Assessment of Sunlight Quality and Duration in Traditional Houses of Hamedan, Iran
Subject Areas :
Ali Salehipour
1
(Department of Architecture, Heris Branch, Islamic Azad University, Heris, Iran)
Keywords: Sunlight Hours, Daylight, Transparent Surfaces, Traditional Houses, Hamedan, Design Pattern,
Abstract :
Introduction: Daylight plays an essential role in human perception, and various studies consistently support its positive effects on our overall well-being, encompassing physical health, mental satisfaction, and productivity. In Iran, with its wealth of sunlight and remarkable architectural legacy, attention to light and lighting has always been a paramount aspect of traditional architecture. This research aims to shed light on the impact of sunlight hours and light transmission within traditional buildings in Hamedan, located in Iran's cold climate region, by addressing the following questions: 1) Are the solar hours within the spaces of local buildings in Hamedan sufficient throughout the year? 2) Is there a discernible relationship between the components of light-transmitting surfaces and spaces that achieve the optimal amount of solar hours? By addressing these questions, this research endeavors to uncover valuable insights into the importance of daylight in Hamedan's traditional houses, enriching our understanding and appreciation of Iranian architectural heritage. Methodology: In total, the physical elements of 33 rooms and 9 yards were collected and analyzed in this research. Using the obtained information, the volume drawing of the buildings was done in AutoCAD and 3dMax software. The Ladybug plugin in the Grasshopper and Rhino software, which utilizes advanced daylight analysis engines, was employed to determine the percentage of shading in the yard throughout the year. Ecotect software was also used to analyze the brightness of daylight and the number of sunlight hours on the windows of selected spaces. In this research, to reach a more suitable answer, in addition to the regulations and standards of Iran, the regulations related to daylight and the number of sunlight hours in 11 other countries with cold climate regions were also examined. Optimal spaces in terms of daylight were identified in four main sections: 1) amount of brightness, 2) uniformity of daylight, 3) amount of sun hours, and 4) visibility to the outside, and they were graded and identified. Results: Analyzing information from the selected rooms using relevant software and daylighting standards, it was found that among the 33 examined rooms, 7 did not meet the minimum requirements for quality daylight and the required number of sunny hours, while the remaining 26 rooms met the standards for proper daylight quality. Upon analyzing the 26 rooms studied within the historical monuments of Hamedan city with minimum daylight quality, it was observed that 18 rooms face south, 4 face north, 2 face east, and 2 face west. All rooms, except for the 2 east-facing rooms, have the potential to receive direct sunlight and meet the minimum sunlight hour requirement. By utilizing correlation graphs between space elements, a linear relationship between space elements, daylight quality, and appropriate sunlight hour exposure was determined. The identified relationships exhibited a high correlation coefficient, and a correlation equation was introduced to describe the relationship between these elements. Conclusion: By examining the physical elements in all 26 selected rooms with sufficient daylight in Hamedan houses, the suggested design patterns with the highest value were identified. These suggested patterns act as effective solutions for room and window design in buildings located in Hamedan and other regions with similar cold and dry climates in Iran.