Iranian Sustainable Building Scientific Association International Journal of Urban Management and Energy Sustainability 2538-1628 7 2 2026 04 01 Integrating Vernacular Patterns and Modern Passive Design Strategies for Energy Optimization in Iran’s Hot-Arid Climate (Case Study: Qom City) 205 226 737943 10.22034/ijumes.2026.2069856.1326 EN Amir Hossein Shirdel Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran 0009-0006-2297-502X Milad Olfat Department of Art Education, Farhangian University, P.O. Box 14665-889, Tehran, Iran 0000-0002-6772-3276 Faezeh Asadpour Department of Architecture, University of Science and Technology of Mazandaran, Behshahr, Iran 0000-0002-1552-3395 Mohammad Saber Heidari Department of Architecture, Faculty of Art and Architecture, Tarbiat Modares University(TMU), Tehran, Iran 0000-0002-4025-4211 Journal Article 2025 08 24 The building sector is a major consumer of energy, particularly in hot-arid regions where intense summer heat, large diurnal temperature variations, and limited naturally comfortable periods increase dependence on mechanical heating and cooling. The aim of this research was to develop an integrated framework for improving thermal comfort in residential buildings in Qom city by combining the principles of Iranian vernacular architecture with contemporary climatic analysis. The research methodology employed a mixed qualitative–quantitative approach. In the qualitative phase, 34 candidate strategies were identified through a review of peer-reviewed studies, books, specialized reports, and documented examples of vernacular residential architecture in Iran’s hot-arid regions. After applying predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, 20 passive and low-energy design strategies were retained. In the quantitative phase, Qom’s climatic conditions were evaluated using Climate Consultant and the ASHRAE Standard 55 thermal comfort model based on a standardized EPW typical meteorological year dataset (1991–2020), with separate analyses for the cold and hot seasons. The results and discussion showed that naturally comfortable conditions occur during only a limited portion of the year. During the hot season, two-stage evaporative cooling achieved the highest applicability, addressing 80.2% of selected hourly conditions. Solar shading, natural ventilation, building and courtyard orientation, vegetation, and high-thermal-mass materials were identified as the most influential passive design strategies. The conclusion indicates that the integrated screening and climatic validation process produced 20 operational strategies, providing an evidence-based framework for reducing mechanical energy demand, improving thermal comfort, and adapting traditional Iranian architectural principles in hot-arid regions. https://www.ijumes.com/article_737943_255d217612c98398a67f35b75ecd2526.pdf