RICHT Journal
PublicationAthar
Volume 45, Issue 104 (4-2024)
Athar 2024, 45(104): 163-182 |
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Mangeli M, Keshavarz M. (2024). Evaluation of winter indoor thermal comfort in the vernacular rural architectural heritage of Iran (case studies: the troglodytic architecture of Meymand World Heritage complex and stone architecture of Riseh village of Shahrbabak). Athar. 45(104), 163-182. doi:10.22034/45.1.143
URL: http://athar.richt.ir/article-2-1834-en.html
URL: http://athar.richt.ir/article-2-1834-en.html
1- Architecture, urbanism and art faculty, Urmia University , m.mangeli@urmia.ac.ir
2- Art and Architecture faculty, Shahid Bahonar University,
2- Art and Architecture faculty, Shahid Bahonar University,
Abstract: (1101 Views)
Background and Objectives:
Iran’s vernacular architectural heritage includes fine examples of sustainable architecture which, in this type, minimal energy consumption, and the use of passive systems to create living comfort is the fundamental approach of this architecture to establish a suitable environment for human life. The importance of knowing its climate adaptation features and using its lessons for today’s architecture has been less considered. The two most important types of Iranian vernacular architecture are troglodytic architecture and stone masonry architecture, most of them can be seen in the rural architecture of Iran.
Troglodytic architecture creates human living space by digging in stone beds or condensed soil settlements. Stone architecture is the result of arranging pieces of rubble with mortar on top of each other and both types have the lowest energy exchange between indoor and outdoor. The thickness of their architectural layers provides a more accurate understanding of them by carefully studying the conditions of their climatic compatibility with the geography of their settlement and their behavior against climatic hashes.
Methodes:
This research focuses on a comparative analysis of thermal comfort levels across two distinct architectural styles in Iran’s vernacular architecture, utilizing a statistical comparison research method to derive meaningful insights. Troglodytic architecture, which represents a unique and rare form of vernacular architectural heritage in Iran, is characterized by its methodology of creating habitable spaces through rock excavation. This approach enables significant interaction with the earth’s thermal mass, facilitating natural heating and cooling mechanisms that are particularly advantageous in regions that experience both cold and hot climatic conditions.
Methodes:
This research focuses on a comparative analysis of thermal comfort levels across two distinct architectural styles in Iran’s vernacular architecture, utilizing a statistical comparison research method to derive meaningful insights. Troglodytic architecture, which represents a unique and rare form of vernacular architectural heritage in Iran, is characterized by its methodology of creating habitable spaces through rock excavation. This approach enables significant interaction with the earth’s thermal mass, facilitating natural heating and cooling mechanisms that are particularly advantageous in regions that experience both cold and hot climatic conditions.
The Maymand World Heritage Site is a quintessential example of troglodytic architecture, situated within Iran’s semi-arid and hot climate zone. This research examines the indoor thermal comfort levels of four units within the Maymand architectural complex and compares these findings with four units from the traditional rural stone architecture found in Riseh, Shahr-e-Bābak. To achieve accurate and reliable results, indoor bioclimatic monitoring was meticulously conducted for seven days during the winter season. This monitoring allowed for the calculation of the Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) thermal comfort index for the selected buildings located at both sites.
Findings:
The findings from this comparative study revealed that the PMV thermal comfort index stood at -2.12 for the Maymand rock-cut buildings, while it was recorded at -3.28 for the structures in stone masonry houses in Riseh. Additionally, an analysis of the indoor temperature averages for both type of indigenous architectural complexes concerning their respective outdoor temperature averages yielded further insights. During the cold season, the indoor temperatures in Maymandand Riseh demonstrated significant variances from the outdoor temperatures, specifically showing differences of 13.27°C and 7.83°C, respectively. Notably, the Maymand structures exhibited superior performance, achieving a more favorable temperature difference of 5.44°C compared to their Riseh counterparts.
In conclusion, this research indicates that the architectural features of the Maymand buildings, which include substantial settlement layer thickness, low heat exchange coefficients in the walls, and effective utilization of groundmass temperature, have collectively fostered an environment conducive to thermal comfort. This architectural complex has achieved these favorable conditions with minimal energy consumption or, in some instances, entirely without it. Conversely, the traditional stone architecture in Riseh exhibits a thermal comfort level that is 54.7% lower, reflecting its less effective performance under similar environmental conditions when compared to the troglodytic structures of Maymand. The implications of these findings underscore the importance of architectural design in enhancing indoor thermal comfort, particularly in regions facing extreme climate variations.
Conclusion:
The reason for this is the structural integrity of the troglodytic architecture and the depth of its penetration. Also, the level of contact with the open air and the influence of its temperature in stone masonry buildings is more than that of troglodytic architecture which is another reason for the lower level of thermal comfort in these buildings compared to the troglodytic architecture. In general, the characteristics of thermal comfort and energy consumption in troglodytic architectural heritage can provide many design patterns for today’s architectural designers, such as more application of ground heating and utilization of materials with suitable thermal phases. Also, the need for more conservation of these two types of architecture becomes more important because unique examples like Maymand have many unknown architectural patterns that have not been studied yet.
Conclusion:
The reason for this is the structural integrity of the troglodytic architecture and the depth of its penetration. Also, the level of contact with the open air and the influence of its temperature in stone masonry buildings is more than that of troglodytic architecture which is another reason for the lower level of thermal comfort in these buildings compared to the troglodytic architecture. In general, the characteristics of thermal comfort and energy consumption in troglodytic architectural heritage can provide many design patterns for today’s architectural designers, such as more application of ground heating and utilization of materials with suitable thermal phases. Also, the need for more conservation of these two types of architecture becomes more important because unique examples like Maymand have many unknown architectural patterns that have not been studied yet.
Keywords: Maymand, Riseh, Thermal comfort, Troglodytic architecture, Rock-cut Architecture, Stone architecture
Type of Study: Original Research Article |
Subject:
Architecture
Received: 2024/02/24 | Accepted: 2024/08/9 | Published: 2024/12/5
Received: 2024/02/24 | Accepted: 2024/08/9 | Published: 2024/12/5
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