Cold-Arid Deserts: Global Vernacular Framework for Passive Architectural Design A D.ARCH PROJECT SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE DIVISION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI’I AT MĀNOA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTORATE OF ARCHITECTURE May 2017 By Ana Molinar-Ruiz D.Arch Committee: David Rockwood, Chairperson Dr. Andrew Kaufman Jorge Loya Dr. Marja Sarvimaki Keywords: Cold-Arid Desert, Vernacular Architecture, Human Comfort Dedication To my loving husband. Por tu cariño, paciencia, y apoyo en realizar mis sueños. iii Acknowledgements My experience gathered through the completion of this doctorate project was very challenging and rewarding for me as a human, as well as for my future career in architec- ture. I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to my committee members David Rockwood, Andy Kaufman, Jorge Loya, and Magi Sarvimaki. The knowledge and expe- rience they have shared with me throughout this project has been instrumental in the de- velopment of this dissertation. Without all their unwavering support, insight, and advice this project would not have been possible. I owe my deepest thanks to my dissertation chairperson professor David Rock- wood, for sharing his passion for vernacular architecture and passive systems, and con- tinually pushing me to understand the details. To Dr. Andrew Kaufman, my deepest thanks for introducing me to the world of landscaping and the effects the natural environment has on human comfort. As well as serving as a constant reminder to keep it simple smiley, and focused. To Jorge Loya, I am sincerely thankful for your devotion of time despite the dis- tance, as well as helping me understand how to engage my project at a local level with economic and social considerations. To Dr. Marja Sarvimaki, thank you for helping me develop the initial constraints of my dissertation, as well as inspiring me to consider the human element. iv Abstract Among the most unforgiving climates, cold-arid deserts have inspired a myriad of solutions towards passive architecture. Developed over hundreds of years, lessons from vernacular architecture can be the key to challenges of the future. “Since antiquity, man has reacted to his environment, using his faculties to develop techniques and technologies, in such a psychological balance with nature that humanity historically lived attuned to the envi- ronment” (Fathy 1986)1 As concerns for the future of our planet steadily increase pertaining to the deple- tion of resources, energy consumption, and globalization, alternative solutions can im- prove the impact we have on our environment, as well as provide the ideal environment for us. The provision of housing for the rapidly growing population continually keeps ar- chitects and developers seeking ways to provide the most economically friendly, site spe- cific design that can also be sustainable. Design solutions do not have to be costly or in- corporate complicated modern technology to be sustainable and energy efficient. However, technological advancements continue to dictate the relationship between man and comfort. Can a blended principle of past solutions and modern technologies work together to improve the effects of climate on human environment? This dissertation is meant to gather vernacular lessons to develop a valid frame- work, in order to create environmentally and culturally sustainable residential prototypes. Through a global analysis, a framework is extrapolated from existing vernacular case studies and modeled to test their relationships and possible improvements to prove their validity today within a single site, the Chihuahua Desert in North America. 1 Fathy, Hassan. 1986. Natural Energy and Vernacular Architecture: Principles and Examples. London: University of Chicago Press. v Table of Contents Part 1: Understanding Vernacular Architecture in Cold-Arid Deserts .............................. 3 Chapter 1: Premise 4 1.1:Defining Vernacular Architecture ........................................................ 4 1.2: Psychology of the Cultural Landscape ................................................ 6 1.3: Human Comfort Standards .................................................................. 8 Chapter 2: Site 11 2.1: Identifying Geographical Locations .................................................. 11 2.2: Climate Parameters ............................................................................ 13 Part 2: Framework for Passive Architectural Design ....................................................... 15 Chapter 3: Global Vernacular Component Library 16 3.1: Case studies: Tents............................................................................. 17 Sub-Saharan Africa | Namib Desert, Namibia .............................. 19 Southwest Asia | Petra, Jordan ...................................................... 20 Central & East Asia | Gobi Desert, Mongolia ............................... 21 Central & East Asia | Hindu Kush, Afghanistan ........................... 22 3.2: Case studies: Huts .............................................................................. 24 Australia | Everard Ranges, South Australia ................................. 26 South America | Colca Valley, Peru ............................................. 27 South America | Atacama Desert, Chile ....................................... 28 Central & East Asia | Pamir Mountain Ranges, Tajikistan ........... 30 3.3: Case studies: Domes .......................................................................... 31 vi South America | Altiplano, Bolivia ............................................... 33 Sub-Saharan Africa | Highland, South Africa ............................... 34 Southwest Asia | Idlib Steppe, Syria ............................................. 35 Central & East Asia | Mary Province, Turkmenistan.................... 36 3.4: Case studies: Complexes ................................................................... 37 North America | Chihuahua Desert, USA ..................................... 39 Mediterranean | Draa Valley, Morocco......................................... 40 Mediterranean | Mzab Valley, Algeria .......................................... 41 Mediterranean | Ghadames, Libya ................................................ 44 Central & East Asia | Leh Desert, India ........................................ 45 Central & East Asia | Loess Plateau, China .................................. 47 Southwest Asia | Yazd Province, Iran ........................................... 48 Chapter 4: Lessons Learned 50 4.1: Component Matrix ............................................................................. 50 4.2: Theoretical Analysis & Framework ................................................... 54 Construction & Materials .............................................................. 54 Building envelope & structure ...................................................... 57 Window Openings ........................................................................ 60 Roofing criteria ............................................................................. 61 Sun Orientation & Shading techniques ......................................... 65 Wind Orientation .......................................................................... 67 Water Integration .......................................................................... 69 4.3: Diagrammatic guidelines ................................................................... 70 vii Part 3: Design Framework Parameters & Application ..................................................... 77 Chapter 5: Design Considerations & Weather Data 78 5.1: Thermal comfort ................................................................................ 78 Thermal Comfort: Factors............................................................. 78 Thermal Comfort: Metric .............................................................. 82 5.2: Software Tools ................................................................................... 85 Chapter 6: Design Project 87 6.1: Site application factors....................................................................... 87 Housing Market & Program.......................................................... 88 Location Analysis ......................................................................... 93 6.2: Massing model simulation – prototype inputs ................................... 98 Base Sample – Typical Construction ............................................ 98 Orientation relative to sun and wind ........................................... 100 Spatial Configuration on thermal comfort .................................. 102 6.3: Massing model simulation – prototype results ................................ 103 Prototype 1 – Mountainside Sub-Urban ..................................... 103 Prototype 2 –Urban Courtyard .................................................... 111 Computational Fluid Dynamic results ........................................ 119 Chapter 7: Discussion 127 7.1: Design development ........................................................................ 127 7.2: Future research ................................................................................. 131 viii List of Figures Figure 2.1 Koppen Climate Classifications Map: BWk (Orange) & BSk (Yellow) ........ 12 Figure 3.1 Global Components: Vernacular Case Studies model & plans ....................... 16 Figure 3.2 Global Components: Tent Case Studies .........................................................