OPTIMIZING LIGHTING PERFORMANCE OF UNDERGROUND ACCOMMODATION FOR MUSLIM PILGRIMS IN THE HOLLY CITIES

Muslims from all over the world have grown familiar with the traditional sight of the Holy land on mount Mina and Arafat during the Hajj for hundreds of years; the view of the tents established in those areas has become the memorable, architectural style and an unchangeable heritage legacy of this yearly Islamic event. However, following trends showing yearly exponential increase in the number of pilgrims recently imposed the greatest challenge for operators and organizers of the pilgrimage. A proposal addressing the inevitable need to preserve the historical urban/ architectural context of Mina and Arafat, underground accommodations represent an imminent solution. Optimizing natural lighting, ventilation and air conditioning for underground accommodations are key parameters for an efficient and sustainable upgrade for the holy lands. This paper presents a Parans fiber optics, natural light transfer system integration designed to enhance daylight performance in Hajj underground proposed habitational spaces. The proposed upgrade aims to align with both “LEED V4” and the “IES Daylight availability” standards. The natural “daylighting analysis” is performed using ‘Radiance’ for a generic room. Firstly, architectural design and technical system integration details are presented for the proposed underground accommodations. Secondly, the effect of fiber optics’ system design on the space, lighting performance and energy efficiency is parametrically optimized and compared to the performance of traditional lighting, windows for a range of window to wall ratios (WWR) of equivalent mid-story high-rise south-facing spaces as reference base cases. Results demonstrate that Parans system integration achieved comparable results which meet “LEED v4” caliber and exceeds the “IES Daylight availability” criterions. Upgrading to multi-story underground residential spaces can maintain the historic contextual image of tents while reducing heat transferred through the envelope by 200 kWh/m² annually and reduce cooling loads components by 80% decreasing the CO² emissions monthly by 500–600 kg per unit.