Adequate sunlight exposure is a key determinant of residential quality, as it influences health, well-being, energy efficiency, and overall living comfort. A lack of direct solar radiation most commonly occurs in urban areas undergoing densification. To address this, planning regulations and standards prescribe minimum durations of sunlight exposure for residential spaces, thereby setting limits on urban development. This thesis investigates the impact of criteria for ensuring sunlight exposure in residential spaces on the density of the urban fabric. The study applies the Building Coverage Ratio (BCR) as a variable to simulate different levels of development density and assess their effects on the solar access of a multi-residential building. A 3D model was prepared in Rhino 7, while the simulations were conducted using Grasshopper with the Ladybug plugin. The reference building was placed in a 3 × 3 grid of identical units, spaced according to the selected BCR values. Sunlight exposure of glazing was then analysed for the location of Ljubljana – Bežigrad on two key dates: the winter solstice (21st December) and the spring equinox (21st March). Windows were categorized by cardinal orientation, and the duration of sunlight exposure was evaluated at different densities. The results were then compared with the requirements of the SIST EN 17037 standard and the Ljubljana Municipal Spatial Plan. The analysis confirmed a strong correlation between urban density and sunlight exposure: northern façades consistently showed the lowest exposure, while southern façades achieved the highest. As BCR increased, sunlight exposure systematically decreased, and certain residential spaces no longer met the required criteria. The findings highlight the conflict between maintaining adequate living conditions and achieving urban densification. They provide a basis for reconciling efficiency in spatial planning with the need to ensure a healthy and sustainable living environment.
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