Optimization of passive design features for a naturally ventilated residential building according to the bioclimatic architecture concept and considering the northern Morocco climate

Improving the wellbeing of the occupants is the main challenge in the building design field. This work aims optimizing the design of a free-running residential building located in northern Morocco according to the bioclimatic architecture concept. In the first stage, an analysis of the bioclimatic chart has been done to find the best passive design strategies for the northern Morocco climate. Based on the results of the analysis, a set of passive design parameters has been selected to be considered in a building thermal and lighting energy performance optimization. A case study of a family detached residential building is considered for this purpose. The optimization problem is multi-objective, so the Pareto front approach was used to select the best design solution. Finally, a monthly assessment of the thermal and lighting energy performance of the chosen design solution is presented. The main results show that applying exterior insulation with a thick thermal mass layer is best for thermal performance enhancement. A wider glazed area with small overhang depth is more suitable for the south facade. For the east facade, the best solution is to limit the glazed area and increase the overhang depth. The importance of natural night ventilation for summer cooling has been also confirmed. This study can serve as a reference for building designers in northern Morocco while developing their projects.