Vernacular Elements as Indicators for Sustainable Interior Environment: Housing in Jordan

Abstract

The vernacular architecture elements are the creation of land, the local climate, and people’s culture. Vernacular houses are established on a foundation of a series of sustainable-oriented principles. The vernacular architecture of the Middle East region has introduced many logical solutions and devices to the local interior environmental problems such as the courtyard, Mashrabiya, and fountains, which became common architectural features in vernacular buildings. This paper demonstrates the value of vernacular architectural elements and highlights their distinctive sustainable characteristics on the interior environment. Considered methodological and conceptual tools which compromise the basics of past model indicators they also give rise to potential future assimilations from its original design. Findings have indicated the uniqueness of the overall vernacular buildings elements. They are in parallel with current issues on interior environment sustainability, which have affected the sustainable adaption in contemporary residential buildings. Within the region, they have acted as interior spaces natural cooling systems and interior spaces energy savers in addition to supporting social sustainability.