Scrutinizing Solar Gain and Ventilation in Traditional Iranian Architecture Based on Graph Theory and Matrix Analysis

Abstract

Unfortunately, most Iranian contemporary buildings in different climatic regions are constructed in the same way, with no consideration for climatic comfort. Electrical equipment for cooling and heating in Iran is easy to use and cheap. However, all of the natural resources, such as gas and oil, will one day be depleted, so how will future generations cope? Architects need to create a sample model for each climatic region, in which spaces are arranged to maximize thermal comfort periods, with a passive design. This research conducts an environmental analysis of traditional Iranian buildings in the hot-humid, temperate-humid, and cool climatic regions of Iran, making use of graph theory and a matrix analysis method, both of which are fast and easy to use for the assessment of naturally ventilated buildings. The selected traditional building envelope, spatial organization and seasonal movements of the users in the buildings were examined to determine the design characteristics of traditional buildings. The findings were used to develop a model to help architects to design openings and spatial locations in buildings, according to the natural ventilation and solar control of traditional buildings in the climatic regions of Iran. The model can be used as a guide for contemporary passive building design during the design stage.