ACHIEVING VISUAL COMFORT IN UNIVERSITY EDUCATIONAL SPACES:A DESIGN FRAMEWORK FOR RESPONSIVE KINETIC SKIN

Authors

Fatima Belok, PhD candidate and Teaching Assistant, Faculty of Architecture-Design and Built Environment, Beirut Arab University, LebanonFollow
Mostafa Rabea, Assistant professor, Faculty of Architecture-Design and Built Environment, Beirut Arab University , LebanonFollow
Mohamad Hanafi, Professor, Faculty of Architecture-Design and Built Environment, Beirut Arab University, LebanonFollow
Ibtihal Y. El-Bastawissi, Professor , Faculty of Architecture-Design and Built Environment, Beirut Arab University, LebanonFollow

Abstract

Achieving human comfort in a space is an architectural necessity. Feeling comfort is related to the sense organs network, such as the eyes, ears, nose, tactile sensors, heat sensors and brain. In fact, last few decades has witnessed the integration of many technologies and trends into the field of responsive architecture; among which kinetic architecture has been significant. Thus, the aim of this thesis is to achieve visual comfort in educational spaces in universities, while arguing that a responsive kinetic skin is to be an effective mean for achievement. That should help refreshing student and enhancing their educational spaces visually, by considering various factors, such as the light transmitted through the kinetic system and the colors of kinetic units. Consequently, student health will be enhanced mentally and psychologically. In the thesis, several kinetic skin alternatives will be simulated digitally, to choose one of them that will be applied and tested as a physical model (scale1/1) in one of the universities spaces. The outcome of this thesis is giving a framework for designers and architects to design responsive kinetic skin in universities respecting visual comfort of students. This framework will be presented through a graphical user interface (GUI) that can be easily used by architects.

Keywords

Kinetic architecture, human comfort, educational spaces, optimization, visual comfort

Disciplines

Architecture | Arts and Humanities | Education | Engineering

Recommended Citation

Belok, Fatima; Rabea, Mostafa; Hanafi, Mohamad; and El-Bastawissi, Ibtihal Y. (2020) "ACHIEVING VISUAL COMFORT IN UNIVERSITY EDUCATIONAL SPACES:A DESIGN FRAMEWORK FOR RESPONSIVE KINETIC SKIN," Architecture and Planning Journal (APJ): Vol. 25: Iss. 1, Article 6.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54729/2789-8547.1005