Understanding climatic traditions: A quantitative and qualitative analysis of historic dwellings of Cadiz

Abstract

Many historical European cities are home to houses of great heritage value. These structures have been able to provide comfort throughout history without the use of artificial conditioning systems. Even though such dwellings were influenced by academic styles, by contradicting vernacular architecture, their adaptation to local climate in order to achieve thermal comfort is commonplace. They were mostly built within compact urban tissues, making use of local materials, workforce and construction technologies. Learning from the past knowledge of these design strategies that are specifically adapted to specific climates can play a significant role in reducing the energy demand of extant buildings. Likewise, this paper thoroughly investigates the remaining urban conglomerate of Cadiz from a scientific approach. An original simulation software, duly tested with on-site measurements, was used to analyse the passive design strategies that were applied effectively. The results of this study indicate that historic neighbourhoods in Cadiz are creatively adapted to their natural conditions. In this sense, the main conclusion is that in mild climates, the combination of a compact urban tissue and climate responsive dwelling design should be sufficient to maintain acceptable indoor comfort levels.

Sustainability of Chinese Village Development in a New Perspective: Planning Principle of Rural Public Service Facilities Based on “Function-Space” Synergistic Mechanism

“…The rapid, however, social-and-ecological-compromising development model is replaced under the context of sustainable development [2], which has caused profound thinking and revolutions in various fields. Under the subject "sustainable rural development (SRD)", some researchers tend to interpret SRD as "reducing energy demand of buildings" [3], focusing on the development of vernacular architecture that adapts to environmental requirements such as climate, topographic conditions, local materials, and social lifestyles [4]. Some scholars understand SRD as "the stability and health of rural ecosystems", which means the dynamic equilibrium with a coupled interrelation of social development and energy operation must be maintained within system carrying capacities [5].…”

Effects of Climate Responsive Strategies and Adaptive Behavior of Occupants on Thermal Comfort in Indoor Environments of Vernacular Architecture: A Review of Necessities and Goals

“…According to the analysis of goals pursued by the papers reviewed in this study, the studies of climate responsive strategies focused on the thermal quality of buildings and effects of strategies on the indoor thermal quality. In a few cases, studies pursued higher goals such as defining principles for the renovation of vernacular architecture (Oikonomou & Bougiatioti, 2011), perceiving climate traditions (Rubio-Bellido et al, 2018), and discussing forces affecting housing evolution and obtaining evolved types (Dincyurek et al, 2003).…”

“…As summarized in Figure 5, research goals focus mainly on analysis of the effects of strategies on indoor thermal quality. Nearly 66% of research objectives goals of research into climate responsive strategies, and 51% of the objectives of the entire body of research we reviewed, pertain to this goal (Alev et al, 2014;Bodach et al, 2014;Canas & Martin, 2004;Cantin et al, 2010;Desogus et al, 2016;Dili et al, 2010b;Dincyurek et al, 2003;Fernandes et al, 2015;Foruzanmehr & Vellinga, 2011;Gou et al, 2015;Huang et al, 2016;Iyendo et al, 2016;Keshtkaran, 2011;Keskin & Erbay, 2016;Khalili & Amindeldar, 2014;Kubota & Toe, 2015;Mohammadi et al, 2018;Molanaei & Soleimani, 2016;Motealleh et al, 2018;Nguyen et al, 2011;Oikonomou & Bougiatioti, 2011;Oree & Anatah, 2017;Ozay, 2005;Philokyprou et al, 2017;Philokyprou et al, 2018;Pozas & González, 2016;Priya et al, 2012;Rubio-Bellido et al, 2018;Saljoughinejad & Rashidi Sharifabad, 2015;Samani et al, 2016;Shaeri et al, 2018;Shao et al, 2017;Shastry et al, 2016;Singh et al, 2009;Singh et al, 2011;Soleymanpour et al, 2015;…”

“…Climate responsive strategies of vernacular architecture play key roles in reducing the consumption of fossil fuels, in addition to providing thermal comfort for residents (Hatamipour et al, 2007;Nguyen et al, 2011;Rubio-Bellido et al, 2018;Xu et al, 2016). Hence, it is necessary to identify these strategies and determine their roles in improving the thermal quality of environments and reducing energy consumption.…”

“…It has been emphasized that vernacular architecture is responsive to various climate conditions (Gou et al, 2015) and can benefit from solutions in proportion to different climates to control the indoor environments. Many qualitative and quantitative studies have shown that the procurement of thermal comfort conditions is an advantage of vernacular architecture in different climates and regions (Dili et al, 2010b;Nematchoua et al, 2014;Nguyen et al, 2011;Rubio-Bellido et al, 2018;Tahbaz & Jalilian, 2011;Tahbaz & Jalilian, 2016;Victoria et al, 2017).…”