2018 Scienceline Publication

Journal of Civil Engineering and Urbanism

Volume 8, Issue 3: 33-38; May 25, 2018

ISSN-2252-

0430

The Effect of Iranian Traditional Architectural Forms on

Reducing Energy Consumption; Comparison of Two Types of

Buildings in Hot-Dry and Cold Climates (Case study: Afsharian

House and Ganjei Zadeh House)

Sanaz Mehdizadeh Dalir and Mohsen Mokhtari Kashavar Master of Architecture Student at UCNA University of Tabriz, Iran

Corresponding author’s Email: sanaz.m1986@yahoo.com

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ABSTRACT: In different parts of Iran, the traditional form of buildings are significantly subordinate to v

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the climate of the region in which they are located. How much traditional Iranian housing forms have d

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been effective in thermal behavior is an issue that is discussed in this paper. The research method in this M

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paper is analytic-deductive analysis, which is done by modeling and analysis of the case study of two 0

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climates and comparing them in different situations with appropriate soft wears. The results of energy 0

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simulations and their comparison with each other indicate that the form and geometry chosen by the 8

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Iranian architect for each climate show a very good behavior to meet the climatic conditions. And if LE

these two forms of housing are displaced together, this efficiency decreases. As a result, the housing form of each climate is an optimal response to the same climate. Traditional architects have been aware of the impact of geometry and forms on the thermal performance of buildings, and they have been able to respond appropriately to environmental conditions by using different geometric proportions and forms.

Keywords: Iran's Traditional Housing, Thermal-Climate Behavior, Energy Efficient, Energy Consumption

INTRODUCTION

desired comfort level (Roaf et al., 2009). Environmental

controlling features such as a mechanism to open and

Shelter is a basic necessity for human beings to protect

close doors, windows, and blinds increase the range of

themselves from the extremes of climate. Climate

acceptable temperature of comfort in buildings (Darby

influences the building forms. It partly explains why

and White, 2005). Therefore, thermal comfort in a

built forms vary according to the region (Moradchelleh

building is gained through the physical elements as well

and Rashid, 2011). Other important influencing factors

as through the adaptive behaviors of the occupants (Roaf

are the culture of people, their religion, the availability

et al., 2009).

of materials and construction technology. One factor

Iran experiences four types of climate conditions

may be more dominant relatively to another, depending

namely, moderate and humid, cold, hot-dry and hot-

on the context and people's preferences (Rapoport,

humid climates in various regions of the country. As a

1969). Making an effort to understand how built

result, there is a diversity of vernacular architecture that

environment is shaped. Due to the interaction between

could be found in different parts of the country. In

people and their surroundings has been a fascination for

general, Iranian traditional houses are classified into two

many researchers. People usually react to the alterations

recognizable types: the introverted type (with internal

and changes caused by the environmental elements

courtyard) and the extroverted type (without central

through behavioral adaptation, physiological and

courtyard) (Mokhtarshahi Sani, 2013). The courtyard

psychological adaptation to meet comfort requirements

type is widely used in the central part of Iran with hot

(De Dear and Brager, 1998). To gain desirable

and dry climatic condition (Heidari, 2010). However,

environment, people have a tendency to adjust their

this unique architectural feature can be found in other

clothing change and relocate their activities to gain the

regions with modifications in terms of form and

To cite this paper: Mehdizadeh Dalir S and Mokhtari Kashavar M (2018). The Effect of Iranian Traditional Architectural Forms on Reducing Energy Consumption; Comparison of Two Types of Buildings in Hot-Dry and Cold Climates (Case study: Afsharian House and Ganjei Zadeh House). J. Civil Eng. Urban., 8 (3): 33-38.

www.ojceu.ir

33

configuration (Amadouni, 1995). In the traditional

in a semi-arid climatic zone relative to its latitude and

architecture of Iran, using many natural and constructed

distance from the equator, has vast desert plains in the

elements, including topography, elevation, water, land

central area It has very hot summers and cold winters.

cover, and surrounding environments formation and

On the other hand, in the cold and dry climate of

architecture design techniques to protect residents from

the Alborz and Zagros mountains in the western and

the adverse effects of climate on comfort has led to the

northwest regions, it creates cold winters for the

formation of Iranian housing. For this reason, the

inhabitants of this region. Traditional Iranian houses

housing of each climate is highly consistent and

have always been one of the most important sections of

adaptable to the native conditions in which it is located

Iranian architecture and have great popularity among its

(Saljoughinejad and Rashidi Sharifabad, 2015).

inhabitants. Because most of the time spent in the lives

Many studies have been conducted in the field of

of the people and all of the activities that can take place

traditional Iranian housing, among which the studies of

in the open and semi-open spaces are formed in it (Asefi

Professor Pirnia in the form of reference books are

and Imani, 2017) Housing as the most fundamental

taught in Iran's universities. The basics mentioned in this

architectural building in Iran has a significant

article are mainly derived from these books, including

contribution to determining fuel and energy

the book of Persian architectural methods by Gholam

consumption. On the other hand, traditional Iranian

Hossein Memarian in 2002. In the book of Residential

architecture has used designing techniques in traditional

Architecture of Iran, Memarian also addresses the

houses to answer those issues (Najafgholi Pour Kalantari

typology of the introverted and extraterrestrial form of

et al., 2015).

traditional Iranian housing, which has occurred through

Each climate is proportional to its climate zone,

the formulation of housing for each region. Mohammad

and it is considering measures to build housing in that

Tavassoli, in a book entitled Building a City and

region that is responsive to the same climate. Building

Architecture in the Dry Climate in 2012, explores the

form is one of the most important strategies for

climate impact on the formation of housing and even

optimizing fuel consumption. In the following,

urbanization in that climate. Other books on building

introducing and describing the traditional form of

elements of Iranian traditional architecture for

Iranian housing in two hot and cold regions and cities of

ventilation and climate in the dry climate have been

Iran, we examine and analyze this claim

compiled including the publication of the book of

natural cooling in traditional buildings of Iran, by Mehdi

Types of houses

Bahadirinejad.

Buildings are divided into several

categories according to the location of spaces in

different parts of the yard:

MATERIAL AND METHOD

1. With spaces on one side of the yard

2. With spaces on both sides of the yard and

At first, a brief explanation of the theoretical

facing each other

foundations includes the concepts and key elements of

3. With spaces on the courtyard side, L-shaped

the climate of traditional Iranian buildings will be

4. With spaces on the three sides of the yard. U

explained. Then a variety of dominant buildings in

shape

different climates of Iran are introduced. And then the

5. With spaces around the yard:

In this species, the organization of spaces

buildings of Ganje zadeh in the city of Tabriz as the

with regard to domestic migration has taken

dominant form of the building in a cold climate and the

place in different seasons. In this way parts

Afsharian building in Shiraz is introduced as the

facing sun has used during the winter, and parts

dominant form in warm and dry climate. Then these two

that placed back to sun used in summers

buildings are examined for thermal performance. Energy

(Memarian and Pirnia, 2007)

simulations have been done using Honeybee that is a

weather and energy analysis tool for grasshopper 3D

package and connects grasshopper to Energy Plus

simulation engine. Simulations are done in two parts.

Simulations are performed for each month of the year.

Each building once was modeled in its own climate and

once again in a different climate and the results are

compared.

Theoretical bases considering climate change

around the world and increasing fossil fuel consumption,

it is important to control and manage optimal fuel

consumption. Although Iran is a land of four seasons

with a lot of climate variations However, Iran is located

To cite this paper: Mehdizadeh Dalir S and Mokhtari Kashavar M (2018). The Effect of Iranian Traditional Architectural Forms on Reducing Energy Consumption; Comparison of Two Types of Buildings in Hot-Dry and Cold Climates (Case study: Afsharian House and Ganjei Zadeh House). J. Civil Eng. Urban., 8 (3): 33-38.

www.ojceu.ir

34

Figure 1. The shape of the spaces in different

parts of the yard

Gangei zadeh House of Tabriz

The GanjeiZadeh House has a mix of

architectural styles from the Qajar and Pahlavi

periods. The house is about three thousand

square meters in size, and its land is composed

of three floors of rooms in a row without an

interior and exterior. The use of sharp angles in

the construction of a treasure house and a

rectangular window without curvature in the

building reveals that the building consists of

two parts. The eastern part is constructed

during the Qajar period, and the western part of

Figure 2. Gangei zadeh House of Tabriz

the Pahlavi period has been added to the former

building. The main core of this building is the

lounge chamber, which is located on both sides

of the entrance hall and at the edges of the

rooms. The porch contains five spans covered

with semi-circular arches. In the northern part

of the living room there was also a veranda

with three openings facing the courtyard. The

northern interior courtyard is destroyed and the

northern side of the living room is walled the

back of both parts of the building is protected

and decorated with stone plates, and the

exterior and basements are brick. Materials

used in the building of stone, brick, plaster,

lime and wood Architectural plans, combining

two planes, porches, two-way staircases and

optimal brick application are the hallmarks of

this building.

To cite this paper: Mehdizadeh Dalir S and Mokhtari Kashavar M (2018). The Effect of Iranian Traditional Architectural Forms on Reducing Energy Consumption; Comparison of Two Types of Buildings in Hot-Dry and Cold Climates (Case study: Afsharian House and Ganjei Zadeh House). J. Civil Eng. Urban., 8 (3): 33-38.

www.ojceu.ir

35

construction of the building include brick,

stone, plaster mortar, wood. Also, the

decorations used in the building include

carvings, wood decoration, tile, brickwork,

painting, mirroring, and painting. This house

was built during the Qajar era.

Figure 4. Afsharian house in Shiraz

RESULTS

Gangei Zadeh house in Tabriz & Shiraz

climates

Energy use of Ganjei Zadeh house in Tabriz

climate is: 26256.652 kWh for cooling, and 27377.517

kWh for heating over a year, also total energy demand

for thermal load in 28.825 kWh/M2 in a year (Charts 1-

3). In the second part of experience the building tested in

Shiraz climate and result is as follows: 84625.107 kWh

for cooling, and 943.924 kWh for heating over a year,

also total energy demand for thermal load in 41.202

kWh/M2 in a year (Charts 4-6).

Comparing the result shows that energy demand

for cooling in Ganjei Zadeh house in Shiraz Climate in a

year raised 222.3 percent and energy demand for heating

is dropped 28.394 percent because the Shiraz has hot

and dry weather that has no significant need for heating.

Finally total thermal energy demand for Ganjei Zadeh

house in Shiraz climate raised by 51.543 percent

(kWh/m2) that shows this geometry is not optimal chose

for Shiraz climate.

Afsharian house in Shiraz and Tabriz climates

Figure 3. Gangei zadeh House of Tabriz

The total energy consumption of the entire

Afsharian house for one year is 1869.66 kWh

Afsharian house in Shiraz:

for heating, and for cooling it is 12719.817

The house of Afsharian with an area of

kWh, and energy consumption per square meter

380 square meters is a combination of two

for the whole year is 54.924 kWh hours in the

species with and without the traditional

climate of Shiraz (Charts 7-9). The energy

window. The building has a central courtyard

consumption of Afsharian house in the Tabriz

and on three fronts there is a room, two

city is as follows: Heating during the year is

corridors and two double rooms. The type of

1439.337 kWh. Cooling during the year was

structure is the barrier wall, the arched vault

3778,732 kWh. And the amount of energy

and the arc. Most of the materials used in the

To cite this paper: Mehdizadeh Dalir S and Mokhtari Kashavar M (2018). The Effect of Iranian Traditional Architectural Forms on Reducing Energy Consumption; Comparison of Two Types of Buildings in Hot-Dry and Cold Climates (Case study: Afsharian House and Ganjei Zadeh House). J. Civil Eng. Urban., 8 (3): 33-38.

www.ojceu.ir

36

consumed per square meter during the year is

68,403 kWh (Charts 10-12).

Comparison of the results shows that if

the form and geometry of the Afsharian

building used in Tabriz's climate, the energy

consumption for heating will decrease by

29.897 percent. And this is due to the closure of

the form and the central courtyard of the

Afsharian building, which indicates that this

form is optimal for cold seasons. Also, the

Chart 4. Heating energy demand of Gangei

amount of energy used for cooling is increased

zadeh house in Shiraz climate

by 197 percent that shows, the form of the

Afsharian house in the climate of Tabriz is not

optimal for cooling loads. Eventually, the

amount of energy consumed by Afsharian

house increased by 24.541 percent per square

meter. Which indicates the lack of optimality of

this form and geometry for this climate.

Chart 5. Cooling energy demand of Gangei

zadeh house in Shiraz climate

Chart 1. Heating energy demand of Gangei

Zadeh house in Tabriz

Chart 6. Total energy demand of Gangei zadeh

house in Shiraz climate, kWh/m2

Chart 2. Cooling energy demand of g Gangei

zadeh house in Tabriz

Char 7. Heating energy demand of Afsharian

house in Shiraz climate

Chart 3. Total energy demand of Gangei zadeh

house in Tabriz kWh/m2

To cite this paper: Mehdizadeh Dalir S and Mokhtari Kashavar M (2018). The Effect of Iranian Traditional Architectural Forms on Reducing Energy Consumption; Comparison of Two Types of Buildings in Hot-Dry and Cold Climates (Case study: Afsharian House and Ganjei Zadeh House). J. Civil Eng. Urban., 8 (3): 33-38.

www.ojceu.ir

37

Char 8. Cooling energy demand of Afsharian

Chart 12. Total energy demand of Afsharian

house in Shiraz climate

house in Tabriz climate, kWh/m2

CONCLUSION

The results show that the Iranian architect, with

the detailed knowledge of the appropriate forms

and geometries of each climate, was able to

respond appropriately to the climate conditions

and optimize energy consumption with respect

to the climate. In such a way that a special form

that was suitable for cold climate was not

optimized for hot climates and vice versa. as

Chart 9. Total energy demand of Afsharian

the results of climate simulations prove this.

house in Shiraz climate, kWh/m2

Although the Afsharian house has been able to

show good results in the cold climate of Tabriz

this is due to the central courtyard and the

closed form of the building, but finally the total

energy consumption has increased in total.

DECLARATIONS

Authors’ contributions

All authors contributed equally to this work.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no

Char 10. Heating energy demand of Afsharian

competing interests.

house in Tabriz climate

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To cite this paper: Mehdizadeh Dalir S and Mokhtari Kashavar M (2018). The Effect of Iranian Traditional Architectural Forms on Reducing Energy Consumption; Comparison of Two Types of Buildings in Hot-Dry and Cold Climates (Case study: Afsharian House and Ganjei Zadeh House). J. Civil Eng. Urban., 8 (3): 33-38.

www.ojceu.ir

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To cite this paper: Mehdizadeh Dalir S and Mokhtari Kashavar M (2018). The Effect of Iranian Traditional Architectural Forms on Reducing Energy Consumption; Comparison of Two Types of Buildings in Hot-Dry and Cold Climates (Case study: Afsharian House and Ganjei Zadeh House). J. Civil Eng. Urban., 8 (3): 33-38.

www.ojceu.ir

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