The Impact of Balconies on Daylight Quality in Living Rooms of Jordanian Residential Buildings: A Parametric-based Multi-objective Optimization Approach

Daylighting is a fundamental consideration in the design of buildings and interior spaces. The quality of daylight is significantly influenced by the building envelope, including its openings and shading elements. Balconies, as a type of shading device, can mitigate excessive direct sunlight. This study examines the effect of attached balconies on daylight quality in living rooms. It evaluates three types of balconies -recessed, semi-recessed, and cantilevered- across varying depths, along with the aperture ratios associated with these designs. A parametric multi-objective optimization approach was employed to achieve the study's objectives. The base case model was developed using Grasshopper, a parametric modeling tool integrated with Rhinoceros 3D. Daylight simulations were conducted using the Ladybug and Honeybee plug-ins, focusing on two annual daylight metrics: Daylight Autonomy (DA) and Annual Sunlight Exposure (ASE). Subsequently, a multi-objective optimization process was carried out using Octopus, a Grasshopper plug-in for optimization. This process identified optimal balcony configurations that balance DA and ASE values to enhance daylight quality. The results demonstrate that balconies positively influence daylight quality and effectively reduce visual discomfort in living rooms.