Abstract
Builders from the Western part of Asia are trained to make buildings that can fulfil certain required functions while giving full consideration to all sites and environmental conditions. The research covers the zone between Iraq and Iran. The first investigated region is the “Mesopotamian Marshes” or Iraqi-Iran Marshes, a wetland zone situated in southern Iraq and partially in southwestern Iran. The other region is a desert district, which includes a prominent part of the southern and western parts of Iraq and part of Iran. The last is the centre city of Basra. The building materials were the most important building element that affected the conformation of vernacular habitats from the western part of Asia in general and the Iraq–Iran area in particular. In this study, we needed to focus on the effects of ecological and energy-efficiency processes in creating vernacular habitats and the selection of optimal building systems and materials in this part of the world, which can be an essential point for sustainable environmental building processes in the future. Reeds, clay, straw, bricks, and wood were the most popular building materials used by builders from this region. The impact of building material on the environment embodies the essential method implicitly significant in this research to effectively determine traditional building materials in the environment, in addition to comparative analysis. This presents an essential factor of our analysis, in addition to the impact of environments on building systems. The main target of this study is to benefit designers and building engineers in their pursuit to find optimal and competent solutions suitable for specific local microclimates using traditional methods in the design process that are sustainable and ecological.
Highlights
Vernacular habitats developed their individuality by tapping into nearby resources and exploiting them to confront the problems posed by a local environment
AN environmental profile is achieved on the basis of the SBI (DK) calculation programme, BEAT 2000, which is a standardised technique for classifying and measuring the environmental effects related to building materials in their life cycles (11)
The environmental impact of the materials is a representation of the results shown in the environmental profile of the same house’s materials. 5.2. ‘‘Marshes House, Unit’’ from zone II
Summary
Vernacular habitats developed their individuality by tapping into nearby resources and exploiting them to confront the problems posed by a local environment. The roof structure must function efficiently in the dry season (Woolley, 2006). When it is warm, large, a high roof space continuum with the living area is practical. Temperature extremes call for thick insulating walls and roofs to maintain a comfortable internal environment (Almusaed, 2004). The most important question that needs to be answered is what is the relationship between the outer conditions of temperature, sunshine and rain and the inside thermal comfort.
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