X-Maps: A Computational Method for Space Planning Using Multi-Variate Occupant Comfort

Abstract

The indoor experience can be affected by several environmental conditions, including visual, thermal and acoustic comfort, air quality, biophilia, layout, and aesthetic. There are physical metrics for each aspect that are calculating the occupant’s comfort. There are also external factors such as occupant’s characteristics like metabolic rate and clothing insulation, building’s characteristics, and outdoor climate. Most of the conventional practices come up with very similar solutions for different locations and conditions; so, my purpose is to provide a comprehensive tool that overlaps different comfort factors in office buildings and can give designers an overall and broader perspective on space planning based on experiential conditions and locations. Computer simulation is used to provide the information needed. The simulation tools include the visual scripting software Grasshopper and plugins such as Ladybug, Honeybee, and EnergyPlus. The results are reflected graphically in the form of a tool to guide designers at the early stages of the office interior space planning process.