Evaluating Contemporary Housing in Hot and Arid Climates with a Focus on Climate Responsiveness and Residential Satisfaction (Case Study: Isfahan City, Iran)

Subject Areas : Architecture and urbanism

Golbarg Sadeghian ¹ , Mansoureh Tahbaz ² , Pantea Hakimian ³

1 - Master in Architecture and Energy, Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran. * (Corresponding Author)
2 - Associate Professor, Construction Department, Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.
3 - Assistant Professor, Urbanism Department, Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.

Received: 2022-04-28 Accepted : 2022-10-19 Published : 2023-03-21

Keywords: Climate-Responsive Design, Building Simulation, Natural Energy Sources, Housing Architecture, Residential satisfaction,

Abstract :

Background and Objectives: The need for suitable housing is an issue not just for individuals but also for governments. If efficient design is not adopted in the face of climate change, serious consequences will follow, including an increase in environmental issues and, as a result, a deterioration in the quality of human life in various societies. In this regard, it is necessary to identify the existing situation and evaluate the climatic principles employed in the design of contemporary housing, as well as measure living conditions, occupants' comfort, and quality of life in apartments.Material and Methodology: This study's methodology is quantitative, and its strategy is case study, field research, and simulation using Design Builder and Climate Studio software. In addition, the descriptive survey method and statistical analysis with SPSS software using a questionnaire were employed to evaluate residential satisfaction. Therefore, Zaitoun Residential Complex in Isfahan was selected as a case study for post-occupancy evaluation. Findings: According to the questionnaire results, the complex's response to the climate was not very desirable due to disregard for the detailed design of dwelling apartments in the existing situation. The simulation results also revealed that the macro-scale climatic strategies used to optimize energy consumption and the thermal and visual comfort of interior spaces were inadequate. As a result, the energy label for this complex was given an F.Discussion and Conclusion: In terms of residential satisfaction, differences in the design quality of each individual apartment and inaccuracy in designing the details can be problematic, so all climatic principles of microscale design must be considered, as well as the equitable distribution of natural energy sources among each flat. Evaluation of built housing projects not only helps us to understand the performance of present buildings but also creates a knowledge base for the design of future buildings.

References:

1. International Energy Agency, Philippine de T'Serclaes, (2007) Financing Energy Efficient Homes: Existing Policy Responses to Financial Barriers, OECD/IEA. Available at: https://euea-energyagency.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/FinancialBarrierBuilding.pdf


2. Shafiee Ardestani, L. Mofidi Shemirani, M. (2010). Geographical Factors and Establishment of Passive Cooling in Residential Complexes, Journal of Geographic Information No. 71. COI: JR_SEPEHR-18-71_007. (In Persian)


3. Ghobadian, Vahid, (2013). Climatic study of traditional buildings in Iran, Tehran, University of Tehran, ISBN: 978-964-03-3873-5. (In Persian)


4. Watson, Donald; Labs, Kenneth, (2005). Climatic design (energy-efficient building principles and practices), translated by Vahid Ghobadian and Mohammad Feiz Mahdavi, University of Tehran Press, ISBN: 978-964-03-3311-2. (In Persian)


5. Mobari, Hossein, Naghi Sadat, Farnaz, (2017). Investigating urban design patterns in energy efficiency policies, International Conference on Civil Engineering, Architecture and Urban Planning in Contemporary Iran, Tehran. COI: CICEAUD01_1372. (In Persian)


6. Keeler, M., Vaidya, Prasad, (2016). Fundamentals of Integrated Design for Sustainable Buildings, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey, U.S.A, ISBN: 978-1-118-88191-0.


7. Naghizadeh, Mohammad, (2000). Qualitative characteristics of desirable housing (Design basics and methods to obtain it), Sofeh Journal, 10 (31), 23-13. (In Persian)


8. Zandieh, Mehdi, Parvardinejad, Samira, (2010). Sustainable Development and its Concept in Housing Architecture of Iran, Quarterly Journal of Housing and Rural Environment, 29 (130), 2-21. Available at: https://jhre.ir/article-1-36-fa.html. (In Persian)


9. Tahbaz, Mansoureh, (2017). Climatic knowledge: Architectural design, Tehran, Shahid Beheshti University Press, ISBN: 978-964-457-253-1. (In Persian)


10. Avazali pour Haghighatparast; Shokoufeh, Taghizadeh, Yazdan, Zabihi, Hossein, (2019). Designing A Vernacular Pattern in Hot and Arid Climate to Reduce Energy Consumption in Housing Sector (Case Study: Yazd), Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 21(3), 236-227. DOI: 10.22034/JEST.2019.14554. (In Persian)


11. Pesaran, Arash, Kariminia, Shahab, Nazemi, Elham, Toghiani, Shirin, (2020). Recognizing Module's Role in Traditional Houses Design in term of passive Cooling (Case Study: Traditional Houses of ghajar in Shiraz), journal of architectural thought. DOI: 10.30479/AT.2019.11383.1299. (In Persian)


12. Yathreb, S. (2016). Analysis of a Residential Building Energy Consumption as “Base Model” in Tripoli, Lebanon, International Journal of Energy Production and Management 1(4):359-370. DOI: 10.2495/EQ-V1-N4-359-370


13. Basu, Chaitali, Paul, Virendra Kumar, Syal, Matt, Dandia, Gazal, (2020). Post Occupancy Evaluation to Assess Multifamily Residential Building Energy Performance in India. OIDA International Journal of Sustainable Development, Vol. 13, No. 03, pp. 25-44, Available at: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4064125  


14. Meir, Isaac, Garb, Yaakov, Cicelsky, Alex, (2009). Post-Occupancy Evaluation: An Inevitable Step toward Sustainability, Advances in Building Energy Research 3(1):189-219. DOI: 10.3763/aber.2009.0307


15. https://earth.google.com


16. Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, (2020). Iran's National Building Regulations, Topic 19: Energy saving, ISBN: 964-7588-757. (In Persian)


17.  ASHRAE, (2019). Standard 62.2: Ventilation and Acceptable Indoor Air Quality in Residential Buildings, ISSN: 1041-2336.