How people of Tabbas, Iran (Persia) used micro-climate And local materials to create energy-efficient homes

1. Sustainable Architecture without
Architects in Tabas, Iran (Persia)
Session ID S02
How people of Tabbas, Iran (Persia) used micro-climate
And local materials to create energy-efficient homes

2. Sustainable Architecture without
Architects in Tabas, Iran (Persia)
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3. Sustainable Architecture without
Architects in Tabas, Iran (Persia)
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conclusion of this presentation.

4. Acknowledgments:
First, I would like to thank my dad who introduced me to
architecture at age 15.
Then, I would like to thank my architecture professor, Dr.
Razjouyan in Melli University of Iran (Shahid Beheshti),
who guided us through the research of passive solar
design in the climate driven architecture of Tabas, Iran in
1977, of which I am grateful.
For the documentary Elements of Destiny which I am
going to present, we have been granted permission
By Sunrise Visual Innovations Ltd

5. Learning Objectives
 Assess how sun, wind, water, and thermal mass
have been used to transform a harsh natural
environment into a comfortable residential
environment
 Evaluate innovative uses of local material in
building
 Weigh the benefits and drawbacks of using only
local materials to create buildings
·

6. Have you been to a Desert?

7. Desert Micro Climate
Imagine yourself as an architect in
this kind of climate in the 13th
century
• Hostile environment
• Very little vegetation
• Almost no rainfall
• Sand storms
• Loss of life
• Not popular with travellers
• Vast area with few roads
• Marco Polo in 13th
Century
• Lack of water, heat and vicious sand,
• Summer temperature up to 120’s
• Winter temperature dips below -4 degrees Fahrenheit
• Temperatures soar in the sun, but drop rapidly at dusk

8. Comfort Zone Area
Tabas temperatures
Building bio-climatic chart by Milne and Givoni.

9. Materials that are available:
• Mud
• Clay and straw
• White plaster
• Wood

10. Other problems to think about
• Cultural: Privacy, attack, protection
• Economic Status: Animals, distance, food storage
• Structural System: What system would you use?

11. ELEMENTS OF DESTINY

12. •“Pearl of Persian cities”
•“Bride of Persian cities”
Tabas, an oasis in the desert
A city which used to exist!

13. Compare with Yazd and others
Tabas

14. • Connection to silk road
• Motels or Carevan sara
• Source of water
• Coal mines
Why Tabas became important?

15. • Trade center
• Source of water
Tabas, in the middle of the desert
Desirable wind direction
Water streams
Sand storm direction
Water storage

16. Tabas, how it became an oasis?
• Existence of water
• Love of planting tree
• Need for shade
• Distance
• Farms

17. Tree Preservation

18. These are the spaces they formed!
• Summer living area
• E`ivan (covered patio or veranda)
• Courtyards (with water feature and planters)
• Badgirs (wind scoops or wind catchers)
• Kitchen and storage
• Hoaz-khane (living room)
• Winter living area
• Sardab (basement)
• Hashti (eight sided vestibule)

19. Typical Floor Plan
• Season
• Compact
• Summer, winter area
• Courtyard
• Architectural elements
• Four seasons
• Cross ventilation
Badgir

20. • Location
• Elaborate
• Windows
• Height
Summer Living Area
Low
High

21. Eivan (covered porch or veranda)
• Location
• Main element
• Stand alone
• Shade
• Usage time
• Day to day work
Clay jugs

22. Courtyards
• Location
• Steps
• Materials
• Water
• Holding the cold air

23. Courtyards
• Water Features
• Citrus fruit trees
• Palm trees
• Walls
• US dep.of energy
25’ F.
2525°F

24. • Unique, important
• 4000 B.C.
• One sided, three sided
• Breath
• Cool winds
• Exhaust
• Wet straw
Badgir (wind catcher, ventilation shaft, wind scoop)
Venturi effect

25. • Location
• Basement
• Divisions, Venturi effect
• Low income
Badgir (wind catcher, ventilation shaft, wind scoop)

26. Badgir (wind catcher, ventilation shaft, wind scoop)
Sensible cooling
Hot day in the afternoon no wind
Temperature change
produce air pressures
High
Low
hot air rising by
convection
Creates Stack effect
Temperature change produce air pressures,
difference in air pressure generates air flow

27. • Sand settlement
• Protection
Badgir (wind catcher, ventilation shaft)

28. Houz-khaneh (Living Room)
• Entertainment room
• Cross ventilation
• Water feature
• Height
• Opening
• Badgir, center
• Thermal mass
• Void space
Section
Elevation
Plan

29. • Favorite
• Econ. Status
• Decoration
• Water feature
• Fountain
Houz-khaneh
Evaporative cooling
Low pressure

30. • Latticed opening
• Palm tree
• Clerestory
Houz-khaneh

31. • Flower
• Reflection
Houz-khaneh

32. Sardab (basement)
• Location
• Temperature
• Ventilation
• Damp walls

33. Sleeping Area
• Roof, courtyard
• Privacy, breeze

34. Winter Living Area and Kitchen
• Room Location
• Length of the season
• Kitchen location
• Windows
• Size
• Height
• Braziers

35. Kitchen
• Vent
• Suction
• Light and air
• Bread oven
Prevailing wind

36. Cultural Elements
• Privacy
• Entry
• Family size
• Central courtyard

37. Economic Status
• Storage
• Stable for animals

38. Economic Status
• Handcrafting
• Weaving loom
• Dyeing wool

39. Floor plan
Economic Status, Amir Garden
• Judge and his business
• Public and private spaces

40. Materials:
• Sun dried adobe, salt
• Kahgel or plaster of clay and straw
• White plaster to reflect heat
• Wood

41. Structural System
• Bearing wall, thermal mass
• Barrel roof
• Dome roof, distributes heat

42. Alleys
• Shade
• Breeze
• Maze
• Roof

43. Baghe Golshan
• Main park (Persian garden)
• Four gardens
• Two stream
• Water feature
• Water fountain
• Water fall

44. Baghe Golshan
Vanishing pool
Stream passes through park entry and moves toward the city

45. Drawbacks of using only local
materials

46. Tabbas After Earth Quake, 1978
• 7.9 magnitude earthquake
• Shear strength in adobe

47. • Cheap energy
• Spoiled by HVAC
• Changing our behaviors, thanks to H.E.C.
• Experiment and start from scratch
• Historical examples
• Tabbas is only one example
We are building a new civilization

48. San Diego weather pattern in the chart
• Natural resources; wind, sun, water and trees
• Logistically locating spaces on the site
• Cross ventilation
• Exhaust ventilation
• Stack effect
• Shade
• Thermal mass
• Natural day-light
• Passive solar
Innovative uses of the same strategy
in new buildings

49. Value of architects and designers

50. Architect role
Typically this model is inverted

51. Children Museum San Diego
Rob Quigley Architect
• Badgir concept (as cooling chimney)
• Exhaust ventilation

52. CII-Godrej GBC India
Wind tower
J.W. Marriott Palm Desert CII-Godrej GBC
Court yard, water feature, water falls
HVAC load

53. Burj al-Taqa Dubai
• Wind driven ventilation
• Central atrium
• Dbl layered façade for
shade w/s.p.
Gerber architect Germany
High-tech Badgir

54. Orchid Plaza, Bahrain
Electricity generating tower
Twirling
Tower
By David Fisher in Dubai Wind powered

55. Masdar Headquarters Abu Dhabi
AS +GG Architect of Chicago
Badgir concept - exhaust ventilation

56. Coyne Residence
MSA &Assoc. Inc.
• Strategic location of windows
• Overhang
• Shade
• Daylight
• Cross ventilation

57. Vajda Residence
MSA &Assoc. Inc.
• South facing windows
• Shade
• Cross ventilation
• HVAC usage?

58. Vista Mar Residence
MSA &Assoc. Inc.
• South facing windows
• Overhangs
• Shade
• Cross ventilation
• HVAC?

59. Pacific Beach
MSA &Assoc. Inc.
• South facing windows
• Shade
• Cross ventilation
• Exhaust ventilation

60. La Jolla Residence
MSA &Assoc. Inc.
• Use of shade
• Water
• Courtyard
• Cross ventilation
• Daylight
• Umbrella
• South facing windows

61. Ten in rows
MSA &Assoc. Inc.
• South facing windows
• Use of shade
• Cross ventilation
• Exhaust ventilation
• Daylight

62. Ten in rows
MSA &Assoc. Inc.
• South facing windows
• Use of shade
• Cross ventilation
• Exhaust ventilation
• Daylight
Ocean Current

63. Resources
• Master Theses research by Simi Razavian, Lila Khalvati
and Fereshteh Asefi.
• Gardens of Tabbas by Yaghoob Danesh-doost
• Monuments of Tabbas by Yaghoob Danesh-doost
• Urban structure and architecture in the hot arid zone of
Iran by Mahmoud Tavassoli
• http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/Science-Fiction-News.asp?
NewsNum=1040
•http://www.gulfweeklyworldwide.com/article.asp?
Sn=5536&Article=19304
• http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/05/16/david-fishers-twirling-
wind-power-tower/
• http://www.lightningcanyon.com/pages/passive-
solar/introduction_passive_solar.html

64. • Simi Razavian AIA CGBP
• Master of Science in Architecture and Urban Design with
Emphasis on Passive Solar Design and Vernacular
Architecture of Tabbas, Iran
• Co- founder of MSA & Assoc. Inc. in 1987
• Licensed Architect in the State of California
• Certified Green Building Professional
• Committee member of WIA S.D.
• Board member of AIAP
Speaker
Contact Information
Simi Razavian AIA CGBP
simi@msahome.com
www.msahome.com