In addition to conserving energy, the use of daylight in architecture
can be a powerful aesthetic tool. The effective employment of natural
lighting is an important component of sustainable design, and some of
the best work in this area comes from the Northwest. This practice-based
book focuses on fourteen projects ranging from schools to community
centers to office buildings to a garbage/recycling center. It discusses
the particular challenges of each project and the solutions found by the
design teams as they sought to take advantage of daylight to create
pleasant, workable, energy-efficient spaces. In each case, consideration
has been given to location, elevation, orientation, microclimate
throughout the seasons, and the effect on light of surrounding
structures, land forms, and trees, as well as to the lighting
requirements of occupants.
While some sustainable design strategies are general and not specific to
place, place-specific opportunities and challenges are especially
important in daylighting design. This book spotlights innovative design
in a region heavily influenced by climate and landscape, makes use of
environmentally friendly technologies, and looks at projects that aim to
achieve social as well as aesthetic goals. It will be of great value to
architects, engineers, lighting designers, and green building
consultants, as well as to students in these fields.