Atrium residential buildings versus compact shape houses − comparative analysis of energy demand in Spain and Poland

Abstract

Residential building forms need to be evaluated to meet user expectations, urban planning requirements, and national energy regulations from architectural, technological, energy, and environmental perspectives. In this study, two contrasting typologies—atrium houses and compact-shape houses—each with identical floor area and functional layout, were compared under two climatic conditions: the humid continental climate of north-eastern Poland (Bialystok) and the continental-Mediterranean climate of central Spain (Valladolid). Dynamic simulations were carried out to evaluate the impact of both the form and the Window-to-Wall Ratio (WWR) on heating and cooling demand, as well as final energy consumption. Basic thermal comfort parameters and the daylight factor were also analyzed. The results demonstrate that building form strongly influences energy performance and interacts with climate. In humid-continental climate, atrium houses exhibited 40–50% higher heating demand than compact houses. In milder continental-Mediterranean climate, atrium houses achieved lower heating demand due to passive solar gains, but incurred significantly higher cooling loads, highlighting the risk of summer overheating. In both climates, compact houses proved more energetically robust, with lower sensitivity to WWR variations, while atrium buildings required advanced glazing, shading, or passive cooling measures to achieve competitive performance. Overall, the study confirms that climate-sensitive design is crucial when selecting between atrium and compact residential forms. The findings provide valuable guidance for architects, engineers, and policymakers aiming to align building design with sustainability targets, user comfort, and national energy regulations.