Revit API - Video

Revit API modeling - Details

The first step in the project was creating an opening/window family with the following type parameters

• Width
• Height
• Hour of the Day
• Month of the Year

This family was then imported into the project as a window in a room with specified area and function
The daily horizontal illumination values for Chicago were retrieved from the weather file and were averaged over a month . These values were input into a spreadsheet (row=hour and column=month).

3 tasks were selected for the room function and corresponding IESNA recommended values for illumination levels were noted.

• Function 1 = Office (46.45 footcandles)
• Function 2 = Supermarket (69.67 footcandles)
• Function 3 = Assembly Area (23.93 footcandles)

In the C# code, the window and room ids were assigned
The window parameters were obtained
The room parameters were obtained and the interior illumination levels were assigned to each function.
The exterior illumination levels were obtained from the csv file based on the hour and month parameters in the window family
The window width was calculated using the CIE method of illumination calculations. This formula is based on the room area, interior illumination (room function) and exterior illumination (hour and month). Minimum width was set at 0.75ft and maximum width set at 1.8ft.

The revit model returns the exterior illumination, the interior illumination and the width of the window.

The final images of the facade

Using Revit API - Summary

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The aim of the final project was to develop a fenestration system that responds to both the climatic conditions (i.e. the horizontal illumination over the period of a year) and the function of the space that it encloses to increase or decrease opening size to provide adequate lighting levels in the space at all times during the day (daylit hours only) for the task specified in the space.

Design inspirations - Jean Nouvel’s fenestration systems

PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS

• The basic fenestration panel comprised several opening families which can be parametrically adjusted for size.
• Parameters for hour of the day and month of the year were added to the opening family.
• Horizontal illumination data for Chicago was retrieved from the weather file and set up in an excel spreadsheet.
• Data for lighting requirements for 3 tasks was retrieved from IESNA recommendations.
• The lighting levels at task height was calculated as a function of exterior illumination, glazing area, room function and room dimensions based on the CIE method of lighting calculations.
• The given C# code was modified to retrieve exterior illumination levels based on hour and month inputs and interior illumination levels based on the room function.
• Based on the above data, the required size of the windows were calculated. This will drive the opening dimensions parametrically.
• This prototype has been tested for one room on one floor, but the module can be easily replicated for multiple rooms on all floors of the project. As an extension of this exercise, one section of the façade in the project can be parametrically modeled to see how the elevation looks like for different room functions and at different times of the year

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