Traditional Dwellings in Four Middle Eastern Cities: Adaptation Strategies to Harsh Climate in Privacy

Abstract

Climate change is one of the most serious environmental issues of the twenty-first century, compelling designers to adapt their work to completely new climate-change-adapted settings. The Middle East’s dry environment causes issues with rising temperatures and decreasing humidity. Environmental harmony has long been a priority in Middle Eastern architecture. Designers changed nature to accommodate the limited supply and demand for energy. Concerns about privacy and climate change influence home construction in areas with similar religious and climatic conditions. As a result, the purpose of this research is to look into the environmental and privacy-enhancing characteristics of historic and contemporary buildings. To accomplish this goal, observations and reviews of relevant literature were used to collect qualitative data. Analysis from a variety of research and climate-tested data was used in the following: This study’s data and analysis include traditional homes, the Koppen climatic classification, and contemporary house design. Furthermore, research methods have been used in areas with well-established internal residential characteristics, such as Baghdad, Riyadh, Mukalla, and Kashan. The climate and isolation of each instance were studied and compared to nearby, modern dwellings. Our data show that these communities’ older buildings made good use of natural heating and cooling resources. Summer and winter rooms are available for rent in historic mansions in Kashan and Baghdad. Summers in these regions are scorching, and winters are bitterly cold due to the different positions of the sun. We have not yet investigated any sun-facing locations in modern architecture. Wind turbines are also very important. The wind tower passively cools the structure’s air. In modern homes, air conditioning provides ventilation. These items are both expensive and energy-intensive. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2023.