Importance of building orientation in determining daylighting quality in student dorm rooms: Physical and simulated daylighting parameters’ values compared to subjective survey results

Abstract Orientation as a parameter is being investigated in the research paper of a student dormitory design. The change of climate implies the measures of determining favorable daylighting conditions within student quarters since these are becoming more important in the aspect of energy efficiency. An existing multistory student housing in Serbia was analyzed by using measurements, simulation and qualitative survey among the dormitory dwellers. A comparison was made and the results were classified showing different aspects of daylighting qualities present at different orientations. The results of the paper indicate a discrepancy between the dwellers’ responses and the standards that recommend even daylight distribution and avoidance of direct sunlight for achieving good environment. Likewise, the point that further undermines the importance of even distributed daylighting in determining daylight qualities of the space is the dwellers’ responses that show preferences to southern orientations regardless of the fact that they are more frequently overexposed to direct sun. The study showed the complexity of the problem of student dorm daylighting indicating the necessity for the dwelling design reconsideration in relation to the climate characteristics. This work can have an influence on standard recommendations and current methodologies for evaluating daylighting qualities in the Serbian context.