Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

• Hojjat Ghiasvand ¹
• javad ghiasvand ²

¹ Department of Architecture, Mal.C., Islamic Azad University, Malayer,Iran

² Department of Architecture, Fir.C., Islamic Azad University, Firoozkoh.

Abstract

Interodaction

The cold climate of Hamadan plays a significant role in shaping residential architectural patterns, and investigating the relationship between the physical form of buildings and their thermal performance can contribute to reducing energy consumption and improving living quality. This issue becomes even more important in historical urban fabrics. Therefore, the present study was conducted with the aim of developing a climatic typology of Hamadan’s historical houses based on their physical compositional characteristics and analyzing the relationship between architectural form and the climatic responsiveness of buildings.



Methodology:



The research was carried out using a mixed-method approach. First, 33 historical houses in Hamadan were analyzed through statistical methods and classified into eight physical subtypes (A1 to C3). Subsequently, a Composite Environmental Performance (CEP) index was developed based on factors such as thermal mass, wall thickness, window-to-wall ratio (WWR), and floor area-to-site area ratio (density). To validate the index, energy simulations of selected case studies were conducted using DesignBuilder software.



Results and Discussion:



The findings indicated that subtypes with higher CEP values demonstrated better thermal performance and lower energy consumption; notably, A2 and B2 performed more efficiently than the other subtypes. In contrast, subtypes such as C3, characterized by lower CEP values, exhibited higher energy consumption and weaker climatic adaptability. Furthermore, significant negative correlations were observed between CEP and cooling load (r = −0.65) as well as annual energy consumption (r = −0.51).



Conclusion:



The results demonstrate that physical compositional characteristics in Hamadan’s historical houses have a substantial impact on climatic performance and energy consumption. The CEP index, as an analytical and cost-effective tool, is capable of assessing the climatic responsiveness of buildings and predicting their energy performance in historical contexts. It can therefore serve as a basis for decision-making in climate-responsive conservation and restoration design.

Keywords

• Climatic Typology
• Historical Houses of Hamadan
• Compositional Approach
• CEP Index
• Statistical Analysis AND Energy Simulation

Main Subjects

• Architecture and Urban Design