Hossein Ghazvinian, Mostafa Gholipour Gashniani,
Volume 36, Issue 3 (7-2026)
Abstract
The surface temperature reduction and airflow improvement of the building is regarded as one of the main components in architecture science. Inspired by nature and the principles of bionic science, this research seeks to design a façade based on the scale of a residential building in the city of Semnan, Iran. Given that animals use optimal methods in various fields, especially regulating their body temperature, to continue living, it seems that we can extract the hidden mechanisms in animals and use them in the design of an adaptive building facade. Thus, living organisms have been examined to select the most suitable species and to find the answer to the question of how to extract the natural principles and foundations in animals and apply them in an adaptive architectural façade, After selecting the species and studying the behavioral patterns and physical mechanisms of the silver ant, zebra, and lizard, we extracted the physical and natural principles of these creatures and then, used them in the design of the secondary facade. To understand the improvement in thermal comfort of the nature-inspired facade compared to the simple facade, after designing and modeling the facade in Rhinoceros® software with the Grasshopper plugin, the temperature of the façade surfaces was calculated and the air flow on the façade surface was simulated using fluent software. Based on the results, a favorable air flow was observed on the facade, and the temperature of the building's primary facade, in front of which the secondary facade was designed, decreased by nearly 20 K in the simulated case.
Kimia Jamshidzadeh, Saeed Azemati,
Volume 36, Issue 3 (7-2026)
Abstract
The increasing energy consumption in the building sector and its environmental impacts highlight the need for strategies that optimize energy use and improve thermal energy storage. In this context, vernacular architecture, as climate-responsive knowledge, offers valuable insights for sustainable and energy-efficient design. The humid-temperate climate of Gilan Province, characterized by high humidity, frequent rainfall, and continuous ventilation needs, provides a suitable context for reassessing building envelope performance, particularly roof waterproofing insulation layers. This study evaluates the potential of Phase Change Materials (PCMs) to enhance thermal energy storage in waterproofing insulation systems of mid-rise residential buildings, with reference to Gilan’s climatic conditions and vernacular architectural principles. A mid-rise residential building in Rasht was selected as the case study, and dynamic energy simulations were conducted using TRNSYS. A reference scenario without PCM was compared with a PCM-integrated scenario in which PCM was placed within the roof waterproofing insulation layer. The main evaluation indicators included thermal storage capacity, indoor temperature stability, and heating and cooling energy demand. The simulation results suggest that integrating PCM into the roof waterproofing layer can reduce annual heating and cooling loads and improve indoor thermal stability under the studied climatic conditions. Total annual energy consumption decreased from approximately 28,230 kWh/year in the reference case to about 25,240 kWh/year in the PCM-integrated scenario, corresponding to an overall reduction of about 10.6%. These findings indicate that, for the investigated building and PCM configuration, targeted PCM integration can enhance thermal storage capacity and contribute to reducing cooling demand in Rasht’s humid climate. Architecturally, PCM technology may complement Gilan’s vernacular strategies, including sloped roofs, semi-open spaces, and natural ventilation, by improving envelope performance. However, as the results are simulation-based, further experimental validation and economic assessment are required before broader application or generalization to other buildings and humid climates with greater practical confidence.
