Recognition of outdoor courtyard structure and its interaction with clear walls in historic houses of Ardabil

Document Type : Scientific Research

Authors

1 Ph.D. Candidate. Department of Architecture, Faculty of Civil, Architecture and Art, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

2 Professor. Department of Architecture, Faculty of Civil, Architecture and Art, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

3 Assistant Professor. School of Architecture and Urban Studies, University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to study the structure of open spaces and its interaction with opposing clear walls in the historical houses of Ardabil. Hence, the courtyard is investigated as an open space that is in relation with the facade and the main living spaces of the structure to provide suitable daylight, and on the other hand, as a basic element in terms of sustainability, as well as it’s opposing clear facade and walls. The paper answers two questions: First, what is the nature of the structure governing the courtyard and it’s opposing clear walls in the historic houses of Ardabil? Second, how is the relationship between the yard and clear walls in these buildings? To deploy this research, a descriptive and comparative method has been used, focusing on the climatic and environmental role of the courtyard and the light transmitting walls, and by selecting twelve case studies from historical houses in the city of Ardabil located in the cold climatic zone of Iran, which all belong to the Qajar period. For this purpose, orientation, formal analysis, courtyard proportions (length to width), mean depth (length to height), viewing angle, height pattern, closed to open space ratio, facade and clear surfaces area, shadow and sunlight percentage in the courtyard, sky view angle and the sky mask percentage are examined and analyzed. The analysis method is formal and tools for collecting information include written sources, documents, maps, sketches and field observations, and drawing graphs and analytical charts. Also for daylight analysis, the Ladybug plugin coded in the Python programming language and implemented in the Grasshopper plugin running by the Rhino software is used. Weather data for each city are input to the software, and shown interactively and graphically in the Grasshopper environment using light and energy related analysis software such as Ecotect, EnergyPlus, Dysim and Radiance, all connected to the plugin simultaneously.
The results of the research indicate that a square courtyard with approximately equal length and width and moderate depth of about four, creates sufficient light in the depth of the surrounding area according to different positioning patterns of the building. Due to the size of the windows and their shape and location on the facade and its relationship with the courtyard, proper sky mask is produced in most spaces, which increases the amount of visible sky and thus the amount of day light. The results of shade amount throughout the year in the courtyard indicate that in the warm seasons proper shade is created in the courtyard, and with the provision of proper daylight using colorful and patterned windows, favorable air flow and atmosphere is provided for the residents in the rooms and courtyard. Although in cold seasons, shading is more than warm seasons due to compact housing in a cold climate, and low angle shining, which is partly compensated by lowering the yard ground and utilizing heat from the earth. However, this lowers the space value of the yard due to the cold weather in these seasons, and only serves as a source of light bringing the sun's heat to the depths of room space and warming them up. These values and the principles governing the design of traditional Ardebil houses are capable of continuing in designing modern spaces in the area, and their optimal use in design can be efficient and create a deeper connection with nature and thus more sustainability of the buildings. In order to reach a general conclusion on the recognition of form and patterns of the traditional cold-climate houses of Iran, it is needed to identify the remaining past buildings in other areas and cities of this region, so that the results of this research could be generalized to all the cities of the cold climate of Iran.

Graphical Abstract

Recognition of outdoor courtyard structure and its interaction with clear walls in historic houses of Ardabil

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

Ahmadi, Farhad. 2005. City - Home, Central Courtyard. Soffeh, 15(41): 90–113.
Ahmadi, Zahra. 2012. Reread the lost role of the courtyard in accessing sustainable architecture. Journal of City and native architecture,  2(2): 25–40.  
Beheshti, Mohammad. 2007. Home and Iranian Culture. Abadi, 55: 90–115.
Birren, Faber. 1978. Color & human response. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold.
Chartered Instition of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE). 1999. Lighting Guide 10: Day lighting and window design. London: The Friary Press.
Chartered Instition of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE). (2014). Lighting Guide 10: Day lighting and window design. London: The Friary Press.
Eslahchi, Ali, and Saba Mirdarrikvandi. 2014. Investigating the Structures of Traditional Iranian Houses. Paper presented at the first National Conference on Architecture, Sustainable Urbanization. Tehran.   
Evans, Benjamin H. 1981.  Daylight in architecture. Translated by Shahram Pourdeihimi and Houri Adl Tabatabaei. Tehran: Nashreh Sokhan.
Gobadian, Vahid. 2005. Climatic Study of Traditional Iranian Buildings. Tehran: Tehran University.
Haeri Mazandarani, Mohammad Reza. 2009. Home, Culture, Nature Explore the architecture of historic and contemporary homes. Tehran: Urban and Architectural Research and Research Center.
Kahnamoei, Nahid, and Ziba Sami. 2016. The Courtyard of the Traditional Iranian Houses of the Qajar Period and Its Evolution in the Recent Decade. Paper presented at the International Congress of Contemporary Civilization, Architecture and Urban Development, Emirates.
Kasmayi, Morteza. 2003. Climate and architecture. Esfahan: Khak.
Kaviani, Mohammad Reza, and Bohlol Alijani. 2003. Basics of meteorology. Tehran: Samt.
Keynejad, Mohammad Ali, and Mohammad Reza Shirazi. 2010. Old houses in Tabriz. Tehran: Art Academy of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Mahdavinejad, Mohammad Javad, Majid Mansourpour and  Mohammad Hadianpour. 2014. The Role of the Yard in Contemporary Iranian Architecture, Case Study: Qajar and Pahlavi Periods. Journal of Islamic Iranian City Studies, 4(15): 35–46.
Mc Cloud, Kevin. 1995. Lighting Style. New York: Simon & Schuster.
Memarian, Gholamhossein. 2012. Introduction to Iranian Residential Architecture Introverted typology. Tehran: Sorosh Danesh.
Memarian, Gholamhossein, and Frank Brown. 2006. The shared characteristics of Iranian and Arab courtyard houses. In SM. a. HM. Edward B (eds) Courtyard Housing. Oxon: Taylor & Francis, 21-30. DOI: 10.4324/9780203646724.
Ministry of Energy of the Islamic Republic of Iran. 2010. Statistics and energy charts of Iran and the world. The Office of General Planning is affiliated with the Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy.
Mojarad, Firoz, and Kamran Moradi. 2014. An Overview of Sunrise Anomalies and Trends in Iran. Geography and Development, 12(34): 153–165.  
Nemat Gorgani, Omolbanin. 1996. Background of light in architecture and lighting fixtures in the art of Islamic Iran. Bachelor's Thesis in Archeology, University of Tehran.
Okhovat, Haniyeh. 2013. Recognition of religious identity in traditional housing Case study: Yazd city. PhD Thesis in Architecture, Tarbiat Modares University.
Omidvar, Kamal, Rostam Gorani, Maryam Beyranvandzadeh and Somayeh Ebrahimi. 2010. Investigating Climate Impacts on Indigenous Architecture of South Coasts: Bandar Abbas. Article presented at the 4th International Congress of Geographers of the Islamic World, Zahedan.   
Parsa, MohammadAli. 2012. Window in Iranian Architecture, an Analytical Look at Window Types in Traditional Iranian Homes. Doctor of Architecture Thesis. Shahid Beheshti University.
Pirniya, Mohammad Karim. 1969. Doors and windows in Iranian architecture. Journal of Art and People, 2.
Pirniya, Mohammad Karim. 1968. Stylistics of Iranian Architecture. Iranian Journal of Archeology and Art, First Issue.  
Pourdeihimi, Shahram, and Fariborz Hajiseyed Javadi. 2008. The Influence of Daylight on Humans - The Perceptual and Psychological Process of Daylight Psychology. Soffeh, 17(46): 67–75.
Rafati Sokhango, Leila, and Mohammad Shokohian. 2013. Optimizing energy consumption according to the climatic design of residential buildings. Paper presented at the first National Conference on Geography, Urban Development and Sustainable Development. Tehran.
 Sajadi, Mansour. 1986. burnt City. Tehran: Proceedings of Iranian Cities, 1.
Soflaei, Farzaneh, Mehdi Shokouhian and Seyed Majid Mofidi Shemirani. 2016. Investigation of Iranian traditional courtyard as passive cooling strategy (a field study on BS climate). International Journal of Sustainable Built Environment, 5(1): 99-113. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijsbe.2015.12.001.
Soflaei, Farzaneh, Mehdi Shokouhian and AmirSoflaei. 2017. Traditional courtyard houses as a model for sustainable design: A case study on BWhs mesoclimate of Iran. Frontiers of Architectural Research, 6(3): 329-345. DOI: 10.1016/j.foar.2017.04.004.
Soltanzadeh, Hosein. 2011. The Role of Geography in Forming Yard Types in Traditional Iranian Homes. Journal of Human Geography Research, 75: 69–86.
Tagavinejad Deylami, Mohammad Reza.1984. Architecture, urban planning and urbanization of Iran over time. Tehran: Yasavoli. 
Tahbaz, Mansoreh. 2004. The sacred footprint in Iranian Islamic architecture. Soffeh, 14(3): 103–124.  
Tahbaz, Mansoureh, and Fatemeh Moosavi. 2009. Daylighting Methods in Iranian Traditional Architecture (Green Lighting). presented at the International Scientific Conference (CISBAT 2009), Lausanne.
Tahbaz, Mansoreh, and Shahrbano Jalilian. 2011. Principles of climate-friendly architecture design in Iran with an approach to mosque architecture. Tehran: Shahid Beheshti University.
Tahbaz, Mansoureh, Shahrbano Jalilian, and Fatemeh Moosavi. 2011. Assessment of Iranian Traditional Door-Windows, A Proposal to Improve Daylighting System in Classrooms presented at the International Scientific Conference (CISBAT 2011), Lausanne.
Tajvidi, Akbar. 1971. Continuity in architecture. Journal of Art and People, 111: 2–17.
Tavasoli, Mahmod. 2016. Rules and criteria for designing urban spaces. Tehran: Center for Urban Planning and Architecture Studies, University of Tehran, Publishing Institute.
Website of the National Statistics Center of Iran. National Statistics Portal. (www.amar.org.ir).
Yin, X. 1999. Bright sunshine duration in relation to precipitation, air temperature and geographic location. Theoretical and applied climatology, 64(1-2): 61–68. DOI: 10.1007/s007040050111.
Zeinalian, Nafiseh, and Haniyeh Okhovat. 2016. Yard structure in hot and dry, hot and humid climates of the Qajar houses with focus on central yard species Case Study: Yazd and Dezful Homes. Journal of Studies on Iranian-Islamic City, 8(30): 15–29.
Journal of Architectural Thought
Volume 4, Issue 8 - Serial Number 8
September 2020
Pages 202-220

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics