Cold Climate Architecture and Enviroment

Abstract Nowadays energy is recognized as one of the main indicators of economic development.; It is evident that due to excessive consumption and the depletion of energy resources, we are facing a growing challenge concerning extraction and explotion costs. Accordingly, there are methods to decrease energy demand and improve energy consuming techniques.To serve a sample, maximizing solar energy absorbed through roof covering is one of the impressive ways to fall energy consumption off.Therefore, it is essential to pay more heed on energy efficient design in building elements.

Consequently, the paper intends to discuss on roof covering forms while comparing them in terms of solar radiation gain. The research method is based upon modeling and simulation. In general, in this research, there are 4 options for design and selection, the order of their energy absorption can be stated as follows: The amount of solar radiation absorbed in watts in different months is as follows: In all months of the year: pitched roof 45º > pitched roof 30º -60º > domed roof > flat roof. And the amount of solar radiation absorbed in watts per square meter in different months is as follows: 1. In January, February and December: flat roof > pitched roof 30º -60º > domed roof > pitched roof 45º. 2. In November and April: flat roof > domed roof > pitched roof 45º > pitched roof 30º -60º. 3. In March, October, September, June, August and July: flat roof > domed roof > pitched roof 30º -60º > pitched roof 45º

Abstract With the intensification of climate change, the energy consumption pattern in buildings has undergone changes, especially in cold and dry climates. Tabriz, as one of the cold cities in Iran, will face an increase in cooling energy demand in the coming decades. The present study aimed to simultaneously evaluate the energy consumption and thermal comfort of office buildings under future climate scenarios and identify physical parameters affecting the thermal resilience of the building. In this study, an office building was modeled using DesignBuilder software and future climate data for the horizons of 2050 and 2080 based on the RCP 8.5 scenario and generated through Meteonorm 8 software and applied in simulations. For extensive parametric analysis, more than 10,000 scenarios were generated using the jEPlus tool and the LHS sampling method. Machine learning algorithms were used to reduce the computational load and extract nonlinear relationships between variables. Performance indicators including total annual energy consumption and hours of thermal discomfort were considered. The results showed that the XGBoost algorithm with determination coefficients of 0.998 for energy consumption and 0.995 for thermal discomfort hours provides the highest prediction accuracy. The analysis of the importance of features indicates that the orientation of the building and the thickness of the thermal insulation of the shell (among the variables examined) have the greatest impact. In addition, the results of supplementary analyses indicate that minor variations in certain design parameters can lead to significant changes in the thermal performance of buildings. This finding highlights the necessity of adopting multi‑variable design approaches and employing advanced analytical tools in the design process of future buildings. Overall, the findings of this study can serve as a scientific basis for the development of climate‑responsive design strategies in cold climatic regions.

Abstract Historical fabrics in Iran, particularly in the city of Khoy, face the simultaneous challenge of preserving physical authenticity while reducing energy consumption. The cold climate, weak thermal envelopes, high air infiltration, and restrictions on intervention increase dependence on fossil-fuel heating and, together with the limited presence of natural elements, reduce thermal comfort. Biophilic architecture can improve environmental performance through the purposeful integration of natural elements; however, its effectiveness in cold-climate historic buildings has rarely been quantitatively evaluated. This study was conducted using a mixed-methods approach as a scenario-based simulation study. The aim was to comparatively evaluate intervention alternatives and provide a decision-making framework rather than to accurately predict actual energy consumption. The research included physical and technical analysis of buildings, energy simulation under five scenarios, user assessment through questionnaires, and scenario ranking using the Analytic Network Process (ANP). The questionnaire reliability was acceptable, with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.876. In Kabiri House, the S4 scenario reduced annual heating load from 102.5 to 82.0 kWh/m²·year, cooling load from 10.0 to 5.5 kWh/m²·year, and final energy consumption from 120.0 to 95.0 kWh/m²·year, while increasing thermal comfort hours from 67.5% to 82.5%. In Yousefi House, heating load decreased from 140.0 to 118.0 kWh/m²·year, cooling load from 15.0 to 10.0 kWh/m²·year, and final energy consumption from 160.0 to 136.0 kWh/m²·year, while comfort hours increased from 60.0% to 75.0%. The findings indicate that low-intervention biophilic strategies, when compatible with conservation constraints, can provide a practical basis for improving energy performance, enhancing thermal comfort, and supporting decision-making in cold-climate historic houses

Abstract Objective: This research investigates the structural principles underlying the sustainability of historic houses in Maku, Iran. It aims to analyze indigenous construction techniques to elucidate how historical builders achieved resilient and stable structural systems in this mountainous region. By leveraging generational empirical knowledge and the strategic selection of local materials, Maku’s historic architecture features structural patterns that were developed to effectively address both functional requirements and long-term physical durability. The hybrid application of stone, timber, and other available materials plays a decisive role in establishing this structural stability.

Findings: The findings indicate that by relying on empirical knowledge and the strategic integration of indigenous materials—particularly stone and wood—Maku’s local architects developed patterns that enhance structural integrity while contributing to physical and economic sustainability. The structural geometry and gravity load distribution in these houses reflect an optimal balance between structural flexibility and physical performance, demonstrating a seamless integration of structure and architecture adapted to the region’s unique topography and climate.

Methodology: This research employs a descriptive-analytical method. Data were collected through the analysis of surviving historic houses, including the National Bank, the Police Station, and the Finance Department, archival research, field surveys, and the interpretation of oral narratives from local master builders. This approach facilitates a comprehensive understanding of the underlying logic and historical structural techniques inherent in these buildings.

Conclusion: The study concludes that the structural models of Maku, characterized by the intelligent organization of load-bearing elements, hold significant potential for reproducing sustainable solutions in contemporary design. The logic of material usage and force distribution systems in these buildings can serve as a practical paradigm for enhancing structural quality and sustainability in modern construction.

Abstract In the indigenous urban planning system of Hamedan, the "Chaman" has emerged as a unique type of neighborhood center in the cold & mountainous climate, integrating geometrically enclosed green spaces & water with socio-service functions within a coherent spatial system. Despite its climatic efficiency, social cohesion, & spatial justice, its design knowledge has been marginalized in contemporary urban development, & its role in new neighborhood centers remains undefined. This research aims to systematically identify the physical-functional characteristics of the Chaman & provide an analytical framework for its application in designing contemporary neighborhood centers. The central research question is: what are the key components of the Chaman model, & how can it be transformed into an operational model for neighborhood centers in cold-climate cities? Employing a mixed-methods approach; including library research, field surveys, semi-structured interviews, & comparative analysis of the three surviving Chamans in Hamedan (Kolpa, Kababian, & Haji); the findings reveal that the Chaman model is based on five key components: climatic geometry, enclosed walls, green space & water, socio-service functions, & spatial hierarchy. These components operate across three domains; climatic-local, socio-functional, & historical-identity; & have facilitated social sustainability & place attachment. This research redefines the Chaman as a "green-social infrastructure" & offers an analytical-operational model for designing contemporary neighborhood centers in cold-climate cities, applicable to the regeneration of deteriorated urban fabrics & the development of new neighborhoods. The analytical reinterpretation of the Chaman model within the horizon of contemporary urban design knowledge introduces this space not merely as a historical type but as a pioneering example of "sustainable multi-functional systems" at the neighborhood scale, shaped by the logic of "ecological-social compatibility."