Hi, my name is

Dong Hyun Kim.

I am a Postdoctoral researcher at the Institute of Technology in Architecture in ETH Zurich. I research how human comfort in architecture can be characterised in building physics.

01. About Me

I am a scientist and engineer trained at University College London (UCL), where my path evolved from architectural design to the physics of the built environment. My expertise is built on a PhD in Building Physics (2018) and an MSc in Light and Lighting (2012), yet fundamentally grounded in the architectural mindset developed during my BSc (2011).

My research lies at the interface of technology and human perception, with a dedicated emphasis on how daylight shapes the occupant experience. Focused on fundamental questions of visual comfort and health, I explore the dynamic interplay between space, light, and time with an aim to bridge architectural design with building physics.

I approach these challenges with a reverse-engineering mindset, using engineering as the language to translate complex human needs into quantifiable, responsive systems. My technical focus enhances architectural design intuition with physics and technologies—leveraging sensor technologies, machine learning, and predictive modeling to create responsive environments.

02. Academic Employment

Postdoctoral Researcher @ ETH Zürich

2025 – Present

  • Advancing the Solskin project—an adaptive façade system composed of orientable photovoltaic modules.
  • Developing control frameworks that synthesize machine learning with real-time physical measurements.
  • Dynamically adjusting shading mechanisms to optimize the balance between on-site energy generation and human visual/thermal comfort.

Postdoctoral Researcher @ EPFL

2021 – 2024

  • Investigated factors affecting visual comfort under both daylighting and artificial lighting, aiming to refine existing visual comfort models.
  • Led research projects with a strong emphasis on improving discomfort glare prediction models for building occupants.
  • Examined potential psychological factors influencing discomfort glare perception and assessed whether predicted indices align with real-world sensations.
  • Evaluated hardware and software tools for applicability in various glare evaluation scenarios.

Postdoctoral Researcher @ TU Delft

2018 – 2020

  • Conducted cross-disciplinary research within the Chair of Indoor Environment focusing on the impacts of environmental factors on occupant health and comfort.
  • Analyzed large datasets from the European OFFICAIR project to identify office worker profiles in the Netherlands at higher health risk due to environmental stressors.
  • Co-conducted workshops and lab studies identifying primary-school children’s IEQ problems, investigating their potential as co-designers for better school environments.

PhD Researcher @ UCL

2013 – 2018

  • Earned a PhD in Built Environment with a thesis titled “Light and Emotion: Exploring Human Affect in Lighting.”
  • Focused on how temporal dynamics in modern architectural lighting environments influence occupants’ perception, emotion, and comfort.

03. Some Selected Research

04. What's Next?

Get In Touch

I am always interested in hearing and talking more about daylight and architecture studies. Whether you have a question or just want to say hi, my inbox is always open.

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