Enhancing Contemporary Envelope Design for Hot and Arid Climates: Integrating Vernacular Strategies for Window-to-Wall Ratios and Shading Devices

Abstract

In the context of various scenarios of global climate change and the imminent threats posed by escalating global temperatures, architects and urban planners must reflect on the lessons to be learned from the established model of vernacular architecture in arid climates. When closely examined and comprehended accurately, vernacular architecture offers a repository of readily applicable strategies that can be expanded upon and implemented in contemporary construction. This paper focuses on the benefits derived from incorporating height-to-width ratio (H/W) in urban settings, window-to-wall ratios and shading mechanisms inferred from vernacular architecture into envelope design for contemporary residential development. It employs the hot-arid climate of Cairo City, Egypt, as a reference context for this research proposed study. The paper elaborates on the methodologies and processes utilized to transform principles of vernacular strategies into quantifiable benchmark. This is accomplished through the integration of environmental performance simulations, including thermal and daylight conditions, which informed the exploration of potential architectural solutions. The outcome is a characterization of design elements inherent in vernacular architecture, leading to design recommendations for contemporary residential buildings in hot and arid climates, with emphasis on window-to-wall ratios and shading mechanisms.