The Impact of Traditional Architectonic Characters on the Environmental and Thermal Condition of Houses: A Case Study of Erbil, Kurdistan, Iraq

Traditional houses in Erbil, Kurdistan, Iraq, demonstrate superior thermal comfort compared to modern counterparts due to their passive and natural building techniques. A study found that traditional houses maintain indoor temperatures between 21.2°C and 26.3°C with low humidity (9%–11%), aligning with ASHRAE-recommended comfort zones, while modern houses struggle, recording temperatures between 28°C and 37°C with higher humidity (12%–16%). The research, conducted during June and July 2023 under typical summer conditions (maximum outdoor temperature: 39–41°C), used adaptive thermal comfort models for validation. By comparing four modern houses in Erbil with a traditional case from the Erbil Citadel, the study highlights the potential of integrating traditional architectural features to improve indoor thermal conditions in contemporary housing.

Ahmed, J. A., Yusoff, W. F. M., & Mohamed, M. F. (2024). The Impact of Traditional Architectonic Characters on the Environmental and Thermal Condition of Houses: A Case Study of Erbil, Kurdistan, Iraq. International Journal of Heat and Technology, 42(6), 1969–1982. https://doi.org/10.18280/ijht.420614