Daylighting as a Sustainable Design Parameter: User-Based Evaluation of a Public Building

Increasing energy consumption and the environmental impacts of the building sector necessitate a re-evaluation of daylighting within the framework of sustainable architecture. This study aims to evaluate the daylight performance of a public building from a sustainability perspective through user experience. The New Service Building of Alanya Municipality, which became operational in 2025, was selected as the case study, and data were collected from 147 active users of the building. A structured questionnaire developed based on the TS EN 17037+A1:2021 “Daylight in Buildings” standard was used as the primary data collection tool. The data collection process was carried out through user-based surveys, and the collected data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0 through reliability, normality, descriptive, and correlation analyses. The findings indicate that daylight levels are directly associated with user comfort and are significantly influenced by architectural design decisions. In addition, visual connection with the outdoor environment contributes positively to user satisfaction, while glare negatively affects perceived comfort. The results also reveal that daylight should not only be considered in terms of energy efficiency but also as a critical parameter influencing visual comfort, psychological well-being, and overall user satisfaction. In conclusion, the study highlights the importance of integrating user experience into daylight performance evaluation and provides empirical evidence contributing to both sustainable architectural design practices and the existing body of knowledge.