Energy efficient design strategies for contemporary vernacular buildings in Egypt

Abstract

: Current practice of sustainable design encompasses a range of green strategies. Modernpassive design concepts have learned to build upon climate responsive methodology that was found in andinspired from vernacular and traditional buildings. With the present energy crises in Egypt there is a currentfocus on the development of climate sensitive design building approaches. It will be the thrust of thispaper to understand the precepts of passive and energy efficient climatic design, as well as their complementaryand integrated roles in the synthesis of climatic sustainable vernacular typology in contemporarypractice. An existing project, design center in Sinai, Egypt has been chosen for its specific representationof cold versus hot climate passive vernacular solutions. The paper adopted a mixed survey approach andwill discuss how the project had reached the optimum energy efficiency, and how this pilot project couldhelp spreading the notions of contemporary energy efficient vernacular buildings. (Less)