1. Biomimicry for Light Regulation in Building Envelope
of a Meditation Hall
School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi
Department of Architecture, 2022
Shubha Jayant
A/3203/2018
5th Year, Section B
19-12-2022
Coordinator: Prof.Arpita Dayal
Guide: Prof. Khushal Matai
2. 1.Introduction-Aim, Objectives, Research
Question, scope and limitation, case studies,
and parameters of analysis
3.Findings from the case studies
4. Analysis of the data collected
5
4
3
2
1 2.Findings from the Research-Daylighting-factors
affecting daylight in architecture Biomimicry-
principles and levels,
5. Conclusion
Content
3. How can we regulate daylight using a Biomimicry inspired building envelope inside a Meditation hall
The aim of this study is to learn the concepts and applications of biomimicry, and how it can be implemented into a building
envelope for regulating the daylight for visual comfort in a meditation hall
Aim
Research Question
Scope
The ideas and design considerations in this study are based on simple adjustments to biomimicry-inspired building envelope
layouts which are suitable for India’s climate. This study focuses on methods for regulating daylight in a meditation hall to
provide visual comfort.
Limitation
There is a lot of research done on biomimicry but still there is lack of practical applications of biomimicry in India.
Additionally, daylighting is also related to concerns like privacy and the view, as well as heat gain, these topics were left out
of the scope of this dissertation due to time and resource constraints, but they may be addressed by further research.
4. Objectives
Daylighting
Biomimicry Case
studies
To understand the concept and levels of biomimicry
To study about daylighting, factors affecting daylighting, visual comfort, and requirements for lighting in
a meditation hall.
To conduct case studies and understand how they’ve approached the design using biomimicry
To develop a criteria and analyze factors of daylight in a meditation hall based on the literature review
and case study.
To identify an effective configuration of the feasible biomimicry-inspired envelope design and assess it
based on visual comfort using the parameters obtained from the literature review.
Analysis Conclusion
5. INTRODUCTION
Biomimicry is learning from and then emulating nature’s forms,
processes, and ecosystems to create more sustainable design
and design solutions.
What is Biomimicry ?
Levels in Biomimicry
There are three levels of Biomimicry:
(1) form
(2) Process
(3) Ecosystem
three-level approach to that would provide
tangible and relevant feedback loops in
different layers: individual
(organism),communal (species), and societal
(species to species).
Source:Google
Principle of Biomimicry
9. Strategies
of daylight
should
address
Fenestration
of the
building
Form of the
building
Orientation
of the
building
Using passive strategies for
Daylighting Design
• Climate-tuned orientation and
shading
• Passive exterior components
• High-performance glazing
• Insulation in skylight and curtain
wall
• Multiple roof and skin for building
envelope
• Simple Skylights
11. CASE STUDIES
Name: CH2
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Climate-Temperate
Name: Lotus temple
Location: New Delhi, India
Climate-Composite
The parameters for the study in this building are:
● Building orientation
● Form of the building
● Source of daylighting in the building
● Materials used in the building envelope
● Working of the building envelope with respect
to the surroundings.
● Use of Biomimicry for the design
The parameters for the study in this building
are:
● Building orientation
● Form of the building
● Source of daylighting in the building
● Materials used in the building envelope
● Working of the building envelope with
respect to the surroundings.
● Use of Biomimicry for the design
Source: www.constructionweekonline.com
Source: www.archdaily.com
The parameters for the study in this building
are:
● Building orientation
● Form of the building
● Source of daylighting in the building
● Materials used in the building envelope
● Working of the building envelope with
respect to the surroundings.
Source: www.google
Name: Raju ayurveda center
Location: Hyderabad, India
Climate- Tropical wet and dry
12. Case Study-Primary
Orientation of
the building
Built open
relationship
Form Fenestration Colour Material Shading Daylight
penetration
Learnings from
Nature
The building is
a symmetrical
structure
similar on all
sides. The
whole building
acts as a
building
envelope taking
in daylight from
all the sides
The site area of the
lotus temple is
105000 sqm
Whereas the built-
up area is 3850
sqm Therefore
there is no
inconsistency in
the availability of
daylight
Imitates
the
shape of
lotus
flower
The whole
structure
works as a
series of
skylight and
provide glare
free daylight
without any
electrical
illumination
White
colour
Marble for
cladding
glass for
skylight
and
windows
The leaves
of the lotus
works as a
shading
device due
to it form
Good lux
levels are
achieved
inside the hall
of ranging
from 160 lux-
250 lux
The lotus temple
takes inspiration
flower lotus.-light
control-renewable
sources of energy-
self shading
Source:Author
Source:The dawning place of the remembrance of god
13. Source: www.archdaily.com
Case Study-Secondary
Fig: using natural source for lighting
source: www.archdaily.com
Orientation
of the
building
Built open
relationship
Form Fenestration Material Shading Learnings
from Nature
The longer
side of the
building is
facing the
north east
and south
west direction
The site area of the
CH2 is 12500sqm
whereas the built
area is 1113 sqm
but there are other
buildings in the
context which
hinders daylight
Rectangular
building
The entire west facade of
CH2 is protected by a system
of timber louvers that pivot to
optimize the penetration of
natural light and views out,
while providing protection for
this facade from the harsh
western sun.
Use of plantation timber
products.
Use of recycled timber for
louvers and for window frames.
double-glazing
Glass provide a solar
transmittance lower than 35%
and a visible light transmittance
greater than 50%
Timbe
louvres of
the west
façade
acts as a
shading
device
Inspiration
from a termite
mount -facades
for cooling and
heating of
buildings with
roller shutters
dependent on
the sun.
14. Case Study-Secondary
Orientation of
the building
Built open relationship Form Fenestration Material Shading
The longer side
of the building
is facing the
east-west
direction
The site area in which the
meditation center is located is
404686 sqm and the area of the
meditation center is 800 sqm and
that of the meditation hall is 230
sqm
Rectangular
building
Windows have been
provided on all sides
of the building
Use of traditional materials, white
exterior and interiors inside the
meditation hall
Sunshades
provided
on all the
windows
Meditation
center
Fig: Plan of the meditation hall
Source::www.rajuayurvedacentre.com
15. Source: Author
Daylight Performance matrix
• Daylight Factor
• Daylight Autonomy
• Continuous Daylight Autonomy
• Useful Daylight illuminance
• Daylight saturation percentage
• Spatial daylight autonomy ASE
Design of the skylight on top of
meditation hall
ANALYSIS OF DATA COLLECTED
16. Daylight simulation on base case for measuring lux LEVELS
(cloudy sky, month- September)
Source: Lighting Analysis, Revit
Daylight simulation on base case for measuring Daylight factor
(cloudy sky, month- September)
Source: Lighting Analysis, Revit
SIMULATIONS
17. Daylight simulation showing daylighting factor on the building
after applying biomimicry strategies skylight for measuring
Daylight factor (cloudy sky, month- September)
Source: Lighting Analysis, Revit
Daylight simulation on the base case for measuring lux
LEVELS (cloudy sky, month- September)
Source: Lighting Analysis, Revit
18. CONCLUSION
Understanding the idea and theory of biomimicry, which focuses on how to develop a Building Envelope design that enables regulation of
daylight in a meditation center for visual comfort of the occupants was the first goal. To learn more about the design environment, biological
tactics, creatures, lighting techniques, and design development, a literature review was initially undertaken. Establishing a structure to build a
design using the principles of biomimicry is crucial for applying the theories underlying it. This gives the architect ,opportunity to understand
the concept before putting the principles of biomimicry into practice, in accordance with the written literature .The study's goal was to provide a
response to the research question, how can we regulate daylight using Biomimicry inspired solutions in a meditation hall .Adapting
biomimicry-inspired design is systematic and involves a step-by-step procedure, but it also provides researchers the opportunity to use their
own ideas concepts at the stage of application, therefore the outcome depends on how the approach is combined with additional
circumstances like the site's conditions. It is possible to adapt and develop biomimicry in combination with other concepts. The results of this
study should motivate architects and architecture students to adopt the idea of biomimicry to improve design or solve a problem in design, in
this research the problem undertaken was daylighting with respect to visual comfort, particularly for optimum daylight distribution in Meditation
Hall.
