Abu Dhabi University

College of Engineering
M.Sc. in Sustainable Architecture
Spring 2018/2019
ARC 630: Passive Design Strategies

Passive Design Vs. Biophilic Design towards Better Sustainable Practices

Orientation, Massing, & Layout

Yara Mazen Anbar 1028794

Under supervision of: Dr. Nadia Mounajjed
6th May 2019

1|P a g e
Table of Content
Methodology
1. Brief Introduction
2. Application Measures
3. Testing & Results
3.1 Sustainability Indicator
3.2 Biophilic Test
4. Contextual Adaptability & Conclusions

2|P a g e
Introduction
This research is trying to activate an experimental study to examine the basic passive design strategies on the biophilic
design scale and to measure the proximity between these strategies and the biophilic design patterns.
This experiment will start by using one of the most prominent passive design strategies Orientation, Massing, & Layout)
which will be studied and analyzed in detail through the experiment.
The Workflow will start by selecting one by one strategy and analyze accordingly. The Analysis process of each strategy
will go through four main steps as shown in figure below

Figure 1: Experiment Phases

Starting from a brief introduction about the strategy which will give the reader a general understanding and background
about this passive design strategy to work with. Subsequently, a discussion of how this strategy can be implemented (
ways, methods, advantages, disadvantages..) and the application measures of this strategy will be tackled in the
second phase of the experiment.
Thereafter, coming to the third phase of the experiment which is the testing part where two tests will be conducted (
sustainability and biophilic test). Sustainability test will be much focusing on drawing conclusions about the
sustainability impact of this passive design strategy following the three main pillars of sustainability (environmental,
economic, and social ). Based on the results taken from the sustainability impact table conducted a visual sustainability
indicator is illustrated for easier visual communication of the results from the sustainability test. Moving to the biophilic
test which is the core subject of this experiment this test will be using a scheduling scheme where each strategy will
have a schedule of biophilic design patterns which needs to be filled based on the results from the previous stages and
understandings of this strategy. The schedule test will have a constants of the 14 biophilic design patterns and will
have a three variables where the first one will be asking if this pattern is applicable or not for this design strategy, if yes
the second variable will be asking about the proximity scale of how much related is this pattern into this passive design
strategy. Finally, the third variable will be drawing some design recommendation of how this relationship between the
passive design strategy and this specific biophilic pattern can be achieved
The last phase of this experiment will be about the contextual adaptability into the study area which is the UAE. This
section will be mostly drawing conclusions and design recommendations for the best possible form of implementing
this strategy in the research study area based on the contextual conditions ( climate, wind, sun, culture,..) of this area.

3|P a g e
Orientation, Massing, and Layout
1. Brief Introduction
In sustainable buildings, the architecture itself is expected to deliver comfort and wellbeing for its occupants at first
place thus, Initial design decisions, such as the building’s orientation, location, general massing, and configuration
layout weightily affect the building’s environmental impact and energy performance.
Architectural programming establishes the needs and requirements for all the functions in the building and their
relationship to one another. Wise programming maximizes energy savings by placing spaces in the most advantageous
position for daylighting, thermal control, and solar integration. It may also open more opportunities for multiple functions
to share the same space, thus reducing the gross square footage of the building. Architectural programming involves
an analysis of the required spaces to meet the functional and operational needs of the facility ( National Laboratory
Sustainable Design Guide ).
Starting with the building orientation which refers to the way a building is situated on a site and the positioning of
windows, rooflines, and other features. Orientation is simply what compass direction the building faces. Proper
orientation of building depends on the location of building with respect to latitude and longitude. It should be optimized
early-on design stages, along with Massing layout. Orientation and layout will also be influenced by the context of the
location of the project which includes topography, wind speed and direction, the site’s relationship with the street, the
location of shade elements such as trees and adjacent buildings, and vehicle access and parking (Building Massing &
Orientation, 2018).
Optimizing the building orientation helps in reducing energy use and enables various passive design strategies to be
implemented in the design, successful orientation can take advantage of the existing site conditions, such as rainwater
harvesting, efficient landscape watering techniques, and can help the building to respond to its surrounding ecological,
social, and economic communities. For example, the building can be massed and oriented in such a way to create a
visual connection with its social spaces with street life (Building Massing & Orientation, 2018).
Passive solar strategies which use energy generated from the sun to heat and illuminate buildings. Building orientation
and building materials also facilitate temperature moderation and natural daylighting. However, Active solar systems
use solar collectors and additional electricity to power pumps or fans to distribute the sun's energy. Heat is absorbed
and transferred to another location for immediate heating or for storage to be used when needed. Water, antifreeze or
sometimes air circulates to transfer heat. Unlike active solar strategies, a passive design does not involve the use of
mechanical and electrical devices, such as pumps, fans, or electrical controls (Green Building Manual, 2011).
"Massing" is an early schematic design stage where the architect decide on the overall scheme of the design which
could include the shape and size of the building. Will the building be tall or short? Thin & long? Will it have significant
cutouts, or be more solid? Successful massing should utilize the design scheme of the building to help in minimizing
energy loads as much as possible, maximize free energy from the sun and wind, and to improve the indoor
environmental quality of the interiors (Building Massing & Orientation, 2018).
For many building types, massing is clearly is one of the most important factors in passive heating, cooling, and
daylighting, yet often these are not considered until after massing is finished. It’s important to begin considering passive
design strategies in the massing stage, so that the surface areas exposed to sun at different times of day, building
height, and building width can all be optimized for passive comfort (Building Massing & Orientation, 2018).
Along with massing, orientation is considered as one of the most important steps in classifying the building
sustainability levels from the early stages of design. Building Orientation must be decided together with massing in

4|P a g e
the very initial design process, as neither can be truly optimized without each other (Building Massing & Orientation,
2018).
2. Application Measures
Several design parameters were established by researchers which would determine the building energy
requirements in relation to the orientation factor are listed below:

• Proportion of glazing to the total wall area (transparency) was studied for example by Kontoleon & Zenginis
(2017) with the help of a lumped thermal-network model in North Greece. They concluded that glazing area
increases heat gain or heat loss depending on the orientation of the wall where windows are installed, being
the highest heat losses observed in walls facing North, and the opposite with walls facing South.
• The relation between transparency ratio and orientation was noticed as well by Goia (2016) while trying to
find the optimal window-to-wall ratio in European office buildings. After carrying out a big amount of integrated
thermal-lighting simulations and a sensitivity analysis, it was verified that the optimal transparency ratio could
vary from 0.20 to 0.60 depending on the weather and the wall orientation.
• The shape factor, which is the ratio between the length and the depth of a building, was studied by Teoman
& Inalli (2016) through a numerical method for a cold region of Turkey. Results shown that the optimal ratio
was 1:1, even though too many assumptions were adopted since the occupancy, equipment and floor and
roof heat losses were neglected. Again, the importance of building orientation was demonstrated, obtaining
differences of 7% in heating energy saving rates depending on this design parameter.
• The importance of insulation thickness and thermal-physical properties of building materials on heat gains
and losses was studied again by Kontoleon & Zenginis (2017), demonstrating that their contribution is almost
ineligible compared to the influence of zones orientation.
Orientation is measured by the azimuth angle of a surface relative to the north direction. Successful orientation rotates
the building to minimize energy loads, heat gain, and maximize free energy from the sun and wind, daylight, and allows
for natural ventilation.

Figure 3: Useful daylight (straight

Figure 2 Orientation Measuring Method arrows) and unwanted glare (jagged
arrows) on different faces of a building.

It can be very hard to get consistent daylight and being able to control glare from east and west windows. However,
the side of the building facing the sun's path (the equator-facing side) could be generally shaded with some shading
elements such as: overhangs, light shelves, or louvers, and the side of the building which is facing away from the sun's
path gets little or no glare. Therefore, generally buildings that are longer on their east-west axis have better
opportunities for daylighting and enhancing the visual comfort levels.

5|P a g e
Sophisticated massing can go even further to optimize heat gains or cooling. For instance:

• Roofs can be angled for optimal solar heating.

• Reveals and overhangs can shade parts of a building with other parts of the same building.
• Aerodynamic curves can reduce heat loss from infiltration.
• Interior buffer zones can be placed in a building's west side to protect living and working areas from the hot
afternoon sun (for example stairs, restrooms, entry corridors, etc.)
3. Testing & Results
3.1 Sustainability Tests
3.1.1 Sustainability Impact
The following table is showing the impact of considering massing and orientation in improving sustainability levels in
spaces and their effective performance in contextual conditions similar to the study area of this research.

Orientation & Massing Impact on Sustainability

Approach Environmental Impact Social Impact Economic Impact

• Maximize the use of sun • Highly efficient Indoor • Cuts down energy
light Environmental bills and running
Orientation and construction
• Minimize the use of energy Quality
& costs
resources • Healthy Atmosphere
Massing
• Less harmful emissions on • Optimized Thermal
the environment Comfort levels

Table 1: Orientation & Massing design Strategies Impact on Sustainability. Source: Author

3.1.2 Sustainability Indicators

Based on the Orientation & Massing strategies impact on sustainability table shown earlier and taking in mind the
previous extensive study on the design parameters. The below diagram is showing the proximity relationship between
the orientation & massing strategies and the three pilots of sustainability.

Envrionmental
Social
Economical

Figure 4 : Orientation & Massing Sustainability Indicator , Source: Author

6|P a g e
3.2 Biophilic Test
Based on the Orientation & Massing strategies impact on sustainability table shown earlier and taking in mind the
previous extensive study on the design parameters. The below diagram is showing the proximity relationship between
the orientation & massing strategies and the three pilots of sustainability.

Orientation & Massing test on Biophilic Design

Patterns Proximity
Code Pattern Name Applicability Achieved Through
Category Scale
P01 Visual Connection with Nature Not Applicable -
• Pleasant Sun rays
P02 Non- Visual Connection with Nature Applicable 2
entering the space
• Breezes resulted
from the massing
P03 Non-Rhythmic Sensory Stimuli Applicable 3
and air flow
• Shadows
Nature in The • Shadows and
Space P04 Thermal & Airflow Variability Applicable 3 shade
• Passive Ventilation
P05 Presence of Water Not Applicable -
• Daylight from
multiple angles
P06 Dynamic or Diffused Light Applicable 5
• Direct sunlight

P07 Connection to Natural Systems Not Applicable -

• Massing
Configuration based
Natural P08 Biomorphic Forms & Patterns Applicable 3
on biomorphic
Analogues patterns
Patterns P09 Material Connection with Nature Not Applicable -
P10 Complexity and Order Not Applicable -
• Views including
P11 Prospect Applicable 2
shade trees
Nature of the
P12 Refuge Not Applicable -
Space
Patterns P13 Mystery Applicable 1 • Massing Complexity
P14 Risk/Peril Not Applicable -

Table 2: Biophilic Test 01 , Source : Author

7|P a g e
4. Contextual Adaptability
In hot arid regions, the orientation of buildings has an important influence in the inside air temperature. Based on
readings of previous studies and taking in consideration the climatic conditions of the United Arab Emirates and
respecting the biophilic design approach while taking in consideration the sustainability impact and finally based on the
sun movement study shown in figure below a series of a series of recommendations and findings are suggested to
optimize the building orientation & massing which could help improving the sustainability impact and enhance the
biophilic design levels in the space.

Figure 5: Shading Study, Source: Author

Design Recommendations:

1. Rectangular floor plans elongated on an east-west axis because it gives more opportunities for daylighting emissions
while square plans always will have larger zones which has no access to daylight

figure 7: Daylight Penetration through Square Floor

Figure 6: Daylight Penetration through layout
Rectangular Floor layout

8|P a g e
2. Orient Longer facades along the north direction will help resulting a glare free light during summer from the north
without shading and it will allow the winter sun to penetrate from the southern façade.

Figure 8: Orientation effective schemes, Source: (Form & Orientation, n.d.)

3. Orient buildings to take advantage of prevailing wind. In case of several buildings on a site, they must be arranged
to avoid built forms falling in the wind shadows created by other buildings on the site.

Figure 9: Orientation of buildings to take advantage of prevailing wind.

4. Buildings should be oriented with their longer axis (north & south) aligned perpendicular to the prevailing winds to
facilitate maximum airflow and cross ventilation through the building. (Buildings can be oriented at an angle between
0° to 30° with respect to the prevailing wind direction in the UAE.

Figure 10: Wind Direction

9|P a g e
5. Designs which are intending to feature a courtyard (in climates where cooling is desired such as the UAE), orienting
the courtyard 45° from the prevailing wind will help to maximize wind flow into the courtyard and enhances cross
ventilation in the space.
6. In hot & dry climates, the surface to volume(S/V) ratio of the building should be as low as possible to minimize
heat gain (compact plans have greater thermal efficiency, e.g. a square plan is more thermally efficient than a
rectangular one).

Figure 11: Mutual shading of built forms and compact forms i.e. forms with low surface area to volume (S/V) ratio and low
perimeter to area (P/A) ratio are ideal for extreme climates. Compact forms gain less heat during daytime and lose less heat at
nighttime.

7. A square plan with a courtyard would be very effective.

8. East and west orientation should be protected by buffer spaces, shaded walls, etc.
9. Light shelves/overhangs or other shading devices which sufficiently shade the south-facing and the west-facing
elevation from the summer sun; south elevation overhangs should be horizontal while east and west elevations
usually require both horizontal and vertical overhangs.
10. Windows on the east and north walls to get the maximum daylight transmit with minimum heat gain.
11. Relocate open spaces to take advantage of winter sun and cooling summer breezes as shown in illustration below

10 | P a g e
Figure 1: Schematic Illustration , Source: Author

12. Maximize north-facing daytime active areas where passive solar access is available.
13. Use smaller, well shaded windows to increase cross-ventilation to the south, east and west.
14. Locate utility areas (laundries, bathrooms and garages) on the south or west where possible.
15. Avoid placing obstructions for emitting daylight such as carports or sheds to the north.

11 | P a g e
References

• National Laboratory Sustainable Design Guide . (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2013/12/f5/sustainable_guide_ch4.pdf

• Andy, W. (2016, 2 8). Natural Ventilation . Retrieved from WBDG - Whole Building Design Guide:
https://www.wbdg.org/resources/natural-ventilation

• Building Massing & Orientation. (2018). Retrieved from Autodesk:

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/revit-products/learn-
explore/caas/simplecontent/content/building-massing-orientation.html

• Cremers, J. (n.d.). Openings in buildings. In J. Cremers, Building Openings Construction Manual

(pp. 8-11). Institut für internationale Architektur-Dokumentation DETAIL.

• Cripe, L. (2018, March 24). Courtyards: An Architectural Design Element. Retrieved from Moss:
Architecture-Design-Green: http://moss-design.com/courtyards-architectural-design-element/

• Form & Orientation. (n.d.). Retrieved from NZEB: http://www.nzeb.in/knowledge-centre/passive-

design/natural-ventilation/

• Green Building Manual. (2011). Retrieved from

http://greenmanual.rutgers.edu/newcommercial/strategies/buildingorientation.pdf

• Gupta, M. (2018, October). Different Types Of Skylight And How-To Choose The Right One.
Retrieved from Smart Bricks: http://gosmartbricks.com/different-types-of-skylight-and-how-to-
choose-the-right-one/

• Kroelinger, M. D. (2005, March). Daylight in Buildings. Retrieved from Informe Design:

https://www.informedesign.org/_news/mar_v03-p.pdf

• Opening and the Facade. (n.d.). Retrieved from Internom: http://www.internorm-

architecture.com/en/know-how/design-element-window/openings-and-the-facade/

• Openings in the Wall. (n.d.). Retrieved from Internom: http://www.internorm-

architecture.com/en/know-how/design-element-window/window-openings/

• Passive ventilation is sustainable ventilation. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://www.windowmaster.com/solutions/natural-ventilation/passive-ventilation

• Rahman, F. U. (n.d.). Types of Skylights for Building Roof. Retrieved from The Constructor:
https://theconstructor.org/building/types-of-skylights-roof/13722/

• RAJAPAKSHA, U., & HYD, R. (2005). World Sustainable BuildingConference. SUSTAINABLE BY

PASSIVE ARCHITECTURE, USING COURTYARDS IN NON-DOMESTIC BUILDINGS IN SOUTHEAST
QUEENSLAND , (p. 3). Tokyo.

• Saxon, R. (1989). Atrium buildings : development and design. Architectural Press.

12 | P a g e
• Schielke, T. (2014, Jan 27). Light Matters: 7 Ways Daylight Can Make Design More Sustainable.
Retrieved from Arch Daily: https://www.archdaily.com/471249/light-matters-7-ways-daylight-
can-make-design-more-sustainable

13 | P a g e