In the heart of Iran’s architectural heritage lies a treasure trove of design solutions that have stood the test of time. Now, a groundbreaking study led by Maral Asgharpour Arshad from the Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning at Tabriz Islamic Art University is unlocking the secrets of traditional Isfahan architecture, offering a blueprint for modern energy-efficient design. Published in the *Journal of Daylighting* (known in English as the *Journal of Daylighting*), this research is poised to reshape how we think about building envelopes and their role in energy efficiency.
The study delves into the intricate Girih tile patterns and colored Orosi windows that adorn traditional buildings in Isfahan. These elements are not merely decorative; they are ingenious solutions that have historically addressed climatic challenges and ensured indoor thermal comfort. “Traditional architecture has always been about harmony with the environment,” Asgharpour Arshad explains. “Our research quantifies this harmony, providing a scientific basis for what has been intuitively known for centuries.”
Using advanced software simulations, the team analyzed 60 different Girih tile patterns and 120 colored glass combinations. The goal was to optimize these designs for daylight illuminance, visual comfort, and thermal comfort—key factors in energy-efficient building design. The results were striking. The optimal pattern, a twelve-sided Safavid design with a wood-to-glass ratio of 58.14%, achieved an impressive 88.51% useful daylight illuminance, 99.03% visual comfort, and 99.47% thermal comfort. This pattern, dubbed N50, yielded the highest overall performance, averaging 95.67%.
The study also revealed that patterns with wood densities between 51% and 57% maintained high optimization, while densities above 59% reduced daylight penetration. For colored glass, combinations with higher yellow content achieved up to 87.89% useful daylight illuminance, whereas patterns dominated by colorless and blue glass dropped to a mere 4.58%. “The arrangement of various colors alongside each other significantly impacts performance,” Asgharpour Arshad notes. “This is a crucial insight for designers aiming to balance aesthetics and functionality.”
The implications for the energy sector are profound. As buildings account for a significant portion of global energy consumption, optimizing their design for natural lighting and thermal comfort can lead to substantial energy savings. This research provides evidence-based guidelines for architects and engineers, enabling them to create openings that balance daylighting, visual comfort, and thermal efficiency. “We’re not just preserving history; we’re leveraging it to build a more sustainable future,” Asgharpour Arshad says.
The study’s findings could revolutionize modern architecture, particularly in regions with similar climates to Isfahan’s cold semi-arid environment. By integrating traditional design principles with cutting-edge technology, architects can create buildings that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also energy-efficient. This approach could lead to a new wave of sustainable construction, reducing the carbon footprint of the built environment and contributing to global efforts to combat climate change.
As the world grapples with the challenges of energy efficiency and sustainability, this research offers a compelling case for looking to the past to inform the future. By understanding and optimizing traditional design elements, we can create buildings that are in harmony with their environment, paving the way for a more sustainable and energy-efficient future.