A critical review of articles published on atrium geometry and surface reflectances on daylighting in an atrium and its adjoining spaces

The importance of daylight in an atrium's environmental performance, particularly its potential to reduce electrical lighting and associated thermal loads, has led to several investigations of daylighting in an atrium and its adjoining spaces. Case studies, scale models, algorithms and computer programs have been used by various authors to provide simple guidance quantifying the effects of varying these parameters. This article chronologically and thematically reviews the published literature of investigations, particularly focusing on the influence of atrium geometry and atrium façades on daylight in top-lit atria and their adjoining spaces. A review of the literature available to date shows that there is a need for a clear and rigorous understanding of how daylight quantity and distribution vary on different floors in the adjoining spaces of different forms of atria and atrium façades composed of opaque and glazed areas to establish optimum glazing ratios that improve daylight in the adjoining spaces. A more integrated research of daylight that takes into consideration other variables such as acoustic, thermal and ventilation performance and the trade-offs between them is also necessary.