Impact of orientation and glazing type on indoor thermal performance: A case study of a multi-apartment building under Moroccan climatic zones

This study investigates the influence of building orientation and glazing type on indoor thermal performance across six Moroccan cities representing different climatic zones; lies in the comparative quantification of thermal comfort duration and amplitude across orientations and climate zones, rather than simply confirming directional trends. A dynamic thermal simulation was carried out using a simplified multi-zone residential building model developed in Python to evaluate daily indoor temperature variations under winter and summer conditions. The results reveal a strong dependence of indoor thermal behavior on both orientation and glazing configuration, showing that indoor temperature can vary by up to 8–10 °C between orientations in extreme climates, emphasizing the crucial role of solar exposure. The south-facing apartment generally provides the best thermal comfort in both seasons, with average indoor temperatures closest to the comfort range (18–26 °C), while the east and north orientations show less favorable conditions, particularly in winter. The glazing analysis shows that triple glazing significantly reduces daily temperature fluctuations and mitigates summer overheating in hot climates such as Marrakesh and Errachidia, whereas double glazing performs more effectively in cold climates such as Ifrane, where heating demand dominates. Across all cities, single glazing exhibits the greatest thermal instability and the lowest comfort duration. The results highlight that the optimal configuration varies with climate, and that apartment selection should first consider orientation, followed by an adapted glazing choice based on the dominant seasonal load: cooling for coastal and hot-arid zones, heating for mountainous regions, and a slight cooling dominance in Fes. Overall, the study provides a practical decision framework to help occupants and designers identify the most comfortable apartment configuration and reduce reliance on active heating and cooling systems in Moroccan residential buildings.