This paper provides an introduction to the aims of the EU Villas project (Interreg IIIB Cadses 2000-2006). It entails the improvement and revitalisation of the aesthetic and economic aspects of architectural heritage by creating an evaluation model and defining a compatible strategic tool for re-use, in keeping with the planning criteria and sustainable policies of the CADSES area. The European countries involved in this research project are developing common strategies to preserve and exploit their environmental and building heritage and to implement cultural-tourism activities. Specific tools have been developed in order to assess and valorise the aesthetic and economic aspects of architectural heritage, taking into account each country's peculiarities (specific problems, users, regulations, etc). Our research group at the University of Ferrara, Department of Architecture, is studying rural buildings in Emilia Romagna that are insufficiently valorised. The preservation of this heritage can be achieved through economic re-use and the definition of integrated strategies ranging from land planning to sustainable refurbishment techniques. These strategies are presented in this paper.

Abstract-This paper analyzes the effect of prototypical apartments' orientation on indoor thermal comfort as a case study. The appartments are in a residential building block in October 6 th city in Greater Cairo, Egypt. Field measurements of indoor air temperature (T a,in ) and relative humidity (RH in ) were monitored in three hour intervals in the winter season of 2013 during one week in January. Outdoor measurements for the ambient temperature and relative humidity were obtained from the Meteorological Authority in the same period. The indoor measured data of air temperature and relative humidity were used to specify the comfort zone of each apartment in different orientations in the reference case by using ASHRAE psychrometric chart. This is considered the first part of the study and the second part will be conducted in the summer season to discuss the indoor thermal comfort for the reference case. a visual survey was conducted in order to analyze the construction materials and façade features of the buildings. Personal observations, field measurements and ASHRAE psycrometric chart analyses show that there is significant thermal discomfort inside the apartments, while changing the orientation had an insignificant effect on improving thermal conditions during the survey period Index Terms-Thermal comfort, hot-arid climates, residential buildings,

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