Climate-responsive design strategy for Erbil city

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate passive techniques used in traditional and indigenous architecture in order to decrease energy use in the buildings and to increase thermal and users’ comfort. The city of Erbil is explored where in the rapid transformation and import of Western architectural styles and materials have resulted in ignorance of climate-responsive tradition existing in the city since thousands of years. Design/methodology/approach In order to propose a design strategy for modern residential buildings in Erbil city, a descriptive and interpretative approach is used as a methodology of this study. A literature review is done to explore the traditional use of passive techniques, and Waziran district of the city is analyzed and used as a pilot site in this study. Findings Due to the shortage of electric power in the city, residential buildings have limited access to electric power. Therefore, thermal comfort and reduction of the energy use in residential buildings have become vital for Erbil. The use of passive techniques in architectural design will help to reduce energy dependency. Research limitations/implications This study is limited to residential function in Erbil. Waziran district is used for the design proposals where dwellings are in a row context. The proposals are made on a geometrical basis and plan organization; however, the selection of construction materials is not included. Originality/value There is a proposal to reduce the use of electricity, which currently has limited access in Erbil city.

Interfaces/intersections in architecture and urbanism

“…The following two papers by Yazıcıoğlu and Alkan (2020) and Vatan Kaptan (2020) expand the discussion on the design and construction potentials of traditional/vernacular architecture for contemporary and future inspirations. Yazıcıoğlu and Alkan (2020) examine a specific building type, “Serender” – grainary – located in Rize, on the northern part of Anatolia.…”

“…The authors make a thorough analysis of its form, constructive elements and material for the sustainability of social, cultural and architectural character. Vatan Kaptan (2020) uncovers low energy consumption, climatic responsive design strategies of vernacular housing of Erbil city and proposes an adaptation of passive solar design strategies for the vernacular buildings of Erbil to the contemporary constructions that do not utilize those strategies in the initial design phase. She sets a frame of features such as orientation, solid-void relationship of vertical enclosure and use of garden space of vernacular buildings and examines these qualities in the context of lowering energy consumption with increased energy efficiency.…”