Improving Environmental Performance Indicators (KPIs) of Contemporary Iraqi Housing through Simulation-Based Reuse of Traditional Shenashil with Integrated Smart Technologies
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Abstract
High solar radiation and high temperature that would be predisposing factors for discomfort have taken their toll on performance pressure added to the already mounting environmental performance pressure on modern housing in hot, arid regions. The Baghdadi Shenashil were one of the traditional architectural elements that responded well by providing shading and other means of environmental control; however, their use has been aesthetically lost in new residential designs. The recent literature has its force directed towards smart façade systems and belongs to the simulation wave based on the performance, which left inquisitiveness around studies exploring reusing traditional Shenashil through integrated smart techniques toward improving environmental performance indicators in contemporary Iraqi housing.
The study was based on an exploratory attempt to understand the effect of re-applying traditional Shenashil through simulation-based smart approaches towards environmental performance for modern Iraqi residential units. Digital tools for simulating the environment were used in measuring major indicators such as Solar Radiation Exposure, Direct Sun Hours, and Daylight performance under hot arid climatic conditions. Several facade scenarios have been created in the study that would reveal the potentiality of static and smart-adaptive Shenashil configurations, weighing their effectiveness against unshaded facades.
Results indicated that applying Shenashil with an adaptive shading strategy significantly reduced the excess amount of the sun and improved the total environmental performance. Results proved that maintaining the architectural identity, comfort thermal and environmental can be achieved by merging traditional elements with smart simulation-based techniques. Based on results received, this study is also going to provide a new sustainable design approach which can support climate responsive housing as well as enhance environmental quality in hot arid urban contexts.
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