Design guidelines for appropriate insolation of urban squares

A systematic study of building design around urban squares, while keeping the solar rights, is presented. The assessment was carried out both visually and quantitatively using the model SHADING (Solar Energy. 1994; 52-1, 27-37). The quantitative evaluation is general and allows a fast and efficient evaluation of the Geometrical Insolated Coefficient (GIC), which is the ratio between the insolated area and the total examined area. The calculation of the GIC was carried out year around for different proportions of squares and buildings heights around them. By calculating the Average GIC for Winter for each examined square, recommendations and design guidelines are derived and presented.