Light and outside vision at restaurants

Abstract

Technological advances in recent years have enabled large areas to be constructed as simple transparent windows, which removes the visual barrier between the inside and outside. Highly glazed buildings are often designed to provide great access to the view, and to admit daylight. However, not the entire transparent surface is used for these purposes. This research proposes optimizing skins and the view by analysing the visual discomfort caused by outside high luminance. Within the context, uncomfortable outside views can be (i) caused by glare due to large luminous surfaces , (ii) decrease concentration on the activity and (iii) privacy, as well. By showing the case studies of 56 restaurants facades under Mediterranean climate, we demonstrate how full glazed façade caused glare and does not provide a quality outside view. 43% of all restaurants facades analysed are highly glazed. Among them 87% are located on the seafront and in addition all of them are placed on the ground floor. A simple transparent façade is not able to blocked out some large needlessly bright surfaces such as a pavement, which it has not visual value. For one case selected were measured the illumination level and luminance, were took high dynamic range photographs to obtain luminance maps, and were carried out satisfaction surveys. We present results in terms of illuminance and luminance values to improve visual comfort. The adaptation of three visual field, down, front and outside view improves the tolerance of outside high luminance , but even so, the measurements and the surveys show that there is glare situation to concentrate on tasting activity, and consequently the outside views are not accurate, as well as, the lack of privacy. Bounded outside bright surfaces by complex fenestration systems could improve the luminance environment for this activity balancing inside light and outside view. Keywords