Abstract
Da Lat has a distinctive highland climate that influences the daylight and thermal conditions of residential buildings. Although the relatively cool climate provides opportunities for passive environmental strategies, residential buildings may still experience uneven daylight distribution and thermal conditions due to differences in orientation, window configuration, building form, and surrounding obstructions. Digital building-performance analysis provides an opportunity to examine these conditions quantitatively and to support more informed architectural decisions. This study aimed to evaluate the daylight and thermal performance of residential architecture in Da Lat and to identify building characteristics that contribute to more comfortable indoor environmental conditions. The research employed a digital simulation approach using a three-dimensional model of a representative residential building. Site and building data, including orientation, room configuration, openings, materials, and climatic conditions, were incorporated into the simulation model. Daylight performance was assessed through spatial daylight distribution, while thermal performance was examined using indoor temperature and thermal comfort indicators. The simulation results were then compared across selected spaces to identify variations in environmental performance. The findings indicated that daylight availability varied considerably between rooms, particularly according to window orientation, opening size, and the presence of adjacent buildings. The thermal analysis also showed differences in indoor conditions between spaces with different levels of solar exposure and ventilation. These findings suggest that digital environmental analysis can provide useful evidence for improving passive design strategies in Da Lat residences. The study contributes a context-specific approach to integrating digital simulation with climate-responsive residential design in a highland tropical environment.