International Journal of Urban Management and Energy Sustainability

International Journal of Urban Management and Energy Sustainability

Investigation of the Physical Aspects of Openings on Interior Daylight Quality and Exterior Visibility

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Alireza Goodarzi Ardakani 1
Yaghowb Peyvastehgar 1
Aliakbar Heidari 2
Ali Mehboodi 1
1 Department of Architecture and Urban Planning, Yas.,C., Islamic Azad University, Yasuj, Iran
2 Department of Architecture, Faculty of Technical and Engineering, Yasouj University, Yasouj ,Iran
10.22034/ijumes.2026.2085179.1354
Abstract
Daylight and visual connection to the exterior are critical factors in architectural design, directly influencing occupants’ comfort, well-being, and energy performance. However, contemporary window design often lacks a systematic understanding of how opening geometry simultaneously affects daylight quality and exterior visibility. This study aims to investigate the combined impact of opening position and elongation on indoor daylight performance and view quality. The research asks how variations in window location and geometric elongation influence daylight metrics and the extent of visual access to the outside. A parametric simulation approach was employed using Honeybee and Ladybug, analyzing 22 scenarios of a reference room model (5×3×3 m) through daylight factor, horizontal illuminance, glare probability, and view analysis indices. The results show that centrally positioned openings with horizontal elongation improved daylight uniformity by approximately [10%] and increased exterior visibility by [36%] compared to vertically elongated configurations. Qualitatively, the findings suggest that balanced horizontal window proportions enhance both visual comfort and spatial perception without excessive glare. Future research should extend the model to multiple climatic contexts and diverse room geometries to improve the generalizability of the conclusions. Future research may extend this framework by incorporating different room proportions, façade orientations, glazing properties, shading devices, and diverse climatic contexts to enhance the robustness and applicability of the results.

Graphical Abstract

Investigation of the Physical Aspects of Openings on Interior Daylight Quality and Exterior Visibility

Highlights

The closer the window is to the central part of the facade, the better the outside view will be.

The closer the window is to the central part of the facade, the greater the amount of daylight inside the room.

There is no significant relationship between window position and glare index. However, in general, the glare level in December was closer to the standard compared to January.

There is no significant relationship between window position and horizontal illuminance index. Nevertheless, in general, the horizontal illuminance level in December was closer to the standard compared to January.

Keywords
Daylight factor
glare
illuminance
opening elongation
opening position
view to the outside
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International Journal of Urban Management and Energy Sustainability

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 26 February 2026

  • Receive Date 02 January 2026
  • Revise Date 16 January 2026
  • Accept Date 02 February 2026