Bioclimatic analysis of traditional Turkish houses

Abstract

Abstract Olgyay proposed the Bioclimatic Chart as an index of thermal comfort in 1963. It indicates the effects of air temperature, humidity, radiation and with velocity on thermal comfort, separately, for people wearing normal bussiness clothes and at sedentary activity. This form of the index makes it suitable to identify the climate of a region. Arens, Zeren, Gonzalez, Berglund and McNalls proposed in 1981 the revised form of the chart and called it the New Bioclimatic Chart. By using the New Bioclimatic Chart, the author analysed the climate of Turkey and found seven different climatic regions. The climate and the Turkish traditional houses in each of these regions were described. Some building parameters, related to the climate, were analysed statistically. The Turkish traditional houses in these climatic regions show a clear distinction in settlement pattern, building form, plan, space organization, building elements and materials. The intelligent solutions employed by the masters of traditional houses have many clues for the modern buildings of today.