Journal Article

A comparative analysis of atrium and skylight configurations in shopping malls

Adel, Ayman, Sheta, Wael

2025

Overview

This study investigates the impact of skylight and atrium configurations on daylighting performance in Dubai’s shopping malls, where extreme climatic conditions encourage indoor public use. Focusing on the atrium space as a social and commercial core, the research aims to optimize daylight quality and quantity to enhance user comfort. The study adopts a quantitative approach combining simulation and field measurements, following a deductive research framework that begins with an assumption that specific skylight and atrium configurations can achieve better daylight performance and visual comfort. A multi-phase methodology includes real-world case study analysis, on-site field measurements, and computer simulations to evaluate annual daylight metrics and validate collected data. A parametric reference model is then developed to simulate various skylight and atrium configurations, assessed using multi-objective optimization (MOO) techniques. Results show that optimal daylighting performance depends on key parameters such as atrium dimensions, spatial orientation, skylight-to-floor ratio, and glazing properties. These configurations were applied on actual case study and reduced the average illuminance from 11,938 lx to 3,157 lx, lowered ASE by 170%, and improved SDG by 37.7% achieving 81% imperceptible glare with minimal visual discomfort. The study concludes with design guidelines and recommendations tailored to Dubai’s context, offering a framework for future atrium design, with potential applicability in local building regulations to promote sustainable and user-centric architectural practices.