Scale-model based comparative analysis of some alternatives for design of a lumiduct

Abstract

The redesign of a school building of Almedina in the centre of Coimbra, an ancient town in the centre region of Portugal, has had, among other concerns, the objective of improving the visual comfort of the school's occupants. Several measures involving the use of conventional windows, open spaces and adequate artificial lighting options, have been considered. In particular, a lumiduct has been included in the design, that has been considered as a means of providing a presence of natural light at the west end of a corridor, to be sensed by the occupants in two of the floors of the building, and some daylight to the dressing room next to the existent gymnasium. Hence, daylight availability was to be evaluated in order to assess energy performance complementary aspects of the architectural design, this one primarily intending to use natural light as a means of improving esthetics and occupants satisfaction thereof. The test in a scale model, for several situations created by different material and arrangements of the building elements, have been used as a support to the final solutions if the lumiduct design.