Investigation of daylighting performance in historical buildings: The case of Rami Barracks

In contemporary times, energy efficiency, sustainability, and the reduction of environmental impacts have become increasingly important. Particularly in the urbanization process, the energy consumption of buildings has played a critical role in preserving environmental resources and reducing energy costs. One of the strategies employed to enhance energy efficiency in buildings has used natural lighting methods. Natural lighting in buildings is a way of utilizing sunlight to illuminate interior spaces. This method reduces the use of artificial lighting in buildings, saving energy and improving the quality of life. Natural lighting creates healthier, more efficient, and more comfortable environments in building interiors while also adding aesthetic value to the structure. By allowing direct sunlight into interior spaces, the need for artificial lighting in buildings decreases, contributing to a reduction in energy consumption. This thesis evaluates the natural lighting performance of Rami Barracks, a building with significant historical and architectural value. The study aims to examine the use of daylight in new functional spaces within a building undergoing adaptive reuse. In this context, the effective use of natural lighting plays a critical role in reducing energy consumption and enhancing the spatial comfort of users. The study has been structured into five main sections. The first section addresses the study's purpose, scope, and significance, highlighting the contributions of transparent building elements to energy savings and user comfort in buildings. The second section explains the concept of energy efficiency and outlines strategies for reducing energy consumption in buildings, with a focus on the role of lighting energy in this process. The third section emphasizes the importance of using transparent building elements and explains their effects on natural lighting and user comfort. The fourth section provides a historical overview of Rami Barracks, its adaptive reuse and restoration process, and architectural structure, presenting the calculation results obtained using the Velux Daylight Visualizer simulation on this building. The final section summarizes the findings and offers recommendations for improving energy efficiency and ensuring user comfort.