Assessment criteria for form environmental performance of building envelope in hot arid climates

Abstract

This paper represents the methodology carried out for the investigation of a part of a multiphase experimental research work that examines the effect of various forms and geometries of building envelope elements on indoor environments under given summer or winter conditions. The research also includes the influence of outer envelope form upon indoor thermal conditions, external and internal solar behaviour, natural ventilation and day lighting performances under particular climatic conditions. The different phases aim at investigating large number of roof and wall forms using different measurement tools and techniques; onsite and experimental investigations, laboratories rigs, and computational simulations. The research-project considers the environmental properties of spaces enclosed by different architectural forms and geometries in order to find out their Forms’ Environmental Performance (FEP). The lack of appropriate tools for environmental investigations of some building-envelope forms and their internal and external environmental respond scenarios are identified along with better understanding of form environmental benefits. This research has been carried out on various curved roof forms being the most popular roof form in hot arid regions; in this paper the conical roof form will be discussed in more detail