International Journal of

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Mosque architecture is considered as a potent visual symbol of the Islamic architects’ design ability. Prayer-hall as the manifestation of equality between the believers and the unity of architectural space has challenged such an ability throughout the history. This study, considering the characteristics of light-openings in the domes of Iranian mosques’ Prayer-hall, aims to investigate these domes’ possible relationship with the climatic features of each mosque. To this end, eighteen case-studies according to the research analytic approach are studied to determine: 1. the relationship between the mosques construction period (Iranian architecture styles) and its light-openings number on the one hand and its climatic features on the other hand, 2. The relationship between the light-openings’ location and the climatic features of each mosque, 3. The relationship between the lightopenings’ number and the climatic feature of each mosque and finally, 4. The relationship between the prayer-hall’s height and the number of light openings of each mosque on the one hand and its climatic feature on the other hand. The study shows that Iranian architects have given considerable priority to the natural ventilation function of the light-openings, So, what used to be considered as the domes' main function, allowing the light to the interior space, is considered as their secondary function.

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Preparing thermal comfort conditions in outdoor public spaces is one of the considerations of architectural design. If the constructed area does not support comfortable conditions in outdoor spaces, it will cause microclimatic problems for pedestrians and adjacent buildings. Regarding the different thermal comfort conditions in outdoor spaces in comparison with indoor, several indices have been produced for outdoor thermal analysis during recent decades. The different methodology and approach to these indices have provided a diverse set of responses to thermal prediction of outdoor spaces. This diversity has made it difficult for architects to decide how to use these indices in outdoor design strategies. To provide a same basis to compare these results, this article will introduce each index with its definition, its basic calculation method, and its thermal condition categories. Following these information a psychometric chart that is provided by the author, shows its thermal categories as a graphic method. Using this psychometrics for thermal analysis will make it easy to compare different indices and their outdoor thermal predictions. Those architects, who are familiar with Building Bioclimatic Chart of Givoni for analyzing indoor thermal conditions, will find this method easy and practical for analyzing outdoor thermal condition by choosing an appropriate index.

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the light of the Genius Loci theory. The theory has been verified in many studies by the traditional-Islamic philosophers. Proving the closeness of these two viewpoints in extent and type of the environmental influences on disposition can open a venue for applying the theory of Genius Loci to establish a basis for environmental design in regions with Islamic and traditional cultures. This research traces the origins of this theory to the ancient Islamic philosophy. In the first step, the relationships between environmental and cultural characters are explained in four climate-dispositional patterns using Christian Norberg-Schulz’s theory of Genius Loci. The second step deals with the philosophical origins of the theory within the Islamic thoughts through four patterns. Islamic philosophers have considered the types and the extent of climate’s influences on disposition and have distinguished different faculties and behavioral affordances for various temperaments and four climates - “hot and dry”, “hot and wet”, “cold and dry” and “cold and wet”. Temperament and the hot and dry climate have shown to be suitable for the moral training of the mankind and assume the character traits of the God. The findings of the present study, the phenomenologist’s ideas concerning the character type and environmental/cultural characters in different climates, and the association of the environment and human, have over lapses with the theories of the Islamic philosophers.

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Using outdoor public spaces as a place of social interaction is in a great consideration these days. Providing tolerable thermal condition as long as possible is one of the primary stage for people’s presence in these places. Outdoor thermal indices are introduced to help architects making appropriate decisions in climate responsive design procedure. By doing some field study research in extreme climatic condition of tropical city of Kuala Lumpur, this article will introduce a research method of data collecting and data analyzing using outdoor thermal indices. How to do an effective and helpful research for design requirements is the aim of this method. Field data are collected by a Kestrel portable weather station in different outdoor spaces of the city centre. Weather data are analyzed in three levels of meso, local and microclimate. Architectural properties of the place are explained as the respective climatic design solution. Software named SIKRON is designed to speed up the analyzing process.

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Human’s disregard to nature and consequently his living environment’s distance from natural endowments and potentials have caused many problems. Human’s living spaces are less desirable for him, and have destroyed his comfort in many cases, as man-made things. In this regard, public open spaces in residential areas can be mentioned because they are usually considered among the most vulnerable spaces due to having the least thermal comfort and spatial quality. This is because they are able to provide comfort only if they interact with nature and use natural energy sources such as sun, wind, plants etc. In this regard, this study focused on providing comfort specifically thermal comfort in residential public open spaces by using natural endowments and energies especially the sun and shade provided by solar radiation. This study aimed to analyze the climatic factors in Yazd meteorological station, especially the temperature and radiation analysis and making this information meaningful regarding human’s thermal comfort in open spaces to introduce the climate potentials specifically the sun. Then, some traditional houses in Yazd were analyzed, their length, width and heights were surveyed, the real shade masks of the walls in yards were measured, and a logical relationship was observed between solar radiation and yard proportions and how the shade is formed in these yards. Therefore, it could be concluded what the role of these proportions and the best yard proportions is to provide the thermal comfort in open spaces.

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Day lighting is one of the important qualitative factors in housing, which is also effective on health and well-being of occupants. Extensive glass surfaces and Transparency in building facades provides good daylight quantity for interior spaces. However, this lighting system is not appropriate for climates faced with higher sunlight radiation (Such as hot-humid areas), due to overheating and disturbing the thermal comfort. There are efficient day lighting strategies in the traditional Iranian architecture as one of the valuable remaining heritages of Human experiences, which are useful for contemporary architecture. This article intends to investigate daylight quality in the houses of Bushehr from Qajar period by modeling and simulating in daylight calculation software (Dialux) and identify day lighting strategies utilized in these houses. As Bushehr city is located in the hot-humid region of Iran, is faced with high sunlight radiation, making balance between receiving light and heat gain through windows needs careful attention. The houses of Qajar period in Bushehr are evolved samples of traditional architecture in the city and Rashidy house (built in 1893) is one of them which its form and details can reveal many lessons on coping with climate by merely using renewable energies.

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Environmental problems caused by fossil fuel consumption, on the one hand, and the upcoming prospect of ending these fuels on the other, attracted much attention towards sustainable architecture. Traditional buildings can be seen as a sample of sustainability; as they have used strategies to cope with the environment, which have been developed over the years, providing users’ comfort conditions for centuries. But before implementing these strategies in today buildings, we need to know the exact effect of their use; something that is regularly performed by an energy simulation software. Thus, first, we should know the ability of the software in modeling different design strategies, and secondly we should be certain of the validation of its results. This research aims to study the ability of DesignBuilder software (as one of the most applied software for building energy simulation) to model and simulate a complex traditional building. The accuracy of DesignBuilder thermal simulation results, in comparison with the experimental data is the main question of this study. To do this, Rasoulian house in Yazd (in hot and arid climate of Iran) was chosen as a case study and after simulating the entire building, the simulation results were compared with experimental measurement data. The results show that in most spaces, the experimental data were only 1–5°C different from the results of the simulation. Finally, the probable causes of these differences were analyzed and some suggestions were proposed to develop DesignBuilder, to be more applicable in simulating buildings of hot and arid climate.

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The green hydroponics walls are among new kinds of building facades, which receive more attention from architects lately. In addition to the positive effect these walls have in maintaining humidity in arid regions, they also have positive thermal performance in both cold and hot weather conditions. Therefore, they are in the center of designers’ focus for public spaces such as schools. In terms of soil-free cultures, these walls are of three general types: wide, horizontal, and vertical. The use of different types of green walls in each zone allows for different thermal performance. This paper aims to investigate the thermal performance of hydroponic green walls in different facades of green school in term of thermal performance. Moreover, the present study only addresses green schools in cold climates. We conducted a simulation by using Energy Plus software with three different types of hydroponic green walls in Shahrekord city of Iran, which were monitored in 20 years" from2000 until2019".The thermal performance of each type was analyzed and compared with other samples. Finally, the best kind of green- hydroponics wall with the best thermal performance was identified for each wall.

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Disconnection with nature and history as a result of modernist approaches occurred in the early twentieth century has led to great consequences. Climate change, environmental problems and energy and resources crises have posed numerous challenges to contemporary architects across the globe. The present paper focuses on the issue of passive thermoregulation strategies in vernacular and biomimetic architecture - two approaches in architecture that connect architecture to nature and history -which can offer solutions for environmental crisis. The main objective of this study is to highlight the similarities and differences between vernacular and biomimetic architecture based on passive thermoregulation criterion. So the main question is: what are the common features of biomimetic and vernacular architecture in their use of passive thermoregulatory mechanisms. In this study, the comparative method is used to point out the similarities and differences that can be found between some case studies of vernacular and biomimetic architecture. First, some examples of biomimetic architecture are selected using desk studies and, then, their approach to heat regulation are analyzed using descriptive-analytical research methodology. The results show that while vernacular architecture has a static nature and is depended on low-tech and biomimetic architecture has a dynamic (kinetic), intelligence and interactive nature which relies on high-tech and new materials, their approaches to thermoregulation are similar in some ways. While different in form, they are both based on controlling solar radiation through shading, dissipating heat through convective and evaporative cooling systems, and using the sun as a renewable source of energy.

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Nowadays, due to rapid urbanization, People can’t participate in outdoor activities. On the other hand, environmental issues such as climate change and heat stress have caused thermal dissatisfaction for users. In this regard, studying outdoor environments becomes crucial. In the present historical context, lack of responsive urban layout consequences not only morphological problems but also causes thermal dissatisfaction during the passages. The present study aims to find the responsive layout pattern for providing an approximate outdoor thermal comfort based on local criteria and limitations in summer and winter; which requires the minimum intervention in the current context.  In this regard, we intend to represent three basic street patterns (Linear, Grid, and Circular) as alternative designs and attempt to localize them with the current urban layout. For analyzing the prototypes, we used Envi-met Beta software to compare the average amount of climatic factors, orientation, and H/W ratio for the alternatives. In addition, the PMV factor (=Predicted Mean Vote Model) was used as a measurement index of outdoor thermal comfort. According to the outcomes, the Radial pattern with dominant NE-SW oriented passages prepares adequate solar energy in the winter. Also, it could balance the high radiation during the summer, whereby provides optimal thermal satisfaction in both hot and cold seasons.

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Energy-efficient buildings reduce energy demand. The parameters of the building envelope, as an interface between the interior of the building and the outdoor environment, can greatly influence energy consumption. The main objective of this study is to ‎optimize the parameters of buildings’ envelopes for reducing energy consumption while ‎considering‏ ‏the common style of architectural design in cold-dry regions. The case study research methodology is used to investigate the effect of various openings characteristics on the energy performance of the building. This paper studied one of the stories of a high-rise residential building as the case study and component blocks were used for the rest of the stories. To find an ‎energy-efficient model for the buildings’ façade, considering the effective parameters, ‎numerous simulations were performed by the EnergyPlus as an energy simulation engine. The factors analyzed in this article included the type of glazing, the type of window frame, the window-to-wall ratio (WWR), and shading placement. The results show that a combination of Low-E ‎glazing ‎ and Argon gas with a 5.98% reduction, a UPVC window frame with a 0.36% ‎reduction, a WWR of 30% with a 1.57% increase, an overhang shading with 20cm thickness ‎and 15cm depth with a 1.12% reduction in annual energy consumption can cause a total ‎reduction of 2.45% in annual energy consumption compared to the initial model.‎‏ ‏These ‎changes did not compromise the required lighting for the interior spaces while reducing the ‎energy consumption of the building.

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The demand for energy has increased all over the world, and the construction industry makes up a high percentage of energy consumption. Different design components, construction, and exploitation regarding the field of construction energy consumption and the drive towards sustainability have been taken into consideration; however, energy conservation with an emphasis on the user's behaviors has been ignored. The purpose of this research is to provide a quantitative definition of the impact of behavior on energy consumption in three residential, institutional, and educational occupancies in one apartment through survey and simulation. In this research, by allocating three different occupancies to one building in Qom, the cooling and heating loads for each occupant have been compared in a one-year interval. First, the building modeling was carried out in Ecotet software and put in Energyplus software. Then by assuming a single building and describing three different patterns of using the space in Energyplus, the outcomes were compared. The results show that the reduction or increase in energy consumption in each occupancy was influenced by the number of users and the patterns of their activities or clothing. Reducing the duration of presence or changing the work hours in warm seasons of the year can significantly help reduce energy consumption in educational and institutional occupancies in hot and dry climates. The residential users' economic motives can be one of the reasons for reduced energy consumption in residential occupancies, compared to institutional occupancies.

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The physical-geometric characteristics of buildings have a very important role in the regulation of microclimate conditions and the thermal situation of interior and exterior spaces of buildings. This research aims to investigate the amount of received direct radiation energy of vertical surfaces in buildings and determine the appropriate form, aspect ratio, and orientation of buildings in the cities of Ardabil, Tabriz, Sanandaj, and Hamedan in the Northwest of Iran with cold climate. For this purpose, six polygonal forms (with the same floor area and height) including square, rectangle, hexagon, octagon, hexadecagon (16-sided), and triacontadigon (32-sided) were selected to be examined. Afterward, the specified optimal form(rectangle) was surveyed with the aspect ratios of 1:1.2, 1:1.4, 1:1.6, 1:1.8, 1:2 and in the orientations of 180º, 165º, 150º, 135º, 120º, 105º SE and SW. Using the “Law of Cosines” computational method, the amount of received direct energy on vertical surfaces has been calculated and processed, for different months and during the cold and hot periods of the year. The results of the research show that the appropriate form of the buildings in the studied cities is a rectangle with an east-west orientation. The most suitable aspect ratio for the rectangular form with east-west orientation in the cities of Ardabil, Tabriz, Sanandaj, and Hamedan is 1:1.2. The appropriate orientation for the determined aspect ratio in the studied cities is 165° Southeast.
 

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Urban planning and morphology are one of the most important factors affecting land surface temperature (LST) and microclimate chrematistics. The production of anthropogenic heat, mainly for cooling systems and lighting, has resulted in significant impacts on the quality of the thermal environment. These impacts include poor air quality, increased temperatures, higher energy consumption, and the development of urban heat islands (UHIs). With the growing urban population and increased building height, especially in metropolitan areas, there have been significant changes in the urban geometry, rate of pollution, amount of heat released, and meteorological parameters. All these factors contribute to the heat island phenomenon and significantly alter the microclimate in urban areas. The goal of this article is measuring the effects of height changes in buildings around Tehran metropolitan squares in a detailed plan on microclimatic changes. As part of a research study, the Hafthoz Square in Tehran was chosen as a case study. The researchers used a combination of simulation techniques (Envi-met) and GIS to detect the spatial variation of Land Surface Temperature (LST) and determine its quantitative relationship with building height and density. This was achieved through simulation modeling for the Narmak neighborhood of Tehran. As Conclusion, the results indicate that comparison on the simulation between the existing conditions and proposed scenario area showed that in the proposed scenario, wind speed and relative humidity decrease and ground surface temperature (UHI) and PPD and PMV indices increase. Therefore, if the detailed plan of Tehran metropolis is realized and implemented in many squares, it will be accompanied by changes in micro-climatic parameters in order to reduce the thermal comfort of citizens.

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In contemporary contexts, optimizing energy consumption and ensuring thermal comfort for occupants in hot and arid climates necessitates prioritizing the shielding of buildings from solar radiation and heat. This study employed simulation techniques utilizing Rhino software, Grasshopper plugin, and Climate Studio plugin to determine the most suitable facade design in terms of energy efficiency, considering the thermal performance of office building facades in Tehran. The investigation evaluated the thermal performance of four facade systems: three variations of double-skin facade (Buffer system, Extract-air system, Twin-face system), and a kinetic facade. Detailed calculations were conducted for heating, cooling, and electrical energy consumption, with results compared using monthly and annual charts. Simulation outcomes indicate that, under constant conditions, the kinetic facade exhibits superior energy efficiency by dynamically adjusting its components, including rotation direction and opening/closing mechanisms, resulting in a 42.3% reduction in energy consumption compared to conventional double-skin facades. Furthermore, the analysis suggests that annual energy consumption, encompassing cooling, heating, and electric lighting, is lower on the southern facade than on the northern facade. Notably, the kinetic facade, with its adaptable design, demonstrates significant performance in energy reduction compared to other facade types, establishing it as the preferred option in this study. Employing intelligent self-adaptive systems, a portion of the facade is configured as a canopy, effectively mitigating building cooling and heating loads by regulating solar radiation, thus enhancing environmental comfort for occupants while minimizing energy loss.

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Various methods have been employed in vernacular architecture, to achieve energy efficiency in different regions worldwide, especially in facade designs. In Iran, most vernacular buildings are still in use without major modifications and renovations, even in harsh climatic conditions. This study uses mathematical analysis to conduct a quantitative approach toward principles used in the façade design of Bushehr's vernacular architecture. The research critically examined the physical characteristics of eight residential buildings, which were selected as case studies. These parameters included window-to-wall ratios, the surface area for each facade, and the size of different openings concerning height and weight. These physical characteristics of the selected houses were systematically extracted for both the interior and exterior facades, delineating eighteen criteria. The statistical analyses were done using IBM SPSS Statistics version 16.0. The results revealed fourteen linear models—six models related to the exterior facades, five models concerned with interior facades, and three models about the opening. Although the linear models are specific to the vernacular architecture of Bushehr, the research method and approach outlined in this study have the potential to contribute to a framework that can be used by other researchers to uncover underlying principles in vernacular facades elsewhere around the world.