Energy management in Iran’s vernacular architecture

Vernacular architecture was developed and used by many civilizations across the world through the centuries. Different civilizations have produced their own architectural styles based on the local conditions. Looking at old urban fabric in the desert areas of Iran, indicates that the ancients were aware of techniques and implemented them that have not been followed later. The structure of urban fabric and architecture of hot and arid areas of Iran represents some special principles which despite approaching to the practical and aesthetical purposes, has been adapted to the natural and ecological environment. These construction methods not only have decreased environmental capacities, but also have increased the quality of that. From this point of view, adaptability to the natural environment and implementing natural energies like wind power and solar energy is of paramount importance in this built environment. So identifying and modelling these features and techniques for next development is necessary. However, these solutions should not be considered as models to be copied in current architecture. Our technical capacity and cultural context prevent us from returning to these architectural abstract forms, but the attitude of builders of this kind of architecture can be a source of inspiration, which recovers a relationship to the environment which has been lost in the more official architecture of 20th century. This study was carried out on the vernacular buildings and urban fabric of Anarak that is a little town in the middle of Iran. The old urban fabric of Anarak -surrounded in some rock mountains- is one of the valuable historic fabrics of Iran that consists of a unique physical and spatial order. A survey of houses was carried out among three parts of the urban fabric of Anarak. The study has yielded findings relating bioclimatic to the vernacular architecture of the region. Also, different solar and wind passive features are available in most of these houses, related to temperature control and promoting natural ventilation. These houses are constructed using locally available materials and represent unique examples towards sustainable building design. In this article after introducing Anarak and its historic background, we will represent the sustainable patterns in housing and fabric of this settlement which is counted as a unique example of hot and arid climate of Iran in operating vernacular architecture.