Optimisation of shading devices in buildings is a broadly investigated topic; however, most studies only focus on a single façade orientation, since the observed buildings are typically located in high latitude regions. However, in tropical regions, optimisation of all façade orientations is required due to the relatively high solar radiation and long sunshine duration. While adaptive shading devices are a promising solution, they are not without disadvantages, and as such a combination of adaptive shading devices and a fixed shading device shall be considered. This research therefore aims to design the optimum internal shading devices on four façade orientations of a high-rise office building in a tropical city, considering fixed and adaptive shading design options, and to determine the impact on annual daylight performance using computational modelling and simulation. The simulation is carried out under: (1) fixed design option, focusing on the numbers and width of slats; and (2) adaptive design option, focusing on the slat angle on various conditions. It is found that both sDA_300/50% and ASE_1000,250 are only influenced by the orientation. Under the fixed design option, the sDA_300/50% and ASE_1000,250 targets can be achieved only on the north and south façades, and accordingly the adaptive design option shall be implemented on the east and west façades. Overall, this study contributes to knowledge regarding the optimisation of shading devices in high-rise buildings in the tropics, considering the daylight admission from the four cardinal orientations.

This paper presents parametric and multi-objective optimization (MOO) approach in optimizing daylight and energy consumption by incorporating louvres shading devices depicting three different sky conditions: Birmingham, UK, Jakarta, Indonesia, and Sydney, Australia. The study aims to observe the best louvre design configuration for each given context. The proposed optimization system iterates the logic of the louvre shading device as the dynamic design parameters such as overhang, blade size, spacing, and blade rotation, together with the room orientation to achieve maximum useful daylight illuminance (UDI) and the shading aperture while simultaneously reduces energy consumption. A total of 8509 simulations for three cities have been run and distributed for the purpose of this research. The results of MOO stated an improvement in UDI for Birmingham, Jakarta, and Sydney of 80%, 146.26%, and 79.48%, and cooling energy consumption of 28%, 3.26%, and 2.99% respectively.

This paper aims to find the microclimate aspect within the building form and configuration of five low-cost apartments (henceforth rusun) in Bandung, Indonesia. There are parallel, square, and interspersed plots investigated with specific discussion on the microclimate aspects that gain human perception of outdoor thermal comfort. The microclimate prognostic model, i.e., ENVI-met, was used to determine the mean radiant temperature (Tmrt), which was then used to describe the living quality of outdoor thermal comfort, i.e., PET (physiologically equivalent temperature) in a hot-humid climate context. A parallel plot with building orientation toward north-south was found as the most beneficial building form and configuration. Somehow, the parallel plot toward the west-east orientation did not provide similar performance. Nevertheless, the square plot provided uncomfortable perception as there was an absence of building shade within the wide open space and ground cover to absorb the insolation. The interspersed plot can be considered for the building configuration because it generates more wind among other plots. The building form and configuration of rusun with passive design seems to not be able to achieve outdoor thermal comfort. The highest PET value of Model D with the square plot had PET = 41 °C (hot) while the lowest PET in Model A with the parallel plot (N-S) had PET = 34.2 °C (slightly warm).

Bandung, the capital of West Java province, Indonesia has experienced rapid urbanization, which has affected the urban environment, including its building density, land use, and the quality of urban living. This specific urban morphology has had a significant effect on the urban microclimate. This study was aimed at describing the urban microclimate of three different overcrowded settlements, i.e., Linggawastu (overcrowded settlement), Gerlong Girang (moderately crowded), and Pasir Impun (least crowded). The discussion will detail aspects of the masses and buildings, the distance between buildings, the height of buildings, and the availability of green open spaces to give the perspective of urban morphology toward the microclimate. Fixed weather logger in those three locations were collected over one month, meanwhile the mobile measurements to find the micro-meteorological values of air temperature (Ta), globe temperature (Tg), humidity (RH), and wind speed (v) to define the mean radiant temperature (Tmrt). The measurements provided evidence of the trend of heat trapped in densely populated settlements shown in the diurnal temperature range from Tamax and Tamin (∆Ta) as only 3.2 °C. Meanwhile in Pasirimpun, which is least populated, ∆Ta = 9.5 °C. Linggawastu with building coverage ratio (BCR) > 96% gave the contribution of low Tg=28.3 °C, as there is less insolation penetration to the area. Thus, the PET for two densely populated areas, Linggawastu and Gerlong Girang, tends to be neutral to slightly cool. Nevertheless, this study points out the high humidity in the morning and afternoon, as well as the low air velocity, is a strong affecting factor.