Field Investigation of Indoor Thermal Environments in Traditional and Contemporary Houses in Hot-Dry Climates

Abstract

The traditional architecture of Yemen was well known for the use of natural and passive methods for creating a comfortable indoor environment. Over the years, construction methods and materials have changed with lifestyle requirements. This sometimes resulted in buildings without much respect to the climate of the place, such as windows without shading, the disappearance of courtyards, etc. Since the traditional principles were absent in the new architecture, keeping buildings comfortable meant much dependency on air conditioning. Some of the traditional architectural elements in current design are mere copies of the old, without proper environmental applications. Since energy is getting more expensive and sustainable design is becoming a primary factor in many countries, there is a pressing need for using sustainable design practices in hot, dry climates with limited energy sources.
This study investigates indoor thermal conditions in traditional and contemporary houses in Hadramout, Yemen, using field measurements and focuses on the cooling effects of traditional strategies. The main aim of the investigation is to compare thermal performance and identify key factors influencing indoor comfort.
The results indicate that the indoor air temperature was lower than outdoors in all the spaces in the traditional buildings. It was also seen that these temperatures were within the comfort zone’s limits. All indoor values of relative humidity in the traditional houses were higher than outdoor values in most spaces. This would have provided comfortable conditions, taking into consideration the very dry outdoor conditions. In contrast, the modern building had much poorer performance (in its non-air-conditioned state) compared to the traditional ones.