Sustainable street architecture and its effects on human comfort conditions: Yazd, Iran

Abstract

Sustainable development requires continual effort to create solutions for energy efficiency and air conditioning. In this study, we focused on the hot-arid city of Yazd in Iran as an eco-model city in terms of its architectural and design compatibility with the environment. We directed our focus to the orientation of the streets according to the sun and wind. Yazd was studied in terms of features at the urban scale and establishment of sustainability criteria. With its streets providing a natural air conditioning system and dense urban texture, Yazd implemented natural urban solutions allowing streets to reflect wind to increase air circulation and provide protection against the effects of the sun. In order to understand the characteristics of these streets, a case study is conducted in Lab-e Khandagh, Yazd historic district. In this site survey, thermal and humidity measurements were recorded at four points in the Historic City of Yazd, which are located on either Sabats, open streets or squares. The site study is conducted on 3 days apart in a week at summer, five different times in a day. The data is collected with a HTC 2 (Arcone, Made in PRC) device, 120 cm. above ground. The data obtained are evaluated and compared, and showed us traditional urban features provide a cooling effect notably in summer time. Yazd, with its rare urban design features that provide solutions intended to create comfortable, healthy, and sustainable human settlements, is a model in terms of identifying architectural design standards for sustainability.