Daylighting: Natural Light in Architecture

Chipping Norton Leisure Centre

Architect Fielden Clegg Bradley

Lighting consultant Brian Ford Associates

Client West Oxfordshire District Council

The Chipping Norton Leisure Centre is a dual

use facility completed in 2002. It contains a

25 m4 lane swimming pool, a four-court

sports hall, fitness suite, dance studio and

three squash courts.

Computer and physical modelling of the

proposed daylight solutions was explored, the

final solution allowing the sports hall and

swimming pool to operate in daylight hours

without the need for artificial lighting.

An analysis of the daylight conditions in the

sports hall and swimming pool were

undertaken to determine both the quantity,

distribution and quality of the daylight within

these spaces for various rooflight and diffuser

options. Annual energy use, energy costs and

CO 2 emissions, related to the artificial lighting

requirements, were also estimated for the

different rooflight design options.

Since both computer and physical models

were used for this work it is of interest to

note that significant differences were found.

Generally higher Daylight Factors (DF) were

predicted using the physical models than those

obtained from the computer, but the pattern

of light distribution was found to be similar,

and the visual effect of the various options

could be assessed by the architects more

readily with the physical models.

There were various reasons for the

differences, perhaps the most significant being

the imperfections at junctions in the model.

The resulting solutions may be seen in the

photographs.

In the swimming pool the large windows

down the west side of the pool make the most

significant contribution, supplemented by the

rooflights running the length of the pool on

either side. The daylight design obviates the

danger of reflections off the water from

obscuring the view of swimmers in difficulties.

In the sports hall an entirely different

approach is adopted by means of runs of

overhead rooflights,controlled by fabric

diffusers, which solve the problem of solar

glare.

The success of the daylighting of the

Chipping Norton Leisure Centre has resulted

from the application of careful daylight

studies, and the willingness to take the

necessary time to apply the results of energy

studies, thus ensuring a sustainable solution.

148 Daylighting: Natural Light in Architecture

Building plan

Section through swimming pool

Fielden Clegg Bradley

Fielden Clegg Bradley