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

Abstract

Sustainable development requires continual effort to create solutions for energyefficiency and air conditioning. In this study, we focused on the hot-arid city ofYazd in Iran as an eco-model city in terms of its architectural and design compatibilitywith the environment. We directed our focus to the orientation of thestreets according to the sun and wind. Yazd was studied in terms of features at theurban scale and establishment of sustainability criteria. With its streets providinga natural air conditioning system and dense urban texture, Yazd implementednatural urban solutions allowing streets to reflect wind to increase air circulationand provide protection against the effects of the sun. In order to understand thecharacteristics of these streets, a case study is conducted in Lab-e Khandagh, Yazdhistoric district. In this site survey, thermal and humidity measurements wererecorded at four points in the Historic City of Yazd, which are located on eitherSabats, open streets or squares. The site study is conducted on 3 days apart in aweek 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 evaluatedand compared, and showed us traditional urban features provide a coolingeffect notably in summer time.Yazd, with its rare urban design features that provide solutions intended to createcomfortable, healthy, and sustainable human settlements, is a model in termsof identifying architectural design standards for sustainability.