Comparative analysis of daylight characteristics of passages located in different countries at the same latitude

Daylight performance in architectural spaces is influenced not only by latitude but also by local climatic conditions. However, comparative studies examining daylight characteristics in similar architectural spaces located at the same latitude but in different climatic regions remain limited. This study investigates how climatic variations influence daylight performance in glass-covered passages located in cities situated at approximately the same latitude. A descriptive comparative research approach supported by daylight simulation analysis was employed. A standardized glass-covered passage model was analysed using VELUX Daylight Visualizer software for the cities of Rome, Barcelona, and Istanbul. Simulations were conducted at three different times of the day (09:00, 12:00, and 15:00) during four representative months (January, April, July, and October). The numerical results indicate that the highest illuminance levels were observed in July at 12:00, reaching values above 3000 lux on ceiling surfaces, while the lowest values occurred during winter months with higher cloud cover. The findings demonstrate that even in cities located at the same latitude, daylight performance varies significantly depending on climatic factors such as cloud cover, sunshine duration, and seasonal atmospheric conditions. The study contributes to daylight-oriented architectural design by highlighting the importance of integrating regional climatic parameters into daylight performance evaluations of glass-covered transitional spaces.