Climate-Adaptive Passive Design for Sustainable Libraries: Simulation and Machine Learning-Based Multi-Objective Optimisation of Comfort, Energy, and Environmental Performance

Gizem Izmir Tunahan^1*Gonca Özer Yaman²

• ¹Dokuz Eylül University, Alsancak, Türkiye
• ²Bingol Universitesi, Bingöl, Türkiye

Library reading halls are critical environments where long-term user comfort must be balanced with stringent energy and carbon reduction goals. Passive design parameters-such as aspect ratio, façade configuration, window-to-wall ratio (WWR), and orientation-play a key role in shaping these outcomes, yet comprehensive cross-climatic evaluations remain limited. This study evaluates nearly 13,000 simulation scenarios across nine Köppen climate zones, varying plan geometry, façade configuration, WWR (10-90%), and orientation. The methodological framework combines statistical effect analysis with explainable machine learning (XGBoost-SHAP) to identify dominant drivers, non-linear interactions, and critical thresholds. Multi-objective Pareto-based optimisation and robustness analysis are then employed to derive climate-responsive design strategies balancing thermal discomfort hours, total site energy use, and CO₂ emissions. Results show that climate and WWR dominate performance, with façade configuration secondary and orientation and plan ratio context-dependent. Optimal outcomes clustered around mid-range WWR values (30–40%), while very low and high ratios imposed performance penalties. Compact plans with single-sided façades generally favoured energy and CO₂ reduction, whereas elongated plans with double-sided façades improved comfort. Optimisation confirmed the absence of a universal optimum but identified mid-range archetypes (WWR 40–60%, single façades) that offer superior resilience against climatic uncertainty. The study provides actionable, climate-sensitive thresholds to guide early-stage design. For practice, it offers actionable rules for architects, while for policy, it supports climate-specific guidelines, such as enforceable upper WWR limits, mandatory shading in high-glazing scenarios, and the integration of optimisation methods into procurement processes. Beyond libraries, the framework demonstrates a transferable pipeline for climate-adaptive, low-carbon building design that aligns with international sustainability goals. While visual comfort is implicitly addressed through energy penalties for insufficient daylight, future research should extend this framework by integrating detailed glare and visual quality metrics to fully reconcile thermal resilience with user-centric lighting needs.