 m high and operating from 08:00 am to 06:00 pm. Four parameters of light shelves were studied; type of light shelves (exterior, combined, and curved), height from the floor (1.75 m, 2.00 m, and 2.25 m), angle of light shelves (0◦, 15◦, 30◦, and 45◦), and reflectance of light shelf materials (50%, 70%, and 90%). Three parameters of ceilings were studied; ceiling design (flat, into the room slope, out of the room slope, curve), height from the floor (2.60 m, 2.80 m, and 3.00 m), and reflectance of ceiling materials (70%, 80%, and 90%). The experiments were set under the condition of clear sky using DIALux 4.1 software. It has been found that the most appropriate light shelf and ceiling design for architectural design studio with openings at the northern side is the exterior light shelf with installation at the height of 1.75 m, at the angle of 30◦ and the light shelf material reflectance 90%, together with the curved ceiling at the 3.00 m height and material reflectance 90%. The most appropriate light shelf and ceiling design for architectural design studio with openings at the southern side is the combination light shelf with the installation height of 2.00 m, at the angle of 15◦ and the light shelf material reflectance 90%, together with the curved ceiling at the 3.00 m height and material reflectance 90%.