Revealing the climate-responsive strategies of traditional houses of Urla, İzmir

Abstract

Vernacular houses possess significant climate-responsive properties due to the accumulated information from the trial-and-error method. Therefore, the traditional houses of a region can guide new buildings in terms of adaptation to the climate. The study focuses on the climate-responsive properties of vernacular houses of Urla, İzmir. The study aims to reveal the specific strategies of the traditional houses of Urla in response to the hot and humid Aegean climate. Relating to this purpose, Postane Street, which is among the significant historic streets of the town, is selected as the case area to evaluate the vernacular houses of Urla. The research method is based on the climate-responsive strategies determined from the literature review in the first part. These criteria include “orientation to the sun and wind, the effect of direct sunlight and shading strategy, building envelope and form, interior space organization, integration of greenery, building materials, and roof strategy”. Climate Consultant and Design Builder Software were used to prepare the psychrometric graph and shading regime visualizations. The study showed that the climate-responsive strategies of the street’s vernacular houses are shaped to avoid excessive heat gain in the climate of Urla. The research results are expected to guide sustainable design applications in the same area. © International Journal of Sustainable Building Technology and Urban Development.