UNIVERSITAS KRISTEN DUTA WACANA

Fakultas Arsitektur & Desain

Prodi Arsitektur

=================================================================================

UJIAN AKHIR SEMESTER GASAL T.A. 2021/2022

Mata Ujian : Bahasa Inggris Terapan (BIT) Arsitektur [DA4153]
Waktu/Batas Pengumpulan : Jumat, 17 Desember 2021, Jam 13.00 WIB
Sifat/Jenis Ujian : Take-home / Online Submission via E-Class
Bobot : 25%
Dosen : Arida Susyetina, S.S., M.A.

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Instruction
1. Download and read the article titled “THE EFFECT OF NATURAL ENERGY SOURCES
ON THE SUSTAINABLE FORM OF VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE” attached.
2. Write a journal article summary by following this general format:
a. Write the bibliographic information on top of the page
b. Introduction - Give a brief introduction to give the necessary background to the
study and state its purpose (in your own words). Why was the study conducted?
What was it about?
c. Procedures - In your own words, describe the specifics of what this study
involved. Who/What were the subjects? How were they grouped? What did they
have the subjects do? Under what conditions? For how long? What was
measured? What was being compared?
d. Findings – In your own words discuss the major findings and results. How useful
or significant is this (what did the authors say about it?)
e. Conclusions - In your own words, summarize the researchers’ conclusions. What
was the major outcome of the study?
f. Personal comments – Give your reaction to the study? Such as: What did you
learn from the study? How might you apply the results in a future
teaching/coaching/technical application? Explain how this study might relate to
studio work and/or your project. How can future studies be improved?
3. Feel free to contact the lecturer via class WhatsApp Group or email for further
questions regarding the task.

Best of luck!
International Journal of Advanced Research in Engineering and Technology (IJARET)
Volume 11, Issue 6, June 2020, pp. 378-391, Article ID: IJARET_11_06_034
Available online athttp://www.iaeme.com/IJARET/issues.asp?JType=IJARET&VType=11&IType=6
ISSN Print: 0976-6480 and ISSN Online: 0976-6499
DOI: 10.34218/IJARET.11.6.2020.034

© IAEME Publication Scopus Indexed

THE EFFECT OF NATURAL ENERGY SOURCES

ON THE SUSTAINABLE FORM OF
VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE
Niran Al Shaikhli
Associate Professor of Architecture, Architectural Engineering Department Faculty of
Architecture and Design, Middle East University, Jordan

Islam Al Shafie
PhD Student of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, Architectural Engineering Department,
Eastern Mediterranean University, Faagusta-Trnc, Jordan

ABSTRACT
The Natural resources of each region are considered to be the main environmental
influence on the traditional vernacular architecture that emerges naturally,
considering that the physical appearance of the traditional architecture is based
basically on the human interaction with the surrounding environment, his adaptation
to it, and his best utilization of it. What really makes this architectural image special
and significant is the integration of several aspects, which are; the environment, the
aesthetics and the social character in a comprehensively complete way with the
elements of sustainability. This research will look into two main aspects; firstly, the
theoretical aspect that will review the importance of studying the effect of the
characteristics of natural sources on shaping the elements of vernacular architecture,
it will also inspect the importance of studying the nature and characteristics of these
elements and their integration with environmental, social and esthetical sustainability
standards. Secondly, the study will conduct a practical analyses of several vernacular
buildings samples from the Levant region (Jordan, Syria, Palestine and Iraq) to study
the effect of natural energy sources variations that were mentioned in the theoretical
part of the study for analyzing and discovering the effect of these variations in
enriching the sustainability within the vernacular architecture in each country, and
their effect in generating the vernacular architectural form.
Key words: Vernacular Architecture, Natural Energy Sources, Environmental
Sustainability, Vernacular Architectural Elements
Cite this Article: Niran Al Shaikhli and Islam Al Shafie, The Effect of Natural
Energy Sources on the Sustainable Form of Vernacular Architecture, International
Journal of Advanced Research in Engineering and Technology, 11(6), 2020,
pp. 378-391.
http://www.iaeme.com/IJARET/issues.asp?JType=IJARET&VType=11&IType=6

http://www.iaeme.com/IJARET/index.asp 378 [email protected]

Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3656894

 The Effect of Natural Energy Sources on the Sustainable Form of Vernacular Architecture

1. INTRODUCTION
This paper aims to clarify the ways that natural energy sources contribute to shaping the form
of vernacular traditional architecture within the Levant region, and define how vernacular
architecture achieved sustainability through being environmentally responsive to a specific
location in a specific period of time. Literature review on the topic showed a lack in scientific
indicators about the effect of natural energy resources in creating the image of an
environmentally responsive vernacular architecture within the Levant region. While there is a
large body of literature regarding environmental sustainability in vernacular architecture in
general, there are Limited studies regarding the effect of natural energy resources in creating
the image of an: environmentally responsive vernacular architecture within the Levant region
in specific.
Moreover, there are Limited studies about the character and image of vernacular
architecture in the Levant region, which limits the researcher’s field of study into specific
categories and common prototypes of vernacular architecture in each country.
However, the research will look into what can be called the Vernacular form generator, as
in; the factors that contribute in shaping the form of the vernacular architecture, and most
importantly finding the direct link between these factors and the aspects that make vernacular
architecture environmentally responsive, in other words; learn lessons from vernacular
architecture and define how it achieved environmental sustainability in that specific period of
time.
The most obvious limitation is working on a specific region, which is the Levant region.
Choosing specific locations within the region to specify different case studies from different
contexts to try and cover several conditions and their resulting architectural; form, like
choosing different cases from Syria, Jordan and Palestine.
The first part of the methodology will depend on data collection in a descriptive research
approach method in the theoretical part of the study. Then a qualitative, Case study, analysis
and comparative research method approaches in the second more practical side of the study.
Stages of research methodology: Reviewing the literature, identifying data, searching for data,
collecting data through specifying case studies in specific locations within the Levant region
(Syria, Jordan &Palestine), and Classifying the analyzing the findings in a comparative
approach.
Vernacular architecture is a reflection of how many civilizations across the world
historically lived in their local environments [1], it is a reflection of how cultures adapted and
utilized the natural sources provided to them in a specific region, which resulted in generating
a unique architectural image from one region to the other. While at the same time succeeded
in providing the basic sheltering needs from the weather conditions, resolving climatic
problems, integrating social functions and also added physical and aesthetical special
appearance [2]. All of that is considered the prime motivators that resulted in the formation of
different shapes of vernacular architecture across the world as a whole, and across different
locations within a region, like the Levant region included in this study.
Vernacular architecture is the architecture that provides harmony to each element of its
buildings, urban fabric, environment, building materials, culture, and climate [3], in other
words; Vernacular architecture is sustainable, But is it is important to mention here that
sustainability measures are different from time to time, our present time criteria for
sustainability might be different from that naturally found in vernacular architecture, so we
need to keep in mind that we are talking about a specific time in which those vernacular forms
emerged and how conveniently they provided human comfort to their users within their
context in the past so we can learn from vernacular sustainability experiences.

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 Niran Al Shaikhli and Islam Al Shafie

To be fully aware of how vernacular architecture is sustainable, this study will analysis
how its elements and forms are climate responsive, in a way that brings human comfort to the
users of its dwellings and its urban spaces. This is why the urban fabric tissue and the
corresponding single building designs are significantly different from one climate zone to
other [4], and therefor this study will focus on how natural energy sources that are found
naturally in the environment have the major effect on how the vernacular architecture –
environmental responsive forms are generated.

2. DEFINING VERNACULAR ARCHIETCTRE

The word “vernacular” comes originally from the Latin word: Verna, which means the
traditional or the local. Vernacular architecture is the architecture that prevails at the whole
society in a specific time with respect to its culture and context. 80% or maybe more of the
total buildings in the world are considered to be vernacular [5]. Many terms had been used to
refer to vernacular architecture, as Rudofsky mentioned in his book Architecture without
architects [6]; “It is so little known that we don’t even have a name for it. For want of a
generic label, we shall call it vernacular, anonymous, spontaneous, indigenous, rural, as the
case may be.” Oliver [7] proposed defining vernacular architecture as the successful result of
an architecture that corresponded rationally to the available local building materials, climate
conditions and cultural needs. He also mentioned that there isn’t really any clear definition of
vernacular architecture, though it can be possibly a mix of architectural and human in relation
to time, geography and history. Another famous author on vernacular architecture defined the
vernacular architecture as the result of the total integration of many variables such as; society,
culture, environment, building materials, and geographic location; as it is the product of
processing all those variables together [8]. Many literatures had been addressed to vernacular
architecture and its correspondence to the climate, in this regard, vernacular architecture had
been described as the natural integration of the architectural form as a part of its natural
surroundings as the passive strategies used in the naturally occruing forms – thanks to
tradition and culture- are very helpful at achieving human comfort for the users [9].

3. DEFINING SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE

As has been mentioned in the introduction, readings and literature led to the assumption that
vernacular architecture is sustainable, as the vernacular architecture can produce buildings
that can integrate sustainable architectural principles. Although sustainability might be
considered a highly new concept, but in fact it is not, sustainable architecture of today is
referenced to many vernacular examples of the past [10]. This research will look into how
vernacular architecture applied sustainability aspects into their buildings, to do so we firstly
need to identify sustainability and its principles, then look into the natural energy sources to
come up with more understanding to this theoretical part of the study.
Sustainability had been defined by a large body of literature, maybe the most common
definition we can come across when searching for “sustainability” or “sustainable
developments” is the one published by the world commission on environment and
development -WCED- back in 1987 [11]; “development that meets the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. ”
Sustainability is defined as the full integration between the nature and the human to sustain
continuity and place making [12].
Phillip Sutton defines sustainability as a way of improving the quality of life and
providing means of survival and continuity, he also mentions the full integration of the three
aspects of sustainability as he says sustainability is a way of fully integrating the environment,
society and economics together to sustain a better life [13]. It is clear now that sustainability

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 The Effect of Natural Energy Sources on the Sustainable Form of Vernacular Architecture

revolves around three main pillars which are the basis of any sustainable design strategy, and
are – as mentioned before by Sutton; The social, the economical and the environmental pillars
[10].
Within the context of what had been explained, it is evident that vernacular architecture
achieved the three pillars of sustainability, the involvement of the culture and the society are
what defines the social pillar, the usage of local materials and building techniques may define
the economic, but the environmental pillar is much more diverse and complicated. The next
part of the study will provide more understanding to how it was achieved based on the
environmental sustainability aspects focussing on natural energy forces and how they are
integrated within vernacular architecture to provide means of obtaining human comfort.

4. TYPES OF NATURAL ENERGY SOURCES

There are certain types of natural energy resources that are concerned with the resulting
architectural form within a specific context, which are; the sun, wind, humidity, water [8], and
finally the natural building materials found within the surroundings of the given context. Each
of those factors contribute directly to the architectural forms generated.
The Sun factor is one of the main natural energy sources that man had to adapt with in
order to reach comfort in his dwelling, as it is considered the main source of heat with in all
climate zones. In order to design a building, the orientation of that building to the sun must be
well studied in terms of defining the location of the sun at each hour of the day in all days and
all seasons, especially summer. As well as taking into consideration the sun radiation that’s
being reflected from the neighboring structures and surfaces, or with hold the reach of it,
which contributes into creating a special microclimate. Therefore, it is very important to find
the perfect orientation to well utilize the energy of the sun [8]. This utilization would
contribute into bringing passive heating, passive cooling and natural lighting into the
dwelling.
Through good architectural design, buildings can insure a natural ventilation through two
main principles that rely directly on the wind as a natural energy resource; firstly, through
differences in air pressure that occurs due to different air velocity which makes the air flow
from the high pressure area to the low pressure area. Secondly, the natural convection forces
which depend on the difference between the air density – due to different temperatures- where
the hot lighter air moves up and the colder denser air comes down creating natural air
circulation. The Third factor is the Humidity – or the water-, the water is very important for
increasing humidity especially if we are trying to achieve human comfort within dry hot
climate zones [8].
The final factor is the natural materials –local- found within the surroundings, and as
vernacular architecture had been defined by those local materials specified to a certain region,
it is very important to find the link between how the vernacular buildings expresses those
materials in their forms, and how they best utilize those materials to best achieve comfort to
their users by methods of construction. And as local materials cost less and are naturally
available, which consumes less energy in the process off delivering them to the site of
construction –both economic and environmental pillars of sustainability-, it is more
sustainable to use them than to use materials from elsewhere.
Local builder’s self-helped themselves into developing the best building construction
technologies to achieve comfort with the local materials available, for example; the usage of
brick and adobe in several regions worldwide provided insulation in hot arid climates [14].
The techniques used in traditional vernacular architecture are interesting as they are
considered sustainable by their nature [15].

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 Niran Al Shaikhli and Islam Al Shafie

5. THE EFFECT OF THE CHARECHTARESTICS OF NATURAL

SOURCES ON SHAPING THE ELEMENTS OF VERNACULAR
ACHITECTURE
This part of the study examines some of the most famous vernacular architecture elements
within the Levant region (Jordan, Palestine, Syria & Iraq), as a result of an architecture that
responded to the natural energy forces in the surrounding context and utilized it to achieve
environmental sustainability and deliver comfort to its users.
The elements and features of vernacular architecture found in the Levant region are vast,
in respond to the sun factor, the most common feature is the type of ceiling applied to the roof
of the building, many traditional buildings use a vault like structure that gives both extra
height and slope to the building, these vault structures are famous especially in the villages of
Jordan (Figure 1), Syria and southern parts of Turkey (Figure 2).

Figure 1 Traditional forms of vault structures in the vernacular Jordanian villages. [16]

Figure 2 Beehive dwellings of Harran Village – East southern Turkey – Note the usage of vaulted like
domed roofs and the top opening which goes back for more than 200 years. [17]
Perpendicular on the roof - which means that the heat absorbed by the non-shaded part
travels through the roof into the shaded part and then into the indoors, this process usually
takes up a long time due to the big time lag found in the materials used, in a way that the heat

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 The Effect of Natural Energy Sources on the Sustainable Form of Vernacular Architecture

usually doesn’t travel indoor as the process is reversed once the source of heat –the sun- is
gone by the end of the day [19].
Vaulted roofs also help increase the height of the building which contributes in generating
natural convection currents indoors passively [8]. Some of the interesting additions to this
feature are adding an opening at the top of the domed roof which helps get rid of the excess
hot air when it naturally rises up by convection [17]. Moreover, curved roofs help increase the
speed of the wind passing above them which makes the pressure inside the buildings decrease,
this creates different pressure zones on the outside and inside of the roof, thus, naturally
makes the air flow from the high to the low pressure which helps obtain passive cooling
through natural ventilation (Figure 3), this effect in physics is called the Bernoulli principle
[19].

Figure 3 Bernoulli Principle. Note that the presence of an opening on the roof like in the case of the
vernacular beehive dwellings of Harran village helps increase air flow across the space. [19].
When it comes to shading, as where the sun provides overheating and excess lighting
indoors, we can see some features in vernacular architecture that help in reducing that effect
especially in the hot areas. One feature are the loggias which are found as elements attached
to the elevation facing the most direct sun light, loggias provide shading from the sun as well
as enhancing the air flow due to the differences in air pressure in the shaded areas verses the
non-shaded ones which generates natural air flow [8].
The courtyard itself is a really common feature which responds to the sun factor and helps
provide natural ventilation (Figure 3), and cooling to the spaces around it as the floor of the
courtyard itself gets heated by the sunlight which makes the air above it warmer and less
dense, this low density air flows up by convection while the denser cooler air moves down
[20]. As the air in this case in rather hot and dry, many vernacular courtyard houses add a
water feature (Figure 4) to help add humidity to the air cycling through the spaces, this
provides cooler ventilation as the air flowing carries the evaporated water particles near the
surface of the water feature in a process called evaporative cooling [19]. This is one way some
of the well-known vernacular forms are generated in response to the water – humidity – factor
[8].

Figure 4 Natural air flow through a courtyard – Sectional view. [20]

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 Niran Al Shaikhli and Islam Al Shafie

Figure 5 Water feature as an element inside the courtyard. [20]

6. CASE STUDIES
This part of the research will adopt an analytical descriptive approach, where the researcher
will present several cases from common vernacular dwelling typologies found in the Levant
region and describe how each case’s forms and features are responsive to the natural energy
forces in their context in a way of providing environmental sustainability measures and
human comfort to the users.
The first case study is a beehive dwelling (Figure 6), a type of vernacular housing found
commonly in the arid areas of Syria, Jordan and southern turkey. The climate conditions are
commonly hot and dry. This type of dwelling respond to this climate conditions by providing
minimum openings to decrease solar gain, and are usually built with thick adobe and mud
walls, this both helps carrying the massive dome structure for the roofing while also
preventing the travel of heat from the outside during the hot hours of the day. The dome
structure provides extra height which –with the addition to the top opening (Figure 7) - helps
convection forces provide natural air flow for cooling and ventilation. The conical dome roof
here helps protect the mud covering of the building from cracking or sliding off during
seasonal rain periods [21].

Figure 6 Beehive dwellings on the edge of Syrian arid area near the city of Hallab. [21]

Figure 7 Top opening, source of natural lighting and helps the hot air flow to escape. [21]

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 The Effect of Natural Energy Sources on the Sustainable Form of Vernacular Architecture

The Second case is a common peasant dwelling from AL Hommud village from Jordan
(Figure 8), most villages in Jordan are on the northern highlands which explains the common
features in them, they are mostly all built with stone and have vaulted roofing. The walls are
thick to carry the heavy stone vaulted roof, this adds to the insulation of the unit as it provides
cool atmosphere indoors due to the high thermal capacity of the stone which is naturally
found in the Jordanian mountains. The walls are thick and the openings are minimal [16].

Figure 8 The house of Khalaf Al Halasneh, Hommud Village, Jordan. [16]

The villages south of Jordan are on low lands and are mostly near the desert, which means
a new type of the simple peasant house appears, the differences only match the different
climate conditions and the local materials available so it is only normal to see the villages to
the south built from mud and brick with big openings and flat wooden roofs [16].

Figure 9 Palestinian village south al Khalil city – Mid 1980 – Note the cluster formations, domed
roofs and stone exterior. [22]

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 Niran Al Shaikhli and Islam Al Shafie

Figure 10 Sectional view to a traditional house from a Palestinian village near Ramallah city. Note the
thick walls and domed roofs. [22]
The dome roofing again provides extra height to help circulate air through convection,
while the wind speeds up above the roof creating low pressure areas on the inside which helps
with more air flow naturally. Moreover, the house is typically split into two levels (Figure 10)
with no interior partitions which enhances the air flow [22]. The domed roof here helps during
the winter season where rainfall is high, so that the exterior coating to the dome which is
mostly mud or plaster doesn’t slide off or leak coldness into the building if left to build up on
a flat roof.
The next case is a prototype of the traditional Loggia houses (Figure 11) that originated in
the early nineteenth century, and is found in several places within the Levant region, mainly
in the rural parts of Syria and Lebanon where the climate is mostly moderate. This type
consists of a linear plan house where all spaces open up to a loggia that is placed on the
elevation facing direct sun radiation, this form especially responds to the sun factor by
shading it – preventing over heating in summer where the sun in high and obtain solar heating
in winter where the sun is low- and obtaining means getting a natural air flow in all spaces
because of the air circulation through the shaded loggia due to different pressure zones as
discussed earlier.
The roof here is mostly flat, made of wooden beams that are covered with sticks and mud
for insulation. As for building materials they are local brick or stone depending on what is
available in the location, if brick they are usually covered in plaster for protection and
insulation, the structure of the building depends on stone columns, this is why no massive
walls are needed to carry the roof which is slightly light comparing to the previous examples
[20]

Figure 11 Elevation and plan of a traditional loggia house from Syria. [20]

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 The Effect of Natural Energy Sources on the Sustainable Form of Vernacular Architecture

Figure 12 Loggia house from Syria. [20]

The Last case study in this research will look into are the courtyard houses, this type of
house is found in many places within the Levant region, especially in Syria. It is well
characterized by its centralized organization of spaces around an open court. Courtyard
houses are found in several types depending on their location, mainly rural or urban.
The rural court yard houses come in two different types; the first one is the courtyard
house with flat roof (Figure 12), these houses are a simple grouping of spaces built around an
open court which is considered the private space for the gathering of family members, and
where some house chores are done like cooking, or children playing – which is perfect for
social interaction, the houses are usually built with local stone or brick with simple column
and beam structure where the wooden beams carry the flat roof which is then covered with
sticks and mud for insulation [20].
The second one is the beehive courtyard house (Figure 13), it’s the grouping of several
beehive houses around a central court, same building materials and techniques of the
traditional beehive cells mentioned before apply here. Usually, the court in the rural courtyard
houses opens up into a garden for the houses, where the family members grow their own
vegetables and fruits. The courtyard however provides means for social and environmental
sustainability for reasons discussed earlier [20].

Figure 13 Flat roof courtyard rural house VS a beehive cells courtyard rural house from Syria. [20]
In Palestine, most courtyard houses in the villages belong to an extended family, where
spaces keep adding up whenever a family member gets married and moves out into an
adjacent space. Spaces keep forming around the court, at some point several courts for the

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 Niran Al Shaikhli and Islam Al Shafie

same extended family gets created, the primary court gets connected to the secondary courts
by private uneven walkways [22].
The Urban courtyard houses were created basically to provide privacy and equality, since
most courtyard houses in the Levant region were built after the Islamic religion laws were the
outside of the houses show equal exterior finishes where the rich and the poor live in equity,
moreover, the provide privacy as the openings are mainly to the inside of the house and onto
the private family court. The exterior openings here have mashrabiyyas added to them to
insure privacy from the alleys and to provide natural lightings and ventilation for the inside.
Social and environmental sustainability are accomplished here, environmental sustainability
however is most noticeable upon the urban fabric of the city as a whole where the courts from
all the houses form pools of cool air and help with maintaining a comfortable microclimate
within the city as each court works on its own in providing natural ventilation through natural
convection forces which were explained earlier in the paper [23].
Urban courtyard houses are usually more sophisticated than those from the rural parts,
decorative elements are added to the interiors which shows the wealth of the family, also the
number of courts of each house does the same, where some courtyard houses come with two
or three courts (Figure 14) with different functions socially but same benefits environmentally
[20]. Most courtyard houses have a water feature added to the court, which enhances
environmental sustainability as it helps achieve evaporative cooling in the hot dry climates
[20]. Some courtyard houses have loggias and wind catchers added too to help achieve natural
cooling by cross ventilation, sometimes the water features are added directly under the wind
catcher in a way that allows the air coming into the court to be cooled by the water vapor from
the water feature, this feature is called the salsabeel [8].

Figure 14 Urban courtyard houses with single, double and triple courtyards. [20]

7. CONCLUSIONS
The points that follows explains the findings of this paper, the research problem was based on
how the form of the vernacular architecture was generated in a way that shows how it
responded to the natural sources found in site, the discussion throughout the paper explained
how the natural forces work and how many vernacular features respond to those forces, the
points below are the conclusion of the discussion – the answer to the research question, added
to that, are how those features reflect sustainability. Findings are formed into a matrix (Table
1).
 Almost all the features of vernacular architecture respond directly to the local building
materials found naturally on site, which means that the resulting form of the
architecture at any specific site reflects the building materials found in it. Moreover,
Economic sustainability is achieved because no materials are brought from outside the

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 The Effect of Natural Energy Sources on the Sustainable Form of Vernacular Architecture

site, Environmental sustainability is achieved because the natural materials are always
most fit for building within a specific location as they are naturally environmentally
responsive to the climate conditions on site.
 The Sun factor is responsible in forming most of the features of vernacular
architecture in the Levant region, the Vaulted and domed structures help with
providing shading and less thermal penetration into the dwellings, the Massive walls
provide big thermal capacity for less solar heating, the small openings allows
minimum solar gain to the inside, when the windows are big the mashrabiyya element
provide less solar penetration through shading and diffused lighting, the courtyard
responds to the sun to provide natural convection forces, and finally the loggia
provides shading.
 Many features respond to the wind feature, as explained in the discussion the domed
and vaulted roofs work perfectly in enhancing natural air flow which provides cooling,
it also helps the water from the rain to slide through easily, the big openings insures
natural ventilation when solar gain is not to a big concern, the mashrabiyya enhances
wind flow as it speeds up the air passing through its small openings, the courtyard
responds directly to the sun but the resulting feature in natural cooling, water features
depends on the wind to insure evaporative cooling especially in dry climates, and of
Corse the wind catcher is basically used to catch the wind and create natural cooling.
 The Humidity is most responsible for having flat roofs and big openings where
minimum heights insure that cross ventilation works so no heavy humid air gets
trapped around the users, the flat roofs are usually extended to provide shading to
those big openings especially that the walls are usually light so humidity won’t be
trapped inside. The water features insure providing moisture to the air flowing
especially in the hot dry weather. The wind catchers are usually found in hot humid
regions where the air flows high away from the ground and where humid heavy air
usually minimizes natural ventilation through normal openings.
 The sustainability pillars are obtained in so many features, some features insure social
sustainability like the courtyard, the wind catcher and the mashrabiyya where privacy
is achieved. Economic sustainability is always obtained because only local materials
and local building technologies are being used. While Environmental sustainability is
the most important resulting factor, as the main goal is providing thermal comfort.
The table below shoes a matrix of how features found in the vernacular houses in the
Levant region respond to one or more natural energy source, and how they achieve
sustainability pillars accordingly.

Table 1 Natural energy sources VS vernacular features matrix. (Author, 2018)

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 Niran Al Shaikhli and Islam Al Shafie

It is important to note here that the sustainability measure of today is different from what
was found in vernacular architecture, the paper focused on how the features and the forms of
vernacular architecture provided sustainability at its simple aspect, where minimum
technologies were used, those are lessons to be learned. Further research might include a
detailed methodology of how to use those vernacular features that brought sustainability
naturally into our contemporary design.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors would like to appreciate the Deanship of Scientific Research at Middle East
University for their support.

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