Thermal Analysis of the Domed Vernacular Houses of Harran, Turkey

Abstract

Minimum energy consumption and economic efficiency using local and recyclable materials is essential for achieving sustainability, considering the depletion of global energy sources. The Anatolian Peninsula presents a diverse range of local building construction techniques accumulated over centuries, which meet the criteria mentioned above. Due to richness of climatic variety and the influence of many civilisations throughout history, Anatolian regions reflect this richness in their respective solutions to building construction. Built mainly out of brick and stone, mortared and plastered by mud, the domed vernacular houses of Harran, a small town in the province of Urfa in the hot arid climate of southeastern Anatolia, are one of the best examples that deserve attention with respect to minimum energy consumption. In this study, the thermal performance of the ''Harran house'' as a vernacular type was analysed. For this purpose, temperatures inside and outside a Harran house complex with relative humidity variations were measured. In addition, for investigating the domed houses' thermal behaviour, temperature measurements at different surfaces and media were recorded. The solar chimney effect obtained from the dome and the importance of the thermal mass of the square base of the house were also evaluated. The study yielded results, which showed that the indoor conditions were within the limits for thermal comfort even under extreme summer conditions.

Thermal energy storage in building integrated thermal systems: A review. Part 2. Integration as passive system

“…Basaran et al [6] measured temperatures and humidity of the typical Harran houses (built mainly out of brick and stone, mortared and plastered by mud) in the Anatolian region. In this study the solar chimney effect was also evaluated, together with the thermal mass of the construction materials used.…”

Evaluation of vernacular architecture of Uzundere District (architectural typology and physical form of building) in relation to ecological sustainable development

“…Generally, vernacular architecture is the functional architecture of local people, which is shaped by the environmental characteristics, climate, local materials, sociocultural features and traditional technology. It tends to benefit from local building resources as well as passive and low-energy strategies, which not only causes no damage to the environment but also protects natural sources (Upadhyay, Yoshida, and Rijal 2006;Başaran 2011;Esin and Yuksek 2010;Sousa Santos 2016;Saljoughinejad and Sharifabad 2015). Vernacular architecture is unique to each region in the world, since it is adapted to respond the environmental requirements including climate, topographic conditions, local materials and social lifestyle (Engin et al 2007;Alonso Monterde et al 2016;Shastry, Mani, and Tenorio 2014).…”

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“…The Harran vernacular domed houses, which are a perfect example of climate-oriented architecture, have become a popular research topic for many researchers such as Demirbilek [20][21][22][23][24][25]. In this paper, firstly, the physical environment parameters of the region were described.…”