The role of the orientation of Isfahan houses in the natural lighting of spaces adjacent to the central courtyard: Historical houses of Isfahan city.

Rahvari Podeh, Sanaz

doi:10.22034/ats.2024.725570

The role of the orientation of Isfahan houses in the natural lighting of spaces adjacent to the central courtyard: Historical houses of Isfahan city.

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Sanaz Rahvari Podeh ^¶

Isfahan Branch (Khorasgan), Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.

10.22034/ats.2024.725570

Abstract

One of the influential factors in building design is their proper orientation regarding the placement of the sun and the optimal utilization of natural light. Research conducted on buildings constructed in Iran has referred to three orientations (directions): the orientation of urban buildings relative to sunlight, wind direction, and generally the appropriate use of optimal climatic conditions. This article aims to investigate the orientation of courtyard houses in the city of Isfahan, built during the Safavid and Qajar periods, and its impact on the illumination of facades and spaces situated in each direction. The main research question is based on the orientation of houses, both in terms of direction and angle, and how it has affected the illumination of facades and consequently the spaces. The purpose of this research is to study the role of the orientation of houses in the illumination of spaces. The method employed in this study is qualitative research, and data collection utilized both library and field methods, with data analysis conducted using descriptive methods. The results of this research indicate that the orientation of houses on a north-south axis in winter, based on the Isfahan pattern, performs better than other angles for Tehran-style illumination (winter-oriented). However, overall, none of the orientations had a significant impact on facade illumination. Nonetheless, the varied placement angles in historical houses not built according to the Isfahan pattern were not climate-dependent but rather created based on the shape of the land and its axial alignment.

Keywords

Solar Radiation Angle

Building Orientation

Illumination

Primary Spaces

Historical Courtyard Houses

Isfahan City

Subjects

Architectural Restoration / Historic Preservation

1- توسلی، محمود(1360). ساخت شهر و معماری در اقلیم گرم و خشک ایران. تهران: دانشکده هنرهای زیبا، دانشگاه تهران.
2- طاهباز، منصوره( 1361 )، خورشید و جهت‌گیری ساختمان. تهران: انتشارات دانشگاه شهید بهشتی.
3- کسمایی، مرتضی(1382). اقلیم و معماری. تهران: نشر خاک.
4- نیکقدم، نیلوفر( 1394). استخراج الگوهای اقلیمی فضاهای عملکردی خانه‌های بومی بندر بوشهر. باغ نظر، 12(32)، 77-90.
5- Acosta, I., Campano, M. Á., Leslie, R., & Radetsky, L. (2019). Daylighting design for healthy environments: Analysis of educational spaces for optimal circadian stimulus. Solar Energy, 193, 584-596. doi:10.1016/j.solener.2019.10.004
6- Acosta, I., Leslie, R. P., & Figueiro, M. G. (2017). Analysis of circadian stimulus allowed by daylighting in hospital rooms. Lighting Research & Technology, 49(1), 49-61. doi:10.1177/1477153515592948
7- Bellia, L., & Fragliasso, F. (2021). Good places to live and sleep well: a literature review about the role of architecture in determining non-visual effects of light. International journal of environmental research and public health, 18(3), 1002. doi:10.3390/ijerph18031002
8- Bellia, L., Pedace, A., & Barbato, G. (2014). Winter and summer analysis of daylight characteristics in offices. Building and Environment, 81, 150-161. doi:10.1016/j.buildenv.2014.06.015
9- Cuce, E., Sher, F., Sadiq, H., Cuce, P. M., Guclu, T., & Besir, A. B. (2019). Sustainable ventilation strategies in buildings: CFD research. Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments, 36, 100540. doi:10.1016/j.seta.2019.100540
10- Hidayahtuljamilah Ramli, N. (2012). Re-adaptation of Malay house thermal comfort design elements into modern building elements–Case study of Selangor traditional Malay house & low energy building in malaysia. Iranica Journal of Energy & Environment, 3(5), 19–23.
11- Hosseini, S. N., & SheikhAnsari, I. (2022). A daylight assessment on visual and nonvisual effects of light shelves: a human-centered simulation-based approach. Journal of Daylighting, 9(1), 28-47. doi:10.15627/jd.2022.3
12- Hraška, J., & Hartman, P. (2014). Colour of external shading obstacles and circadian stimulus of indoor daylighting. Advanced Materials Research, 899, 283-287. doi:10.4028
13- Mardaljevic, J., Andersen, M., Roy, N., & Christoffersen, J. (2014). A framework for predicting the non-visual effects of daylight–Part II: The simulation model. Lighting research & technology, 46(4), 388-406. doi:10.1177/1477153513491873
14- Masoumi, H. R., Nejati, N., & Ahadi, A. A. (2017). Learning from the heritage architecture: Developing natural ventilation in compact urban form in hot-humid climate: Case study of Bushehr, Iran. International Journal of Architectural Heritage, 11(3), 415-432. doi:10.1080/15583058.2016.1238971
15- Potočnik, J., & Košir, M. (2021). Influence of geometrical and optical building parameters on the circadian daylighting of an office. Journal of Building Engineering, 42, 102402. doi:10.1016/j.jobe.2021.102402
16- Tahbaz, M., & Djalilian, S. (2008). Challenge of Vernacular Architecture and Modern Life Style – Case Study in Iran. Dublin: 25th Conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture.
17- Yao, Q., Cai, W., Li, M., Hu, Z., Xue, P., & Dai, Q. (2020). Efficient circadian daylighting: A proposed equation, experimental validation, and the consequent importance of room surface reflectance. Energy and Buildings, 210, 109784.