Construction 3
1. site design
A. principles & theoretic background
Sunlight
• portion of the electromagnetic radiation given off by the sun
• ultraviolet – visible light – infrared.
• Solar irradiance: power per unit area received form the sun in the form of
electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength range of the measuring instrument,
measured in watts per square meters (W/m²) in SI units.
• When this is integrated over a given time period in order to report the radiant energy
emitted into the surrounding environment during that time period = solar irradiation =
solar exposure = solar insolation
• The inclination of the earth compared to the sun, makes us have different seasons. In
every season the light intensities and hours are different.
• Hours of sunshine per day: we design buildings depending on the lowest amount of
daylight
• Solar irradiance by a pyranometer
Wind
• = natural movement of air or other
gases relative to a planet’s surface
• From thunderstorm flows, local
breezes, global winds…
• Winds are classified by their
spatial scale, speed and direction
• Long-duration wind like a breeze,
gale, storm or hurricane are each
associated with the average
strength.
• Wind is measured by anemometers, using rotation cups or propellers
,Temperature
• Current rise in global temperature is more rapid than previous
changes, and is primarily caused by humans burning fossil fuels. The
most recent data indicated that 2024 was the warmest year on
record, with global temperatures around 1,47°C above the mid-19th
century average. Even this small increase has big consequences.
• Urban heat island: warms cities 0,6-5,6°C. this effect is caused by
the absorption of heat by building and pavements, reduced vegetation, heat generation
from human activities, waste heat from energy usage and poor air circulation in urban
areas.
Precipitation
• = any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapor that falls from clouds due
to gravitational pull
• Drizzle, rain, sleet, snow, ice pellets, graupel and hail
• Koppen climate classification system based on temperature precipitation and vegetation
patterns. Belgium has Cfb climate, a temperate oceanic climate
(mild temp., winder around 0, no dry season, warm summers
around 22)
• Rainfall is measured by pluviometer and expressed in units of mm
of height or depth (volume of water) in units of liters per square
meter (L/m²)
• Snow is measured by gauge expressed in cm height. The snow can
be melted to obtain a water equivalent in ml
Humidity
• = the concentration of water vapor present in the air
• Depends on the temperature and pressure of the system of interest (e.g. in buildings).
• Relative humidity = the ratio of two pressures, actual partial pressure of the water vapor
present in the ambient and the saturation pressure of water at the temperature of the
ambient.
• Measured by a hygrometer (invented by Leonardo da Vinci in 1480)
Meteorological stations
• Belgium: Royal Meteorological Institute RMI has 20 stations around Belgium
, B. culture & history
Evolution of roofing technologies:
• Olynthus, ancient city in Greece: the cities were orientated toward the sun (south)
• 6th century: ‘code of Justinian’ states that the houses should be oriented toward the sun
and that the sunshine may not be blocked from reaching other houses.
• 3th century B.C.: roofing made to enhance the sun access
• Nowadays: small streets, buildings close to each other -> avoiding sun access, shadow
making
• Asia: L-shaped wind breakers for protection from the cold wind
• Hot and humid climates: buildings set far apart to maximize the cooling breezes, natural
ventilation cause they don’t have electricity.
C. current practice
Site selection depending on…
• Inclination of the earth (-> seasons: temperature, duration of sunlight, precipitation…)
• Location of the sun (-> orientation of the façade)
• Sloping land:
Winter: south-sloping receives the
most sunshine, while north-facing
slopes receive very little solar heating
because a given sunbeam is spread
over much more land.
South-slopes experience the least
shade, with north-slopes receive way
more shade.
• Microclimate on a hill:
Preferred building sited around a hill in response of climate for enveloped-dominated
buildings
1. site design
A. principles & theoretic background
Sunlight
• portion of the electromagnetic radiation given off by the sun
• ultraviolet – visible light – infrared.
• Solar irradiance: power per unit area received form the sun in the form of
electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength range of the measuring instrument,
measured in watts per square meters (W/m²) in SI units.
• When this is integrated over a given time period in order to report the radiant energy
emitted into the surrounding environment during that time period = solar irradiation =
solar exposure = solar insolation
• The inclination of the earth compared to the sun, makes us have different seasons. In
every season the light intensities and hours are different.
• Hours of sunshine per day: we design buildings depending on the lowest amount of
daylight
• Solar irradiance by a pyranometer
Wind
• = natural movement of air or other
gases relative to a planet’s surface
• From thunderstorm flows, local
breezes, global winds…
• Winds are classified by their
spatial scale, speed and direction
• Long-duration wind like a breeze,
gale, storm or hurricane are each
associated with the average
strength.
• Wind is measured by anemometers, using rotation cups or propellers
,Temperature
• Current rise in global temperature is more rapid than previous
changes, and is primarily caused by humans burning fossil fuels. The
most recent data indicated that 2024 was the warmest year on
record, with global temperatures around 1,47°C above the mid-19th
century average. Even this small increase has big consequences.
• Urban heat island: warms cities 0,6-5,6°C. this effect is caused by
the absorption of heat by building and pavements, reduced vegetation, heat generation
from human activities, waste heat from energy usage and poor air circulation in urban
areas.
Precipitation
• = any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapor that falls from clouds due
to gravitational pull
• Drizzle, rain, sleet, snow, ice pellets, graupel and hail
• Koppen climate classification system based on temperature precipitation and vegetation
patterns. Belgium has Cfb climate, a temperate oceanic climate
(mild temp., winder around 0, no dry season, warm summers
around 22)
• Rainfall is measured by pluviometer and expressed in units of mm
of height or depth (volume of water) in units of liters per square
meter (L/m²)
• Snow is measured by gauge expressed in cm height. The snow can
be melted to obtain a water equivalent in ml
Humidity
• = the concentration of water vapor present in the air
• Depends on the temperature and pressure of the system of interest (e.g. in buildings).
• Relative humidity = the ratio of two pressures, actual partial pressure of the water vapor
present in the ambient and the saturation pressure of water at the temperature of the
ambient.
• Measured by a hygrometer (invented by Leonardo da Vinci in 1480)
Meteorological stations
• Belgium: Royal Meteorological Institute RMI has 20 stations around Belgium
, B. culture & history
Evolution of roofing technologies:
• Olynthus, ancient city in Greece: the cities were orientated toward the sun (south)
• 6th century: ‘code of Justinian’ states that the houses should be oriented toward the sun
and that the sunshine may not be blocked from reaching other houses.
• 3th century B.C.: roofing made to enhance the sun access
• Nowadays: small streets, buildings close to each other -> avoiding sun access, shadow
making
• Asia: L-shaped wind breakers for protection from the cold wind
• Hot and humid climates: buildings set far apart to maximize the cooling breezes, natural
ventilation cause they don’t have electricity.
C. current practice
Site selection depending on…
• Inclination of the earth (-> seasons: temperature, duration of sunlight, precipitation…)
• Location of the sun (-> orientation of the façade)
• Sloping land:
Winter: south-sloping receives the
most sunshine, while north-facing
slopes receive very little solar heating
because a given sunbeam is spread
over much more land.
South-slopes experience the least
shade, with north-slopes receive way
more shade.
• Microclimate on a hill:
Preferred building sited around a hill in response of climate for enveloped-dominated
buildings
