IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES T extstorage.googleapis.com/wzukusers/user-13429154/documents/55db05c3220aeWmTQVZp...“The vernacular architecture of the Arab World and neighbouring regions

Title

Text

0.0VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE IN THE

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

CAN LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE TRADITIONAL HOUSES IN THE UAE INFLUENCE

COOLING TECHNIQUES IN CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE?

AHMED-NAJI MAHJOUB1312824ACM007MARCH

SUPERVISOR: DR AMAR BENNADJI

DECLARATION

The content of this dissertation isThe result of my own investigation, except

Where stated otherwise.It has not been accepted for any

degree, nor been concurrently submittedfor any other degree within or outside

Robert Gordon University.I take full responsibility of the authenticity,Sources and originality of the content used

In his dissertation

[ ]

Ahmed-naji Mahjoub1312824

May 15th 2015

WORD COUNT: approximately 9500

I would like to thank my mentor Peter Jackson for giv-ing me the opportunity to conduct the Architectural Sur-vey on Bait Abadi & for all the knowledge he gave me on the traditional wind tower houses in the UAE.

I would also like to thank my supervisor Dr Amar Bennadji for all the advice and resources towards this dissertation.

I would also like to thank my grand-mother Dr Mona Khal-ifa for her knowledge and insight into this subject.

Finally I would like to thank my parents for the education they have given me.

Acknowledgment

“The vernacular architecture of the Arab World and neighbouring regions not only solved the climatic problems but did so with a combination of beauty and physical and social functionality.”

(Fathy, 1986)

Preface

Introduction

Sustainable development and building practicesStatement of the research problemAim of the dissertationMethodologyLayout of the dissertation

Country Background - UAE

Vernacular cooling methods

IdeologiesStudies about cooling strategiesStudies about the possible impact of Passive design

Case Study

Bait Hassan Mokhtar Haidar Abadi: The Abadi House

Can lessons learned from the traditional houses in the UAE influence cooling techniques in contemporary architecture?

Table of Contents

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Section 1

1.11.21.31.41.5

Section 2

Section 3

3.13.23.3

Section 4

4.1

Section 5

Drawing of tradional house in Sharjah, Al Khan site(A. Mahjoub)

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At the age of ten my family left my hometown Aberdeen to live in Jakarta, Indonesia. Other than summer visits to my grandma’s house in Cairo, Egypt I had never been to a Muslim country, so when I moved to a country with the highest population of Muslims I was shocked at the difference between the Arab world and the Asian world. The houses were completely different and the mosques were completely different from what I expected. This was when I first started to appreciate the variety of styles that a building can take.

In 2004 we left Indonesia to go live in Dubai, UAE. I had heard about Dubai because at that point it was just starting to grow. I had never seen skyscrapers as tall as the ones on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai, and over the next two years I saw Dubai grow and shopping centres popping up all over the place and more skyscrapers.

In 2006 we then moved to Abu Dhabi the capital of the UAE and only a 2 hr drive from Dubai. Abu Dhabi was different, it wasn’t so flashy, the urban layout was in a grid format and there were rules that mosques had to be a certain distance away from one another. Near my house construction was going on one of the most beautiful mosques I had ever seen Sheikh Zayed mosque, which I spoke about in my personal statement when applying for university.

Throughout my BSc I have always taken an interest in this traditional Arab style that I had seen in Old Cairo and the modern interpretations in Abu Dhabi and Dubai so when my year out came I made an effort to find work where I could learn more about this heritage architecture. I ended up working in another emir-ate - Sharjah. If I was to describe the three emirates that I have lived in I would say Dubai is the young wild teenager, Abu Dhabi is the sensible adult and Shar-jah would be the elderly wise traditional grandfather.

My internship was working in the Heritage department for the Government of Sharjah whose ruler had put a lot of effort to establish, in order to make Sharjah recognised as the cultural centre of the UAE, with museums and other useful information inside restored traditional courtyard houses, souks and mosques. My mentor Peter Jackson who is the Rulers Architect taught me as much as he could and gave me the opportunity to conduct my very own Architectural sur-vey on Bait Abadi, a traditional Emarati house in the Heritage site in the Heart of Sharjah.

As I was working in the hot sun I learned so much about the past construction styles and techniques for cooling. I always wondered what can I learn and take from here so that I can implement these techniques into modern sustainable de-sign? I then heard of Masdaar city by Foster + Partners where they had attempt-ed to use the desert and these traditional techniques to create a carbon neutral city so I visited it and I was amazed. When I visited, Phase 1 was complete but I saw the plans for the other Phases and I thought this is a good example of what I was thinking.

The aim of this dissertation is to talk about traditional techniques for cooling and possible modern integrations of those techniques.

Preface

“The world’s energy system is at a crossroads. Current global trends in energy supply and consumption are patently unsustainable - enviromentally, econom-ically, socially. But that can - and must - be altered; there’s still time to change the road we’re on. It is not an exaggeration to claim that the future of human prosperity depneds on how successfully we tackle the two central energy chal-lenges facing us today: securing the supply of reliable and affordable energy; and effecting a rapid transformation to a low-carbon, efficient and enviromental-ly benign system of energy supply. What is needed is nothing short of an energy revolution.”

(Agency, 2008)

Section 1 IntroductionSection 2Section 3Section 4Section 5

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1.0Introduction

We live in a world where sustainable design is be-coming a necessity asked by clients. Architects need new and innovative ways to design in order to meet this demand from the public and the environment. We have new technology but implementing them into our buildings is no easy task. We must look to the past for examples of simple design and materials to help with this problem.

The Middle East has one of the harshest climates on the planet and yet people lived there comfortably before air-conditioning was invented. They were able to do this through the use of natural sources of energy, which led to iconic features in traditional architecture of the re-gion. There are many elements in their houses and other structures which made this possible. Wind towers, wind scoops, thick walls and courtyards are but some of the examples of these elements that made the heat bearable (Coles and Jackson, 2006).

This dissertation will explore these traditional elements and what kind of impact they could have on modern de-sign in the UAE, specifically how they can influence con-temporay cooling techniques.

Section 1 IntroductionSustainable development and building practicesSection 2Section 3Section 4Section 5

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Sustainability has been defined as the extent that progress and development meet the need of the present without compromising the future generation’s needs as a result. However, sustainable development is still a fluid concept and various definitions have emerged over the past two decades. Despite an on-going debate on the ac-tual meaning, a few common principles tend to be gaining international support. It was best looked at in this paper organised in the UN headquarters in New York; “The first is a commitment to equity and fairness, in that priority should be given to improving the conditions of the world’s poorest and decisions should account for the rights of future generations. The second is a long-term view that emphasizes the precautionary principle, i.e., “where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for post-poning cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation”. Third, sustainable development embodies integration, and understanding and acting on the com-plex interconnections that exist between the environment, economy, and society. This is not a balancing act or a playing of one issue off against the other, but recognizing the interdependent nature of these three pillars.” (Drexhage and Murphy, 2010)

This explanation of the principles of sustainable develop-ment encompasses a variety of levels and scales ranging from economic development, and agriculture, to the man-agement of human settlements and building practices. Thus the general definition was further developed to in-clude sustainable building practices and management of human settlements. During the Rio Earth Summit in 1992 several issues were discussed that are relevant to our modern and future understanding of architectural design.

1.1Sustainable Development & Building Practices


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1.1

These issues were:

- The use of local materials and indigenous building sources.

- Incentive to promote the continuation of traditional tech-niques, with regional resources and self-help strategies.

- Regulation of energy-efficient design principles.

- International information exchange on all aspects of construction related to the environment, among architects and contractors, particularly non-renewable resources.

- Exploration of methods to encourage and facilitate the recycling and reuse of building materials, especially those requiring intensive energy use during manufacturing; and the use of clean technologies. (Sitarz, 1993)

Sustainable development, architectural design and im-plementation became more linked as populations moved rapidly to ensure economic development and to raise the standard of living. In many places, the higher standard of living meant “modern” buildings and excessive use of energy. Therefore, in spite of the rising international con-cern about sustainable development, the negative impact of various development projects on the environment con-tinued as countries and peoples needs and aspirations grew, consequently using more energy. This great con-sumption of energy has gone against the basic principle of sustainable development as it has threatened the abili-ty of the future generations to be able to satisfy their own needs of energy consumption and therefore high living standards.


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This has brought sustainable development and building practices more into harmony. In line with a sustainable development approach, it is critical for practitioners to create a healthy, sustainable built environment.(ed. by Zeynep Çelik ..., 1994)

Section 1 IntroductionStatement of the research problemSection 2Section 3Section 4Section 5

Photo of Dubai Marina(A. Mahjoub)

Photo of Dubai heritage site(A. Mahjoub)

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Traditional houses in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have used vernacular cooling strategies long before air conditioners were invented. These strategies include wind towers, wind scoops, thick walls and courtyards. During recent years, the construction industry in the UAE has been growing at a very fast rate and consequently facing increasing energy demands. In response to the situation, the adopted official policies were therefore directed to achieving sustainable architectural development and at the same time meeting energy demands. In addressing the cooling issues in particular, the question will be: does vernacular architecture in the UAE influence modern sustainable design in more than just superficial ways?

Some international and local architectural firms operating in the UAE have set their goals as implementing vernac-ular designs of cooling as part of the movement towards more ecological and sustainable approaches. In doing so, they have adapted the traditional cooling strategies to suite the modern styles of living. Such efforts need to be given recognition and assessed. This assessment will be in regards to the role of the vernacular architecture as a rich resource for sustainable building practices in the UAE.

1.2Statement of the research problem

Section 1 IntroductionAim of the dissertationSection 2Section 3Section 4Section 5

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The aim of this dissertation is to explore whether tra-ditional cooling techniques has/can influence contempo-rary sustainable design in the UAE. Using examples from both the traditional architecture found in the local heritage sites and from the modern architecture, cooling strategies will be compared to highlight those that were adapted to comply with the need for sustainable design.

1.3Aim of the dissertation

Unique wind towerHeart of Sharjah

(A.Mahjoub)

Section 1 IntroductionMethodologySection 2Section 3Section 4Section 5

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1.4Methodology

Four cooling strategies will be considered.

Wind towersWind scoops

Shading Thermal mass–thick walls

For the purpose of this investigation the case study of the heritage house in Sharjah, the Abadi House, will be looked at in detail. The modern context of Maasdar city and certain elements and ambitions made there will be looked into. The conclusion will look into a comparison of the two in order to answer the main research question. Can lessons learned from the Traditional houses in the UAE influence cooling techniques in contempo-rary architecture.

Section 1 IntroductionLayout of the dissertationSection 2Section 3Section 4Section 5

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The introduction will be followed by section two in which the country background will be presented. This in-cludes a brief presentation of the climate of the UAE and its influence on architectural design. It will also discuss the need for sustainable design as reflected in the high energy consumption to which the country’s policies and regulations have responded. Section three provides the literature review; which is comprised of three parts, (1) a comparison of two ideolo-gies (2) a review of research on the previously stated four cooling strategies, (3) a review of the possible impact of passive design.

Section four deals with the two selected case studies in detail. For each case study the implemented cooling strategies will be presented and studied.

Section five provides the conclusion of the research in which a comparison between the traditional designs and the modern designs will be conducted. It will also include recommendations based on the conducted comparison that may be helpful in planning for future sustainable de-sign in the UAE.

1.5Layout of the dissertation

(Baeza, 2013)

FIGURE 2.1:Monthly Average data in CSEM* meteorological station (5 years 2008 to 2012) in the UAE

Section 1 Section 2 Country background - UAESection 3Section 4Section 5

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The UAE coastal area has one of the harshest hot and humid weathers in the world. Ambient temperature, relative humidity, solar irradiation were measured for 5 years in the meteorological station of CSEM (Figure 2.1). The average solar radiation according to CSEM is 545 W/m2 (10hrs of radiation) and the average ambient temperature is 28C, however in summer the average is 35 C, but it can reach up to 50 C. The relative humidity is always above 50%, and this condition along with constant sandstorms reduces the possibility to use natural ventilation during most of the year. (Baeza, 2013)

Economic development in UAE is growing very fast. This is coupled with a great expansion of the construction in-dustry. This has increased the demand for land and ener-gy during the recent decades, especially in Dubai, which is one of the fasted growing urban cities in the world. The use of air conditioners in modern buildings has contribut-ed to the increase in energy consumption and the use of glazed facades as a cooling strategy has proven to in-crease the cost of buildings even more.

Although this rapid economic development in the UAE has in general, resulted in an increasing rate of consump-tion of natural resources such as energy, food, fiber and timber, it has in turn helped improve the quality of life of the country‘s population. But the 2010 report of the WWF (World Wildlife Fund, an organization with the mission to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature) ranked UAE as the country with the world’s larg-est Ecological Footprint per capita in 2007, which is four times higher than the average humanity’s Footprint. The report recorded that each person in the UAE requires an

2.0Country background - UAE

Based on WWF,2010 data.(Created by A.Mahjoub)

Figure 2.2 Carbon Footprint for selected countries, 2007


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average of 10.68 global hectares (gha) to sustain current rates of consumption and carbon emissions. This means that if the earth’s population consumed and emitted car-bons as much as UAE residents do, more than 4.5 earths would be required to sustain it.

Our interest in the cooling strategies in UAE is related to the concern about the level of carbon footprint. The carbon footprint is calculated by estimating how much natural sequestration would be necessary to maintain a constant concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere. The graph (Figure 2.2) shows the collection of data presented in the WWF 2010 report (which is the most recent report containing such information) and then 18 countries were selected to conduct a comparison between their car-bon footprint per capita. All of these countries belong to the world’s ‘high income category’. The results clearly indicates that the UAE has the highest carbon footprint among the world’s high income nations; reaching almost six times as much as the world’s average.

A survey of sustainable building practices in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi illustrates that the total annual energy use in domestic buildings goes as high as 212 kWh/m2. When the total energy use of artificial lighting, and cooling ener-gy use was compared in a year for contemporary and tra-ditional buildings the study indicates that contemporary buildings in the UAE use almost six times more energy than traditional buildings (AboulNaga and Elsheshtawy, 2001)

This study illustrates that the average energy use per area in domestic buildings is high, and public buildings in UAE show less sustainable measures in terms of energy fea-tures, energy performance and environmental features, and privacy. The authors consider that the assessment of buildings such as energy use per square meter and CO2


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“UAE is currently the worlds’ largest user of energy on a per capita basis, with 70 per cent of primary do-mestic energy usage being committed to buildings, primarily in the form of mechanical ventilation (air-con-ditioning and heating) and artificial lighting. In the case of low-rise buildings between 37 per cent and 80 per cent of energy consumption can be for cooling”.

In the conclusion of the same reference Peter St Clair quotes:

“the traditional building design practices of the Gulf region - based upon an understanding of climate- provides a foundation for low-energy buildings in the UAE today that is appropriate to the environment and results in reduced carbon emission. This may also lead to an appropriate contemporary vernacular architecture, that can replace imported building models that have contributed to a dramatic rise in energy usage and a proliferation of culturally non-specific building forms” (Koolhaus, Bouman, and Wigley, 2007)

(St Clair, 2009)

2.0

emission are alarming. Also they found out that traditional buildings in the UAE were more sustainable than the con-temporary buildings.(AboulNaga and Elsheshtawy, 2001)

Section 1 Section 2Section 3 Vernacular cooling methodsSection 4Section 5

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This section will aim to analyze several articles and books that have a relation with the topic of this disser-tation. The first two are to show contrasting beliefs of whether we should even look towards vernacular archi-tecture for ideas of future development or is it just ro-mantic ideology. The next part aims to look at studies of cooling strategies and then finally we will look at studies of vernacular designs in the UAE.

3.0Vernacular cooling methods

Section 1 Section 2Section 3 Vernacular cooling methodsIdeologiesSection 4Section 5

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3.1

In this part we will look at two contrasting pieces of writing in order to show the benefits and negatives of looking into the past designs for modern cooling meth-ods.

This first research project, is aimed to measure the reduc-tion in the total electricity consumption in a zero energy house designed for the hot and humid climate of UAE. Its focus is to improve the building envelope through insu-lation materials, low density concrete, reflective coatings and low SHGC windows.

The design was done by computer simulations using TRNSYS and POLYSUN software. Passive technologies are able to reduce the cooling load to 80%, which rep-resents a 55% reduction of the total electricity consump-tion in the original building. Adding active technologies such as high efficient air conditioning chiller and solar water heaters, total electricity consumption of the house is reduced to 70%. The remaining cooling load is covered by 6.5 kW PV system which is placed on the available roof area. (Baeza, 2013)

The research proved that using material with high density and high thermal capacity in the building envelope adds thermal inertia to the house. This means that the building is less affected by changes in the outside temperature therefore avoiding the frequent use of air conditioning. This is because the buildings envelopes mass has the ability to store energy, either heating or cooling. This is known as thermal mass. This shows that there are bene-fits to looking in the past for inspiration to cooling meth-ods as this research was based on the thick walls of the heritage houses in the UAE. (Baeza, 2013)

Ideologies


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However, a different point of view exists and is advocat-ed by researchers who are skeptical of the acceptance of vernacular architectural designs in modernizing cultures. An example of such concerns is expressed by Paul Oli-ver in his article Ethnoscapes: Current Challenges in the Environmental Social Science,

“Those that acclaim that vernacular methods, materials, buildings and know-how are “better” do so out of respect for them and the wish to see their merits recognized. We are aware that vernacular architecture and the means whereby it has been built are under threat in a great many societies. We have witnessed the thoughtless destruc-tion of many traditional buildings, the censure of archi-tects and planners who wish to “modernize” and who are wedded to the idea that Western building forms and technology are applicable in all climates and cultures. We know that inappropriate housing has been mindlessly inflicted upon countless numbers of people in the name of modernity, and we are all too aware that traditional skills are in decline, that Western building types reflect status, and that vernacular architecture in the eyes of many, is “backward” and “underdeveloped”. Recognition of the vernacular often has an emotional, subjective element. Frequently we hear, or we ourselves ask in all humility “what can we learn from vernacular architecture; what has it to teach us?” hoping to profit by the knowledge we may gain. Instead of thrusting our architectural solutions on a vernacular community we seek solutions to some of our architectural, and social, problems by studying it. It is right that we should, for there is much to be learned. But, I would contend, there is an uncomfortable measure of self-interest in the question “what has it to teach us?” Our concern should not stop there, with the borrowing of know-how.”(Turan, 1990)


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Paul Oliver continues by saying:

“So what role do we play? What use are we to the devel-opment of, or mere recognition of their know –how? . . . it is clear that there is a world shortage of housing and that the materials, the skills, the financial expenditure neces-sary to meet it by “modern” means simply does not exist. It is also evident, though by no means always acknowl-edged, that Western methods of building in industrialized countries in temperate climates are often quite inappro-priate to the needs of other cultures and in very different climates. The technological merits of vernacular traditions do need to be studied and understood, the extent of vernacular know how does demand to be examined and recognized. But little is gained by romanticism or special pleading, and nothing is gained by overlooking the limita-tions, the defects, and the structural and climatic failure of vernacular means while striving to document the success-es.”(Turan, 1990)

Oliver brings up some very interesting and true state-ments when it comes to the romanticism of lessons be-ing learned from vernacular architecture. This is why it is important that although we can learn a lot; and that these traditional techniques were successful in their time we still need to remember that the people of the UAE have grown accustom to the artificial temperatures. But the effort here is to learn and add to modern technologies in a more sustainable way. The traditional techniques need to be worked on instead of neglected for air-conditioning. This is why it is important that as architects we explore and try to come up with solutions in order to take step forwards instead of trying to take short cuts.

Section 1 Section 2Section 3 Vernacular cooling methodsStudies about cooling strategiesSection 4Section 5

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In this part we will look at different studies conducted by professionals with regard to cooling strategies. The aim of this is to summarize guidelines when designing sustainable cooling strategies.

Two studies will be looked into, the first is Norbert Lech-ers book Heating, Cooling, Lighting: Sustainable Design Methods for Architects where we will look at his research on shading, heat avoidance and passive cooling strate-gies.

The second study will be on a journal article by B. Ah-madkhani Maleki: Wind Catcher: Passive and Low Energy Cooling System in Iranian Vernacular Architecture where he looks into the science of wind towers.

Norbert Lecher’s book is based on the concept that sus-tainable architecture can be achieved by using “the best of the old and the best of the new” (Lechner, 2008).

Lecher’s concept is that heating, cooling and lighting of buildings are accomplished not just by mechanical equip-ment, but mostly by the design of the building itself. The design decisions that affect these environmental controls have for the most part a strong effect on the form and aesthetics of buildings.

“The benefits of shading are so great and obvious that we see its application throughout history and across cultures. We see its effect on classical architecture as well as on unrefined vernacular buildings.” (Lechner, 2008).

Other passive cooling strategies were discussed including site selection, solar access, shadow patterns, site plan-

3.2Studies about cooling strategies


“The sun control device has to be on the outside of the building, an element of the façade, an element of architecture. And because this device is so important a part of our open architecture, it may develop into as characteristic a form as the Doric column” (Breuer, 1956)

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-tation, lawns and landscaping.

The analysis reaches a very important conclusion which should be taken into consideration when applying cooling strategies in specific regions. The choice of the suitable cooling strategy must therefore be based on the exam-ination of the climate of the specific region in all of the seasons. “Passive cooling strategies have the greatest potential in hot and dry climates. Just about every cool-ing technique will work there. On the other hand, in very humid regions only comfort ventilation will be very help-ful. However, many regions that are considered hot and humid are humid for only part of the overheated period. There are often many months that are hot but not humid. In such regions, night-flush cooling and night –radiation cooling can be beneficial”. (Lechner, 2008).

In a section called Vernacular and Regional Architecture Lechner states that in hot and humid climates large win-dows, large overhangs, shutters, light-coloured walls, and high ceilings are used. The size of the windows maximize ventilation, and the overhangs and shutters protect from both the sun and rain. He even states that the colours of the walls help minimize heat gain (Lechner, 2008).

He also discusses a cooling strategy that is highly prev-alent in the UAE. When speaking about where people would inhabit inside a building he states that vertical ven-tilation through roof monitors or high windows not only in-creased ventilation but also exhausts the hottest air layers first which cause the inhabitants to stay in the lower and cooler air layers (Lechner, 2008).

In some humid regions of the Middle East, wind scoops are used to further increase the natural ventilation through the building (Figure 3.3 pg 40).


Figure 3.1

Figure 3.2

(Lechner, 2008)

(Lechner, 2008)

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When talking specifically about the benefits of shading Lechner talks about a ‘three-tier approach’ (Figure 3.1). The second tier is passive cooling while the third uses me-chanical equipment to cool whatever the other strategies could not accomplish (Lechner, 2008).

There is a another ‘three-tier approach’ that is important to note. This one is in relation to avoiding heat in the first tier using appropriate shading, orientation, colour, vegeta-tion, insulation and daylight (Figure 3.2)

Since heat avoidance techniques are not sufficient by themselves the second-tier is passive cooling which in-cludes the use of ventilation to shift the comfort zone to higher temperatures (Lechner, 2008).

If a rational design process such as the two three tier process mechanical equipment will be looked at last, this will lead to smaller equipment and will use less amounts of energy.

It is also important to state that passive cooling strategies for hot and dry climates are very different from those for hot and humid climates.

In hot and dry climates when humidity is low, evaporative cooling is very effective, fountains, pools, water trickling down walls etc. This benefit is a liability in hot and humid climates, where cross-ventilation is desirable (Lechner, 2008).So in hot and humid climates wind towers and wind scoops are the better solution. In some areas of the UAE, where there is no prevailing wind direction, wind towers need to have many openings. This is why rectangular wind towers are divided by diagonal walls, in order to cre-ate four separate air-wells in order to catch the

3.2

Wind Tower in Sharjah

(A.Mahjoub)

Figure 3.3


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wind from four different directions.

“In hot and humid climates . . . the emphasis is on natural ventilation. In very humid climates, mass is a liability and very lightweight structures are best . . . buildings have large windows, large overhangs and low mass . . . High ceilings allow the air to stratify, and vents at the gable or ridge allow the hottest air to escape.” (Lechner, 2008)

So we understand now the importance of passive design in cooling systems. Passive cooling specifically uses nat-ural forces, energies and heat sinks. Sometimes fans and pumps are used as well which is called a hybrid system.

The goal is to bring thermal comfort to a bearable situa-tion that can be inhabitable. We then have two choices we can either cool the building or raise the comfort zone by other factors in the thermal environment. To cool the building we have to remove heat from the building by finding a heat sink for it. If we want to raise the comfort zone then we have to manipulate other factors of the thermal environment (Humidity or air speed) so that peo-ple will feel more comfortable even though the building is not actually being cooled. Listed are different types of Passive Cooling systems according to Lechner.

As can be seen in the list there are two types of passive cooling systems using ventilation, comfort ventilation and night flush ventilation. These two techniques are indepen-dent and provide cooling in different ways.

Comfort Ventilation brings in out-door air mainly during the daytime, when temperatures are at their highest. “The air is then passed directly over people to increase evapo-rative cooling on the skin. Although thermal comfort may

Types of Passive Cooling Systems

1. Cooling with Ventilation

A. Comfort Ventilation . Ventilation during the day and night

B. Night flush cooling to precool the building for the next day.

2 Radiant Cooling

A.Direct Radiant Cooling A building’s roof structure cools by radiation to the night sky

B.Indirect Radiant Cooling Radiating to the night sky cools a heat-transfer fluid, which then cools the building.

3. Evaporative Cooling

A.Direct Evaporation Water is sprayed into the air entering a building. This lowers the air’s temperature but raises its humidity.

B.Indirect Evaporative Cooling Evaporation cools the incoming air of the building without raising the indoor humidity.

4. Earth Cooling

A. Direct Coupling An earth –sheltered building loses heat directly to the earth.

B.Indirect Coupling Air enters the building by way of earth tubes.

5. Dehumidification with a Desiccant: Removal of latent heat.

A combination of these techniques is sometimes necessary.

(Lechner, 2008)


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be achieved, the warm air is actually heating the building.” (Lechner, 2008)

Night-flush Cooling on the other hand is a technique that uses the cool night air to flush out the heat of the build-ing. “. . . during the day, very little outside air is brought in-doors so that heat gain to the building can be minimized. Meanwhile the mass of the relatively cool structure acts as a heat sink for the people inside.” (Lechner, 2008)

Lechner also has a section dedicated to basic air-flow principles and states that to design successfully these principles of air flow should be understood. The seven principles he talks about are Reason for the flow of air, Types of air flow, Inertia, Conservation of air, High and low-pressure areas, The Bernoulli effect and The stack ef-fect. In our case in the UAE and the types of cooling sys-tems they had in the past and potential lessons learned from them it is important for us to understand The Ber-noulli effect and The Stack effect.

“In the Bernoulli effect, an increase in the velocity of a fluid decreases its static pressure. Because of this phe-nomenon, there is negative pressure at the constriction of a venture tube” (Figure 3.4) (Lechner, 2008)

“A gabled roof is like half a venturi tube. Thus air will be sucked out of any opening near the ridge. The effect can be made even stronger by designing the roof to be like a full venturi tube.” (Figure 3.5) (Lechner, 2008)

“The stack effect can exhaust air from a building by the action of natural convection. The stack effect will exhaust air only if the indoor-temperatures difference between two vertical openings is greater than that of the outdoor tem-peratures difference between the same two openings. To


Figure 3.4

Figure 3.5

Figure 3.6

The Venturi tube illustrates he Bernouli effect(Lechner, 2008)

(Lechner, 2008)

The Stack effect(Lechner, 2008)

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maximize this basically weak effect, the openings should be as large and as far apart vertically as possible. The air should be able to flow freely from the lower to the higher openings (i.e. minimize obstructions).” (Figure 3.6) (Lechner, 2008)

The reason the stack effect is special compared to the Bernoulli effect is that it does not depend on wind in-stead it relies on manipulating the air pressure. There are ways though to combine the two which is more ideal and should definitely be taken into more consideration when designing cooling systems in hot and humid climates.

It is important to note that from Lechner’s book the im-portant cooling strategies are a rational design process for cooling systems where mechanical equipment is looked at last after passive systems have been imple-mented and that basic air flow principles such as the Bernoulli effect and the Stack effect should be taken into consideration.

Plans of different types of wind towers(Maleki, 2011)

Wind tower with I form blades

Wind tower with X form blades

Wind tower with K form blades

Figure 3.7


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This next study by B. Ahmadkhani Maleki called Wind Catcher: Passive and Low Energy Cooling System in Irani-an Vernacular Architecture aims to describe the traditional techniques used by architects in the hot Iranian desert regions. The lack of modern cooling equipment meant that architects had to depend on natural energies to cre-ate comfortable indoors conditions.

The author uses several case studies and presents sever-al detailed drawings and photos to describe the structure and function of wind towers in several Iranian locations. He talks about how the orientation of the wind tower is based on the interior a four directional planes that are there to use the desirable winds from north to south and from east to west. Orientation of the wind towers is dif-ferent according to the blow of main desired wind (Maleki, 2011).

Wind towers are described according to the directions they face. The one directional towers face north west or north. The two directional towers are divided into two vertical shafts. The four directional towers are the most common and are divided into four main shafts and there are very few, but there are wind towers with eight direc-tional towers.

Wind towers in Iran are categorized based on forms of plans. The study describes those with x-form blades, those with + form blades, those with H- form blades, those with K-form blades and those with I-form blades (Figure 3.7). Wind towers are then described according to their material, color, texture and height. The elements of the wind tower are identified and described as: chimney, stalk, catgut and chain and shelf.(Maleki, 2011)

The researcher presents the function of the wind tower


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and specifies the parameters that will improve the op-eration of the wind catcher. These parameters are: wet deck and geometry. This is because the more cross sec-tion of the wind catcher, the more air will flow through the building with suitable speed and evaporation efficiency will improve. Also, the higher the wind tower’s height, the more pressure difference will be and more efficiency will be achieved. (Maleki, 2011). This is important because here Maleki is trying to illustrate different ways to enhance the traditional wind tower.

The study concludes that the wind-catcher is the most in-telligent architectural design that will lead to sustainability and clean energy. The researcher recommends the use of wind towers “. . . in large cities, in low and medium rise buildings, with new mechanism and some skills, the natu-ral cooling systems can be renewed.” (Maleki, 2011)

Although the situation in UAE may be very different than that in Iran, this study has provided a very detailed de-scription of the different types of traditional wind towers in Iran. The types of wind towers found in the UAE are almost identical to those that Maleki has worked with in Iran. The most interesting point is that he believes that ‘with new mechanisms and skills’ the natural cooling systems can be renewed. Is it possible to look at passive cooling strategies like the wind-tower and then apply me-chanical equipment to it like Lechnar was talking about?

Section 1 Section 2Section 3 Vernacular cooling methodsStudies about the possible impact of passive designSection 4Section 5

47

In this part we will look at different studies conducted by professionals with regard to the effect that passive designs can have on contemporary architecture in order to reduce the energy costs with regard to cooling. The research studies that have been looked at conclude with strong opinions that traditional cooling strategies in hot and humid climates can lead to successful sustainable design.

Two studies will be looked into, the first is Peter St Clair research paper Low-Energy design in the UAE-building design principles where he talks about the different guide-lines low energy cooling strategies in high and low rise buildings.

The second study will be on a study paper done by Dr. Abdel-moniem El-Shorbagy called Design with nature: Windcatcher as a paradigm of natural ventilation device in buildings where his research on the wind tower and its value as a traditional cooling tool can be worked on and developed.

St Clairs research on low energy design in the UAE aims to identify passive design strategies that may contribute to a low energy architecture in the UAE. The paper pres-ents guidelines offering urban design strategies that will respond to the climate and reduce building energy usage and associated carbon emissions. The purpose of the guidelines is to offer education and awareness of archi-tects and clients and to be incorporated into organization practice management systems. The guideline is gener-ic so it can be applied to high and low rise construction focusing on the reduction of cooling loads that represent the bulk of energy usage and the fastest growing energy

3.3Studies about the possible impact of Passive design

0-14 Tower by RUR ArchitectsDubai buisness district.

(A.Mahjoub)


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demand in the UAE. (St Clair, 2009)

According to the guidelines natural ventilation can be used during the cooler months of the year in high-rise buildings instead of air-conditioning. In order to take advantage of the increased wind speed in the high rise buildings, special techniques can be considered to avoid excessive drafts and wind damage. (St Clair, 2009)

These include the use of double skin facades, correct selection of window types, the use of heavy duty friction hinges and directing cooling breezes through conduits in concrete floor slabs. (St Clair, 2009)

An example of such high rises can be found in the busi-ness bay district of Dubai, the 0-14 Tower by RUR Ar-chitects uses a double skin inspired by the traditional mashrabia (Arabian window screen). The 0-14 Tower has received environmental recognition in the architectural world because of its ability to utilise the stack effect to cool down the building.

On the other hand St Clairs guidelines for low rise build-ings deal with courtyards, building colour, insulation, thermal mass, shading, and façade design (St Clair, 2009). The guidelines then provide specific strategies for each type of building. For high rise buildings, these strategies are glazing and double skin facades. For low rise buildings, the study recommends thermal mass, operable shutters, lightweight construction, elevated living/sleeping areas, day lighting, shading and wind towers. (St Clair, 2009)

The paper concludes that traditional building practices in UAE should use the understanding of the climate in order to reduce the energy usage with regard to cooling which in turn could lead to an appropriate contemporary ver-


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- nacular architecture. It also suggests that “The benefits of employing traditional design principles such as high thermal mass are accompanied by deficits, such as un-comfortably high internal night time temperature, which would be considered undesirable by current cultural and industry standards. Lessons from vernacular architecture need to be integrated with current technologies in, for example, mixed mode buildings, in order to be successful and accepted in the market.” St Clair, 2009)

In Dr El-Shorbagys article on designing with nature aims to demonstrate the value of wind-catchers as an alterna-tive to the inappropriate modern cooling systems in hot climate regions. It examines the theoretical background of wind-catchers and its function in the context of archi-tectural practice and application, in the past, present and future. (El-Shorbagy, no date)

El-Shorbagy goes into the history of the windcatcher (wind tower) but what is interesting in this article is when he starts to discuss modern architecture in the develop-ing world, “architects in the Islamic-Arab world regarded the traditional architecture as prototypes for the contem-porary Islamic architecture, which epitomize their national and regional features” (El-Shorbagy, no date)

Examples are given to show wind catchers that ex-pressed the spirit of its modern time, as well as retained its original function as a generating airflow device in the building.

Also, examples were cited to document “the increasing awareness of the application of natural ventilation and passive cooling approach in western countries, specifi-cally the wind catcher” (El-Shorbagy, no date). The author also gives examples of futuristic buildings with wind catchers


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where “the value of the architecture of the past as well as the architects’ aspiration of realizing architecture that is environmentally relevant to its region can provide an inspiration for future innovative approaches” (El-Shorbagy, no date).

This study concludes with an emphasis on a very import-ant concept. The study of the traditional wind catcher is relevant for improving its performance and will therefore “bring new opportunities for using this old heritage pas-sive cooling system to today’s world . . . but purely tra-ditional solutions seems rather hard to apply and to be accepted by contemporary architects. Combining tradi-tional knowledge and advanced technology is therefore necessary”(El-Shorbagy, no date).

This research done by St Clair and El-Shorbaggy both conclude with very similar beliefs, in that it is important that there must be thorough investigations into the heri-tage buildings in order to discover and understand their traditional ventilation values. By having proper, accurate investigation into these traditional techniques there will be no rush in applying them into our modern context. This is why it is important to have a balanced and practical ide-ology. Instead of having one end of the spectrum where romantic purity of heritage buildings means leaving them intact and idolizing them and on the other end neglecting them completely and moving on to other strategies, we must find a balance as architects where we can contin-ue to work on the existing regional cooling systems and develop them into the 21st century.

3.3

Section 1 Section 2Section 3Section 4 Case StudySection 5

Ahmed-naji Mahjoub working on the Abadi House(A.Mahjoub)

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4.0Case Study

In the summer of 2012 an architectural survey was conducted on a traditional house in the heritage site, the Heart of Sharjah. The house named Bait Hassan Mokhtar al Haidar Abadi, was in very poor condition and there were no accurate drawings or detailed surveys. The au-thor of this dissertation conducted the survey and here are his findings.

BANK STR

EET

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AL MAREJAH

MOSQUE SOUQ AL BAHARSHOPS

SHOPS

SHARJAH ART MUSEUM

BANK(CBI)

AL JUBAIL

SHARJAH CREEK

AL HISN SQUARE

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UNIONBANK

HABIBBANK

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- Large courtyard house, single story with roof access, 7 rooms + veranda. - House is 415m2.- Located in the Heart of Sharjah, the main heritage site.- One of the few heritage buildings that is high in de-gree of completeness and in original fabric, making it a highly significant project. - Senior Architect, 3 Conservation Architects, Interi-or designer, Conservation engineer and Architectural intern.

Heart of Sharjah Heritage site plan(A.Mahjoub)

Section 1 Section 2Section 3Section 4 Case StudyThe Abadi HouseSection 5

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4.1Bait Hassan Mokhtar al Haidar Abadi:The Abadi House

Site analysis

The Heart of Sharjah as a Heritage site is still being de-veloped and conserved to date and the Abadi House is just one of many projects being undertaken by the gov-ernment of Sharjah, in an effort to create a more cultural experience when visitors come to the UAE. The entire site is surrounded by a traditional coral wall that acts as a barrier for the rest of the city. There are many houses, mosques, schools, youth hostels and markets scattered throughout the site forming intricate clusters that resonate of how the people of the early 20th century lived. Build-ings are close together to ensure that there is enough shading for people to walk throughout the site with ease. There are many routes throughout the site and one as-pect that makes the Abadi House special is its location on the south / west end of the site which means it could potentially act as a node for these routes through the site, whether it be at the beginning or end of a journey.

The type of community that lived in Sharjah in the 1960’s before the oil boom can be seen by the design and type of buildings found in this heritage site. There are many houses, mosques, schools, youth hostels and markets. Each building had certain design requirements due to the culture and these requirements were priorities in the de-sign process. For example in a traditional domestic build-ing, shelter, privacy and a place for the family to grow were the most important aspects of the house and this influenced the design heavily. Architectural features found in the heritage buildings can’t be mimicked in other loca-tions as they are a direct result of the life style and climate of the city. For example wealthier families could afford wind towers that were used to cool down rooms through-out the house; a large and expensive ornament, yes but truly genius when dealing with such a harsh climate. Oth-


Journey through the Heart of Sharjah(A.Mahjoub)

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-er features such as wind scoops, courtyards, arches, niches, decorative motives are all features that define the architectural style of the region.

4.1

Abadi Hose Plan(A.Mahjoub)


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Architectural survey

The main entrance to the Abadi House is on the south side between the iconic porch and a row of rooms. Once you pass through the narrow entrance you then arrive at the courtyard which looks onto the four interior facades.

Before any structural assesments were conducted an accurate architectural survey had to be conducted and drawings had to be created for all elements of the exist-ing building. The dimensions for the plan were found by using trilateration to determine the absolute location of each corner of each room. Trilateration was used again in order to find the absolute location of each room in order to document the courtyard. Dimensions for the sections were then taken, making sure that the height changes in rooms where the roof’s had collapsed were documented. Every niche, window, door and ventilation opening were recorded through their width, height, depth and location.

Slaking of lime stone(A.Mahjoub)


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Materials

Some key features of the Abadi House are the timber col-umns found on the porch with distinct Persian design, the multiple unique windows and niches, the courtyard, the well, the timber rafters, the decorative frieze made from the original lime mortar, the stair case, the use of Man-groves and Areesh and the ventilation openings.

The heritage buildings are all made of locally sourced cor-al stone and a mortar containing lime and other binders, with varies aggregates such as sea shells. The two mate-rials complement each other because they are light and porous allowing the buildings to breath, giving a natural way to deal with the extremely hot and humid climate of the UAE.

The heritage buildings in the Heart of Sharjah attract many tourists, field trips and people interested in the arts. In the 90’s, a rushed restoration was conducted and was successful in the sense that it created a cultural area in Sharjah and brought back life to an abandoned area. The problem was that because it was rushed the materials used for the restoration were not the correct materials and in doing so damaged most of the buildings and their architectural integrity. The restoration used gypsum mor-tar instead of lime mortar and the major problem occurred when the gypsum trapped moisture between the coral and itself causing the mortar to expand and create severe structural cracks. This mistake has been rectified by find-ing the correct composition of the lime mortar and is now being used to restore all the heritage buildings.

The Abadi family were known pearl traders, this made foreign materials available and can be seen in the Persian timber columns on the porch. This directly reflects the hi-

Decorative frieze(A.Mahjoub)

Layers of different materials found in the Abadi House(A.Mahjoub)


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-story of the city as many of the local families are of Per-sian decent. Detailing the decorative frieze, the roof struc-ture, the stairs and the columns shows how all the differ-ent materials come together to create a strong beautiful structure.

4.1


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Cooling Techniques

When it comes to the climate and how they dealt with it in the Abadi house is quite interesting in comparison to the other houses on the site. There are no wind towers in the Abadi House so the main source of ventilation comes from the multiple ventilation openings and windscoops, each room contains at least one on each wall. Another aspect often overlooked is the positioning of the house and how the porch acts as a large wind scoop trapping and directing the prevailing winds (Figure 4.1). The porch is the most interesting part of the house along with the courtyard with regard to how the building is cooled down. Looking at three important details in the porch gives an idea of how cooling was thought of and executed. The positioning of the porch, the wind scoops and the thermal mass of the walls are the most important and interesting cooling elements of the porch.

Positioning of the porch

As can be seen in the diagram (Figure 4.1) the positioning of the porch is perpendicular to the prevailing winds com-ing from the north west of Sharjah. As can be seen in the section of the porch the angle of the roof scoops the wind into the sheltered room in the back and through the open-ings, wind scoops (Figure 4.2). In comparison to the rest of the house there is a gentle breeze of wind that can be felt through the porch and it is so cool and shaded that even birds have made a nest there (Figure 4.5).

Wind scoops/ ventilation openings

The wind scoops in the porch have several uses. Firstly they act as a cooling mechanism, but they also have an

4.1

FIGURE 4.1Ventilation Diagram

(A.Mahjoub)


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aesthetic feature on the outer façade and the interior one. On the outside they add to the very simple façade that has no windows due to privacy, but because of their po-sitioning they inform an outsider of where the level of the room approximately starts giving the house a more do-mestic feel (Figure 4.3). On the interior façade the upper part of the scoop is a rectangular niche for the user to use for ornaments and decoration, adding a character to the inte-rior. The location of these niche/windscoops is also quite interesting as they indicate how furniture was arranged when the building was in use. The opening is in the bot-tom part because the users beds and sofas were just cu-sions on the floor that people would gather around (Figure 4.4). The tectonics in the design of the wind scoop are very interesting and are truly an example of the definition “… a science or art of construction, both in relation to use and artistic design.” (Maulden, 1986)

We have spoken about its artistic qualities but what about its scientific qualities? By continuing to use the porch’s windscoops as an example we can see from the plan that (Figure 4.1) there are six windscoops on the rear wall, and four on the two side walls. The porch itself is split into two, a closed room in the back that leads to an open porch that over looks the courtyard. We can see that two of the wind scoops on the side walls are on the exterior part of the porch. The openings between the room and the exterior space are important and during the survey it was important to identify which of the four are doors and which are openings, that would have the Arabian screen called mashrabia.

An important part of the windscoops are the small circular openings placed much higher on the walls directly above most of the windscoops. These help with the circulations of the cool air.

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FIGURE 4.2Section of Porch

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The “stack effect” occurs when the warm air from outside funnels through the small gaps in the windscoops creat-ing a small breeze in the living space then due to the ther-mal mass of the wall, the ventilation openings at the top and the positioning of the porch the “stack effect” occurs and the hot air rises and the cool air delays in a continues circulation.

Thermal mass

The thermal mass of the wall aids in the cooling of the rooms because of two important aspects, the materials and the thickness. The materials are the coral rock and lime mortar. The coral rock is pores which helps with the air flowing through the wall. Also because the thickness of the wall is 400mm at a masonry level the coral stone is arranged in two sections cause a delay in the heat trans-fer from exterior to interior.

As can be seen the study of the Abadi House and the research papers show very similar findings. The lessons we can learn from this are that even though these simple passive design systems are dated they still have value in todays contemporary world.

FIGURE 4.4Detail Section of wind scoop

(A.Mahjoub)


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FIGURE 4.3Elevation of Porch

(A.Mahjoub)

Interior of Porch(A.Mahjoub)


Photograph of Courtyard in the Abadi House

(A.Mahjoub)

Figure 4.5Sketch of birds nest above coloumn in

porch(A.Mahjoub)

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Photograph of stairs to porch in the Abadi House(A.Mahjoub)

Section 1 Section 2Section 3Section 4Section 5 Conclusion

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There have been great strides in addressing the ener-gy consumption in the UAE. A prime example is the con-struction of Maasdar City by Foster+Partners. There are distinct features that can be seen such as the thick fa-cades and large modern wind towers. However the over-all design is still lacking that regional authenticity.

The Abadi House is a beautiful building and full of history. To see it abandoned and ignored is not fair to its architec-tural value. The future in architecture in the UAE can not be adapted from western designs with no regional value. It is important that we learn from the past and develop it to bring it into the 21st century.

The ideas put forward by the researchers looked into in this dissertation need to be taken into practice. A thoughtful and rigorous design process needs to be im-plemented in the UAE in order to prolong the integrity of the culture there.

The most important aspect of design in the UAE is how cooling is addressed. The traditional techniques of the heritage buildings can give us a basis of where to work from. The evidence of its effectiveness is there. All it needs is to form some sort of hybrid system where both the natural elements and low energy mechanical systems can work together in order to cool down buildings.

To conclude it is possible to learn from the cooling tech-niques of the heritage buildings. They have the potential and basic needs to minimize the energy consumption of current cooling strategies in the UAE.

5.0Can lessons learned from the traditional houses in the UAE influence cooling techniques in con-temporary architecture?

Bibliography

AboulNaga, M. M. and Elsheshtawy, Y. H. (2001) ‘Environmental sustainability assessment of buildings in hot climates: the case of the UAE’, Renewable Energy,

Agency, I. E. (2008) World Energy Outlook 2008. Paris: Organization for Economic Co-opera-tion and Development (OECD)

Baeza, A. (2013) A zero energy house for UAE. Master of Science Thesis KTH School of Industrial Engineering and Management Energy Technology thesis. Available at: http://www.diva-portal.se/smash/get/diva2:657383/FULLTEXT01.pdf

Breuer, M. (1956) Sun and Shadow: The Philosophy of an Architect. Edited by Peter Blake. Green & Co

Coles, A. and Jackson, P. (2006) Windtower: Houses of the Bastaki. London: Stacey Interna-tional

Drexhage, J. and Murphy, D. (2010) ‘Sustainable Development: From Brundtland to Rio 2012’, Available at: http://www.un.org/wcm/webdav/site/climatechange/shared/gsp/docs/GSP1-6_Background%20on%20Sustainable%20Devt.pdf (Accessed: 4 October 2014)

El-Shorbagy, A. (no date) Design with Nature: Windcatcher as a Paradigm of Natural Ventila-tion Device in Buildings

Fathy, H. (1986) Natural Energy and Vernacular Architecture: Principles and Examples with Reference to Hot, Arid Climates. Chicago: Published for the United Nations University by the University of Chicago Press

Hui, S. C. M. (2001) Lecture: Air Movement and Natural Ventilation. Available at: http://www.arch.hku.hk/teaching/lectures/airvent/sect02.htm (Accessed: 7 May 2015)

Koolhaus, R., Bouman, O. and Wigley, M. (eds.) (2007) Volume 12: Al Manakh. Columbia University

Lechner, N. (2008) Heating, cooling, lighting: sustainable design methods for architects. 3rd edn. United Kingdom: Wiley, John & Sons

Maleki, B. A. (2011) ‘Wind Catcher: Passive and low energy cooling system in Iranian ver-nacular architecture’, International Journal on ‘Technical and Physical Problems of Engi-neering’, 3

Maulden, R. (1986) Tectonics in architecture: from the physical to the meta-physical. Avail-able at: http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/78804 (Accessed: 14 March 2015)Sitarz, D. (1993) Agenda 21: the Earth Summit strategy to save our planet. Boulder, CO: Earth Press

St Clair, P. (2009) ‘Low-Engergy design in the United Arab Emirates - Building Design Prin-ciples’, BEDP Environment Design guide,

Turan, M. (ed.) (1990) Vernacular Architecture: Paradigms of Environmental Response. (4 Vols). United Kingdom: Avebury

ed. by Zeynep Çelik ... (1994) Streets: critical perspectives on public space. Edited by Zeynep Celik, Diane Favro, and Richard Ingersoll. Berkeley: University of California Press

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IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES T extstorage.googleapis.com/wzukusers/user-13429154/documents/55db05c3220aeWmTQVZp...“The vernacular architecture of the Arab World and neighbouring regions