International Journal of Urban Management and Energy Sustainability

International Journal of Urban Management and Energy Sustainability

Integrating Vernacular Patterns and Modern Passive Design Strategies for Energy Optimization in Iran’s Hot-Arid Climate (Case Study: Qom City)

Articles in Press

Document Type : Case Study

Authors
Amir Hossein Shirdel 1
Milad Olfat 2
Faezeh Asadpour 3
Mohammad Saber Heidari 4
1 Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Engineering, Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University, Tehran, Iran .
2 Department of Art Education, Farhangian University, P.O. Box 14665-889, Tehran, Iran.
3 Department of Architecture, University of Science and Technology of Mazandaran, Behshahr, Iran.
4 Master's student, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Art and Architecture, Tarbiat Modares University(TMU), Tehran, Iran.
10.22034/ijumes.2026.2069856.1326
Abstract
building sector is a major consumer of energy, particularly in hot-arid regions where severe summer heat, large diurnal temperature variations, and limited naturally comfortable periods increase dependence on mechanical heating and cooling. This study aimed to develop an integrated framework for optimizing energy consumption and improving thermal comfort in residential buildings in Qom city by combining the principles of Iranian vernacular architecture with contemporary climatic analysis. A mixed qualitative–quantitative research design was employed. In the qualitative phase, an initial pool of 34 candidate strategies was 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 the defined inclusion and exclusion criteria and removing or consolidating duplicated and overlapping measures, 20 passive and low-energy design strategies were retained. In the quantitative phase, Qom’s climatic conditions were analyzed using Climate Consultant and the ASHRAE Standard 55 thermal-comfort model. The analysis was based on a standardized EPW typical meteorological year dataset derived from long-term meteorological records covering the 30-year period from 1991 to 2020. Separate seasonal assessments were conducted for the cold period of December–March and the hot period of June–August. The results indicated that naturally comfortable conditions occur during only a limited portion of the year in Qom city, increasing dependence on mechanical systems. During the hot-season analysis, two-stage evaporative cooling showed the highest applicability, affecting 80.2% of the selected hourly conditions. The findings also supported the importance of solar shading, natural ventilation, appropriate building and courtyard orientation, vegetation, and high-thermal-mass materials. The integrated screening and climatic-validation process resulted in 20 operational strategies for contemporary residential design in hot-arid regions. The results show that combining climate-responsive vernacular knowledge with software-based climatic analysis provides an evidence-based framework for reducing mechanical energy demand and improving residential thermal comfort in Qom city. The resulting strategies offer practical guidance for adapting traditional architectural principles to contemporary sustainable housing while maintaining climatic and cultural responsiveness.

Graphical Abstract

Integrating Vernacular Patterns and Modern Passive Design Strategies for Energy Optimization in Iran’s Hot-Arid Climate (Case Study: Qom City)

Highlights

·         This research tackles the building sector's excessive energy consumption, which accounts for over 40% of global energy use and approximately 36% in Iran, focusing on optimization in hot and arid climates.

·         The study uniquely integrates empirical strategies from Iran's rich vernacular architecture (e.g., windcatchers, courtyards, thick walls) with rigorous quantitative climatic analysis using specialized software (Climate Consultant) and the ASHRAE-55 comfort model.

·         Analysis of nearly 30 years of climatic data for Qom reveals extreme conditions, with summer peaks of 44°C and winter lows of -2°C, resulting in a very limited period of natural comfort and a high dependence on mechanical heating and cooling systems.

·         The research identifies and ranks the most impactful design strategies. Two-stage evaporative cooling (80.2% impact) and window shading devices (40.7% impact) were quantitatively validated as the most critical factors for achieving thermal comfort in the hot season.

·       The study culminates in the formulation of 20 operational design strategies that merge passive vernacular patterns with modern technologies. This provides architects and designers with a practical guide for creating energy-efficient, culturally resonant, and comfortable buildings in Iran's hot and arid   regions.

Keywords
Energy efficiency
Hot-Arid climate
passive design
Qom city
thermal comfort
vernacular architecture
     Abdeldjaouad, M., Attoui, R., Belghar, N., Driss, Z., & Boufahja, F. (2025). Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulation and Experimental Study of the Airflow in a Traditional Courtyard House. CFD LETTERS, 17(6), 134-150.
·         Afzal, M., Li, R. Y. M., Ayyub, M. F., Shoaib, M., & Bilal, M. (2023). Towards BIM-based sustainable structural design optimization: a systematic review and industry perspective. Sustainability, 15(20), 15117.‏
·         Arab, Maryam; Farokhzād, Mohammad (2017). “Design of Earth‑sheltered Buildings Based on Principles of Sustainable Architecture to Reduce Building Energy Consumption in a Hot‑Dry Climate: Case Study of Shahrud.” Quarterly Journal of Energy Policy and Planning Research, Vol. 3, No. 8, pp. 147–     173.
·         Asadpour, F., Asadpour. A. (2014). Optimization of Energy Consumption Using Solar Bath in the Hot and Dry Climate of Iran. European Online Journal of Natural and Social Sciences: Proceedings, 3(3s), 40-49.
·         Asadpour, F., Habibi, A. (2015). Strategies for climatic design for sustainable urban housing development (case study of Nur City, mazandaran, Iran). Cumhuriyet Science Journal, 36(6), 653-664.
·         Betti, G., Tartarini, F., Nguyen, C., & Schiavon, S. (2024). CBE Clima Tool: A free and open-source web application for climate analysis tailored to sustainable building design. In Building Simulation (Vol. 17, No. 3, pp. 493-508). Beijing: Tsinghua University Press.‏
·         Chohan, A. H., & Awad, J. (2022). Wind catchers: An element of passive ventilation in hot, arid and humid regions, a comparative analysis of their design and function. Sustainability, 14(17), 11088. https://doi.org/10.3390/su141711088
·         Creswell, J. W., & Plano Clark, V. L. (2018). Designing and Conducting Mixed Methods Research (3rd ed.). SAGE Publications.
·         Dinku, T., Faniriantsoa, R., Islam, S., Nsengiyumva, G., & Grossi, A. (2022). The climate data tool: enhancing climate services across Africa. Frontiers in Climate, 3, 787519.‏
·      El Azhary, K., Ouakarrouch, M., Laaroussi, N., & Garoum, M. (2021). Energy efficiency of a vernacular building design and materials in hot arid climate: Experimental and numerical approach. International Journal of Renewable Energy Development, 10(3), 481–494. https://doi.org/10.14710/ijred.2021.35310
·         Ghadiri‑Moghaddam et al. (2019). “Evaluation of the Performance of Passive Energy Systems (Trombe Wall and Greenhouse Effect) on Building Energy Consumption in a Cold Climate.” Scientific Journal of Architecture and Urbanism of Iran, Vol. 10, No. 17, Spring–Summer 2019, pp. 25–36.
·         Gorji‑Mehlabani, Yousef (2010). “Sustainable Architecture and Its Critique in the Field of Environment.” Scientific Journal of Architecture and Urbanism of Iran, No. 1, pp. 91–101.
·         Gutiérrez, C. (2023). Vernacular architecture and modern design: Towards a new aesthetics and functionality. Land and Architecture, 1(1), 1–15.
·         He, M., Li, L., & Tao, S. (2024). Sustainable design methods translated from the thermodynamic theory of vernacular architecture: Atrium prototypes. Buildings, 14(10), 3142. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14103142
·         Ho, S. H., Rosario, L., & Rahman, M. M. (2009). Thermal comfort enhancement by using a ceiling fan. Applied Thermal Engineering, 29(8–9), 1648–1656. doi: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2008.07.015.
·         Mahdinejad, J. D., & Shirdel, A. H. (2024). Analysis And Ranking of Factors Affecting The Design of Sustainable Housing in the Cold and Dry Climate of Sabzevar Based on Energy Consumption Optimization.
·         Mahdinejad, J., Sharghi, A., Asadpour, F. (2020). Investigating the Effective Indicators on the Desirable Quality of Open and Semi-Open Spaces of Contemporary Housing. Int. J. Architect. Eng. Urban Plan, 30(1),119-135.
·         Mashhoor, Zeynab (2020). “A Study of Optimization Strategies for Passive Heating Systems in Achieving Sustainable Architecture.” Shabak Scientific Journal, Vol. 6, No. 4, pp. 11–20.
·         Memarian, Gholamhossein (2014). A Survey of Theoretical Foundations of Architecture. Tehran: Soroush‑e Danesh, 9th ed.
·         Miller, D., Raftery, P., Nakajima, M., Salo, S., Graham, L. T., Peffer, T., Delgado, M., Zhang, H., Brager, G., Douglass-Jaimes, D., Paliaga, G., Cohn, S., Greene, M., & Brooks, A. (2021). Cooling energy savings and occupant feedback in a two-year retrofit evaluation of 99 automated ceiling fans staged with air conditioning. Energy and Buildings, 251, 111319. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2021.111319
·         Moroni, G., Forcael, E., & Berrios, C. (2024). Variables and objectives in multi-objective optimization for the integration of architecture, structure, and environmental impact: a literature review. Architectural Science Review, 1-17.‏
·         Moulānāʾi, Salah‑al‑Din; Soleymāni, Sara (2016). “Architecturally Valuable Elements of the Vernacular Architecture of the Sistan Region Based on Climatic Components of Sustainable Architecture.” Bāgh‑e Nazar Journal, Vol. 13, No. 41 (Mehr–Aban 1395), pp. 57–66.
·         Naghipour, P., Naghipour, A., Shirdel, A. H., Behzadi, S. Z., Rahaei, O., & Salamati, S. (2025). Sustainability in Historical Islamic Architecture: Lessons from Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque’s Construction Techniques. Journal of Islamic Architecture, 8(3), 585-603.
·         Olfat,M. , Asadpour,F. and Shirdel,A. H. (2025). Scientometric Analysis of Research Trends in Smart and Sustainable Architecture in Educational Environments: With an Emphasis on Green Schools and Campuses. (e4909). Scientometrics Research Journal, (), e4909 doi: 10.22070/rsci.2025.20848.1844
·         Omrani, S., Matour, S., Bamdad, K., & Izadyar, N. (2021). Ceiling fans as ventilation assisting devices in buildings: A critical review. Building and Environment, 201, 108010. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2021.108010
·         Qiyabkloo, Zahra (2016). Building Physics 2 (Environmental Conditioning), 13th ed., Jihad Daneshgahi Publishing, Amirkabir Industrial Unit.
·         Rahaee, O., Salehi, S. S., & Shirdel, A. (2024). Improving the quality of natural ventilation in Masjedsoleiman's Schools' classrooms based on the openings' position and the outdoor shading blades with CFD Method. Journal of Sustainable Architecture and Urban Design, 12(1).
·         Rahaei, O., Shirdel, A. H., Asadpour, F., & Omidi, M. (2026). Explaining the pattern of natural ventilation in central courtyards of traditional houses based on orientation. Sustainable Cities and Society: Advances, 2(1), 100025. doi: 10.1016/j.scsadv.2026.100025.
·         Rahimi‑Mehr, Vahideh (2013). “A Look at Sustainable Development in Earth‑sheltered Architecture.” Proceedings of the First National Conference on Architecture, Conservation, Urbanism and Sustainable Environment, Hamedan. Hegmataneh Environmental Assessors Association.
·         Reddy, V. J., Hariram, N. P., Ghazali, M. F., & Kumarasamy, S. (2024). Pathway to sustainability: An overview of renewable energy integration in building systems. Sustainability, 16(2), 638.‏
·         Roradeh, H., & Baaghideh, M. (2024). The Application of the Climate Consultant Tool in the Design of Architecture Compatible with the Climate (Case Study: Shiraz City). Urban Structure and Function Studies, 11(41), 167-196.‏
·         Rouhi, S., Valibeig, N., Khodayari Mafi, M., & Shirdel, A. H. (2024). Retrieve Khaju Bridge Architecture and Surrounding Landscape and Environment based on Visual and Descriptive Documents. Journal of Revitalization School, 2(3), 36-47.
·         Salameh, M., & Touqan, B. (2022). Traditional passive design solutions as a key factor for sustainable modern urban designs in the hot, arid climate of the United Arab Emirates. Buildings, 12(11), 1811. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings12111811
·         Selvaraj, R., Kuthadi, V. M., & Baskar, S. (2023). Smart building energy management and monitoring system based on artificial intelligence in smart city. Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments, 56, 103090.‏
·         Sharma, V. (2024). Understanding Thermal Performance of Vernacular Houses for Propagating Sustainable Energy Techniques in Design and Planning. 2024 International Conference on Computer, Electronics, Electrical Engineering & their Applications (IC2E3), 1-6.
·         Valizadeh‑Oghani, Mohammadbāqer; Moḥaddedi Nāser (2019). “Use of Passive and Inactive Solar Systems to Create Thermal Comfort in the Architectural Design of Traditional Houses of Tabriz.” Renewable and New Energies Quarterly, Vol. 6, No. 1 (Summer), pp. 26–37.
· Vatankhah, M., Vakilinezhad, R., Zakeri, S. M. H., & Fattahi, K. (2024). Optimizing energy and daylight performance of vernacular dwellings for contemporary architecture: A parametric analysis. Architectural Engineering and Design Management, 20(6), 1795–1814. https://doi.org/10.1080/17452007.2023.2274876
International Journal of Urban Management and Energy Sustainability

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 23 July 2026

  • Receive Date 24 August 2025
  • Revise Date 05 February 2026
  • Accept Date 23 July 2026