The Luminous Ambience of an Ancient Roman Public Building: A Characterization of the Inner Daylit Environment of Rogatianus Library in Thamugadi City (Timgad, Algeria)

A new analysis reveals that the ancient Roman library at Timgad, Algeria, was not uniformly daylit, suggesting its use varied spatially and temporally. The study compared Vitruvian design principles with previous research on Roman libraries before using 3D geometric modeling and Radiance simulations to characterize daylighting conditions in the library's large reading room. This approach highlights how the library's luminous environment influenced activities like consulting, reading, and storing books, offering insights into its functional adaptation to Timgad's unique climate.

Djouadi, H., Belakehal, A., & Zanovello, P. (2025). The Luminous Ambience of an Ancient Roman Public Building: A Characterization of the Inner Daylit Environment of Rogatianus Library in Thamugadi City (Timgad, Algeria). Heritage, 8(8), 300. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8080300