Optimising daylighting in high-rise commercial developments in SE Asia and the use of computer programmes as a design tool

The consensus of the '92 Rio summit was that all development should aim for non-depletion of the earth's resources.The major growth region for the next decade is SE Asia and particularly the cities of South China for which Hong Kong is a role model with its dense urban construction. Recent Hong Kong energy legislation addressed the thermal transmission of the envelope without integrating building services energy consumption while planning legislation determines plot ratio but does not restrict overall building height in most areas of Hong Kong. A recently constructed high-rise commercial building has been analysed and proposed modifications computer modelled to evaluate options to extend daylight deeper into the space using extra interior height, alternative glazing and an external lightshelf. The commercial programme Lightscape, recently developed, is being assessed as a design tool to visually simulate the interior lighting, the illumination levels and daylight factors verified against scale physical models.