About the Author

Hamzeh Najjar, Contract Administrator at Soil & Water Design / Construction Group, is passionate about the architecture and building industry and is dedicated to building a successful career in the design and construction of buildings that will last a lifetime. His strengths are in art, structures, design, creative manipulation and coordination of material, technology, light, and shadow. He has knowledge of Australian Codes and Standards as well as Liveable, Sustainable Housing Design.

 

The Architecture and Construction have been my passion since high school. My strengths are in art, design, creative problem-solving, and the coordination of materials, structures, technology, light, and shadow. These skills drive my vision for creating buildings that endure for generations.

I view architecture not just as a career but as a mission to serve people. I believe design should provide comfort, peace, safety, health (by controlling the physical environment through thermal control acoustic control and olfactory control to enhance occupant wellbeing) and beauty (characterized by harmony, proportion, rhythm and scale and achieved through elements like colours, texture, balance and unity); All of this should respond responsibly to the environment. Sustainable Design, inspired by human nature and the natural world, allows us to minimize environmental impact while creating spaces that foster well-being and a sense of belonging.

I see sustainability as deeply connected to human inspiration. Architecture should reflect how people live, connect, and thrive, all while conserving resources for the future. With this mission, I aim to communicate confidently and collaborate effectively with people to deliver architecture that is resilient, meaningful, and profoundly human.

I would like to share an article I've written that discusses sustainable design, with a particular focus on the formal sustainability of traditional Iranian architecture. The study explores the key elements of formal sustainability and highlights their regional variations, which are largely shaped by climatic conditions. I employed an interpretive-historical research method to compare the principles of traditional Iranian architecture with those of sustainable architecture.

Sustainable design is the philosophy of creating buildings, environments, and services that align with the principles of social, economic, and ecological responsibility. As McLennan (2004) highlights, sustainable design minimises reliance on non-renewable resources, reduces environmental impact, and strengthens the connection between people and the natural world. Despite its urgency, many modern buildings are conceived with insufficient consideration of their environmental consequences, often prioritising short-term efficiency over long-term resilience.

Sustainable Architecture, framed by the larger discussion of sustainability having to do with the pressing economic and political issues of our world, seeks to minimize the negative environmental impact of buildings by enhancing efficiency and moderation in the use of materials, energy, and land resources.

The environmental challenges, the significant effects of architecture, building manufacture technologies and the construction industry have caused the movement towards sustainable architecture to be considered as one of the most important and influential trends in the early years of the 21st century. Sustainable architecture and compliance with environmental features have also been noted in Iran both in theory and practice.

Historically, in the absence of modern heating and cooling technologies, Sustainable architecture in Iran has deep roots in Iran's culture and civilization over the course of thousands of years, in order to adapt to the environment and sustainable use of natural resources and Iranian architects relied on natural energies—such as sunlight, wind, and thermal mass—to create comfortable interior environments. These timeless strategies continue to inspire contemporary sustainable design, reminding us that buildings can achieve comfort, beauty and efficiency while working in harmony with nature.

In my view, true sustainable architecture is grounded in the idea that structures and designs should integrate with their surrounding natural and urban environments, function as part of the ecosystem, and participate in the cycle of life.

The findings provide insight into how Iranian architects interpret and apply sustainability principles, revealing both the opportunities and the challenges faced in aligning global sustainability goals with local cultural and environmental contexts.

Traditional buildings across cultures were shaped by climatic conditions, resource availability, and sociocultural practices, resulting in structures that were inherently sustainable. Passive cooling, natural ventilation, and the use of local materials reflected a design wisdom that balanced human comfort with environmental responsibility. These lessons from the past remain deeply relevant today, reminding us that sustainable architecture is not a new trend but rather a return to principles that once governed the way humans shaped their environments.

 

These traditional methods, along with features like 'Yakhchals' (ice houses), demonstrate an inherent understanding of eco-friendly building principles that offer valuable insights for contemporary sustainable design, focusing on passive cooling, energy efficiency, and human comfort in diverse climates.

Sustainability design in Iranian architecture is deeply rooted in its historical vernacular practices, which naturally responded to local climates and available materials through strategies like wind catchers for natural ventilation, thick, massive walls for insulation, courtyard designs for shade and temperature regulation, and strategic building orientation to optimize solar energy and minimize heat gain.

 

Sustainable Systems in Iranian Traditional Architecture

Here are some keys on sustainable systems used in Iranian traditional architecture which traditional architects designed and concentrated to have the solutions of human comfort and save natural energies.

• Climate-Responsive Design: By understanding the principles used in different Iranian climates (hot-arid, cold, humid), contemporary architects can develop more effective and localized sustainable solutions. 
• Integration of Natural Elements: Contemporary designs can incorporate elements like green roofs, solar shading, and the thoughtful use of vegetation to further enhance sustainability and aesthetic integration with the environment. 
• Aesthetic and Functional Harmony: Traditional Iranian architecture shows how sustainable design can achieve both ecological capacity and human comfort, offering a model for future designs. 
• Wind Catchers/ Passive Ventilation (Badgir): Wind catchers are tall towers that channel prevailing winds into buildings, providing natural ventilation and cooling without mechanical systems. These tall structures capture wind to create natural ventilation and cooling within buildings, a crucial strategy in hot-arid regions. 

• Thick, Massive Walls: Traditional buildings often feature thick adobe walls that provide high thermal mass, helping to naturally regulate indoor temperatures by absorbing and releasing heat slowly. Constructed from local materials like earth, these walls provide high thermal mass, effectively blocking solar heat in summer and retaining it in winter, as well as protecting against dust. 
• Wide Courtyards: Courtyards serve multiple functions, including providing shade, facilitating natural ventilation, and creating a microclimate for vegetation, enhancing comfort and reducing reliance on artificial cooling. 

The Rahbi House, a relic from the Qajar era, is located in Kashan, Iran

 

• Dimensions and proportions of the transparent surface

The dimensions and proportions of openings in traditional central courtyards vary across different façades to provide passive heating or natural cooling for residents throughout the seasons. On the southern façade, windows were typically fixed, with no clerestory openings, as sash windows with vertical panels were used. These openings facilitated natural ventilation within the interior spaces. On the northern façade, similar sash windows were installed, allowing residents to regulate humidity and draw in cool air from the courtyard by opening them during evenings and nights, since no windcatcher was present on this side of the house. The northern façade often contained rooms with three or five doors, known respectively as Se-dary and Panj-dary. Their function was to enhance indoor thermal comfort by reducing temperature fluctuations during winter. Additionally, the symmetrical design of the northern elevation ensured consistent sunlight conditions in all winter rooms. On the eastern and western façades, large movable windows with wooden lattice frames were commonly used, which were particularly suitable for autumn and spring when solar gain is more intense.

 

 

Analysis of dimensions and proportion of openings for Borujerdi house in Kashan.

 

• Passive Design Strategies: The logic behind traditional techniques, such as wind catchers and courtyard designs, can be adapted to create modern passive houses that are energy-efficient and comfortable. 
• Strategic Orientation: Buildings are carefully oriented to the sun's path, allowing for maximum sunlight absorption in cooler months and minimizing exposure to direct sunlight during hotter periods.

 

Analysis of Criterion 1 for Nasir Almolk House in Shiraz/ Iran, (a) Orientation and rotation angle of the courtyard, (b) Orientation and rotation angle of the house. 

 

• Local Materials: The use of readily available natural materials like Adobe (Kheshte), Brick, Sarooj and timber reduces the carbon footprint associated with modern construction and supports a circular economy. Traditional buildings extensively use local natural materials like adobe, reducing the environmental impact of construction.

Adobe (Kheshte)

Adobe (Kheshte) refers to sun-dried clay bricks made from a mixture of clay soil, sand, water, and sometimes straw. Unlike fired bricks, they are dried naturally under the sun.

• Thermal Insulation: Thick adobe walls act as strong thermal masses, preventing heat penetration in summer and retaining warmth during winter.

 • Eco-Friendly: Since adobe is not fired in kilns, it consumes minimal energy and produces very little pollution.

 • Local Availability: Suitable soils are found across most regions of Iran, making it highly accessible and cost-effective.

 • Traditional Applications: Widely used for constructing walls, houses, fortresses, and even religious structures. Many historic cities such as Yazd and Meybod are rich in adobe architecture.

 

Sarooj

Sarooj is a traditional Persian mortar known for its strength and resistance to water. It was made by mixing lime, ash, egg whites, plant fibers (such as straw), and sometimes natural oils or date syrup.

• Water Resistance → Extensively used in sealing and waterproofing structures such as Qanat (underground canals, a water supply system that was developed in ancient Iran for the purpose of transporting usable water to the surface from an aquifer or a well through an underground aqueduct), cisterns, and public baths.

 • High Strength → Much stronger and more durable compared to simple mud or gypsum mortars.

 • Longevity → Many ancient reservoirs and water structures in Iran still retain Sarooj coatings even after several centuries.

 • Traditional Applications:

 • Lining and waterproofing water reservoirs, Qanat and bath

 • Flooring and wall coating in humid environments.

 • Used as a reliable adhesive and construction mortar in traditional architecture.

 

Summary:

 • Adobe (Kheshte) served as the primary construction material, providing excellent thermal insulation and environmental sustainability.

 • Sarooj functioned as a durable, waterproof mortar, essential for water-related structures and ensuring the longevity of traditional Iranian architecture.

• Yakhchals: Traditional ice houses, often domed in shape, preserved ice using passive cooling techniques, showcasing advanced understanding of thermal principles long before modern refrigeration.

 

 

Twins Yakhchal in Sirjan Iran

 

Examples of sustainable design in Iranian architecture include the traditional courtyard house, which uses courtyards with water features and plants to create a cool, humid microclimate, and the wind catcher (Badgir), a tower that captures and directs cool summer winds into buildings for natural ventilation and cooling (Photo D- Dowlat Abad Garden: A Persian Paradise). Other examples feature thick adobe walls for thermal mass, double-shell domes to mitigate solar radiation, and compressed urban forms with narrow, shaded passageways (Photo C), such as those found in Yazd (Photo A), to enhance the thermal performance of buildings and urban environments. Traditional courtyard houses in the hot and dry region of Iran can also be considered successful climate-representative architecture that responds to many persistent environmental challenges. These houses use renewable solar and wind energies for passive heating and cooling to provide thermal comfort for their occupants. Traditional courtyard houses (Photo B) apply design principles such as compact urban fabrics, regular forms, optimal climatic orientations, dome-shaped roofs, high thermal capacity materials, courtyards as microclimate modifiers, and wind catchers as natural cooling (Photo D) systems.

  

 Photo A                                                                    Photo B

 

Photo D                                                                    Photo C

 

• Microclimate Control: Courtyard houses, common in desert cities like Yazd, utilize a central courtyard with trees and a water pool to create a shaded, humid microclimate that provides passive cooling. 
• Natural Shading: High courtyard walls maintain shade during the day, while trees provide additional shading to reduce solar heat gain. 
• Water Features: Water pools in the courtyard help to increase humidity and absorb solar radiation, further contributing to the passive cooling effect. Wind Catchers (Badgir) 
• Convective and Evaporative Cooling: The system utilizes both convective airflow and evaporative cooling to reduce indoor temperatures. Thermal Mass and Insulation
• Cultural Integration: Sustainable designs often incorporate low-impact finishes and traditional patterns and colours, maintaining aesthetic integrity and cultural continuity.

 

Traditional architecture of Iran demonstrates its civilization grown over centuries and is based on five principles of "Introversion", "Autonomy", "Human-conformity", "Structure and Modulation" and "Purposefulness" The geographical position of Iran and its main types of climate have been among the major factors affecting this architecture. A cursory study of these principles in various climates reveals that Iranian architects have created monuments based on the principles of sustainable architecture. Sustainability is a complex concept that can be looked upon from different perspectives; examples of which are function, structure, facilities, adornment and landscape.

 

Sustainable Design and Green Design

Sustainable Design and Green Design are closely related. "Green Building" describing the practice of constructing buildings with minimal environmental and nature impact which the axis of Green Architecture, Natural Environment, while "Sustainable Design" is the broader approach that guides this process which focus on humans, the environment and social (Creates healthier, more comfortable, and productive spaces for occupants). Sustainable Design focus more on using resources efficiently, reducing energy consumption and water savings (Economic) and waste, using eco-friendly materials, and creating healthy indoor environments throughout a building's entire lifecycle that a reason I belive that Green architecture is part Sustainable Design
 

What is Green Building?

Green building focuses on the design, more on aspects of ‘nature’ and operation of buildings to reduce environmental effects and improve resource efficiency. Key aspects include: 

• Energy & Water Conservation: Implementing designs that minimize energy consumption and conserve water resources. 
• Sustainable Materials: Utilizing recycled or rapidly renewable materials and avoiding toxic substances. 
• Waste Reduction: Minimizing waste during construction and operation. 
• Improved Indoor Quality: Enhancing the health and well-being of occupants through better air quality, natural lighting, and moisture control. 
• Life Cycle Thinking: Considering the building's impact from its initial conception to its eventual deconstruction. 
• Holistic Approach: Balancing environmental, social, and economic factors in the design process. 
• Principles: Following guiding principles, such as optimizing site potential, minimizing non-renewable energy use, protecting water, enhancing indoor air quality, and improving operational practices. 
• Environmental: Reduces pollution, conserves natural resources, and helps combat climate change. 

 

Stepping Park House / VTN Architects Photographs: Hiroyuki Oki

 

Conclusion

Even in the contemporary era, with advanced design methods, new construction materials, and technological innovations, many modern buildings remain expensive, energy-intensive, and uncomfortable. Current reliance on non-renewable energy sources raises significant concerns about long-term sustainability and environmental impact. These challenges underscore the importance of revisiting the design wisdom of our ancestors, who developed building systems deeply attuned to natural resources and climatic conditions.

While it is unrealistic to return entirely to past ways of living, studying and adapting the sustainable systems of Iranian traditional architecture provides valuable lessons for addressing present and future challenges. Features such as wind catchers, courtyards, thick adobe walls, and Yakhchals demonstrate that simple, low-cost, and climate-responsive solutions can achieve both human comfort and ecological balance.

These strategies remind us that sustainability is not merely a modern invention but a continuation of time-tested practices. By integrating traditional insights with contemporary technologies, architects can create designs that are not only efficient and resilient but also culturally meaningful. Ultimately, the path forward lies in combining the logic, simplicity, and ecological responsiveness of vernacular systems with the innovation of modern sustainable architecture, ensuring that buildings serve both people and the planet for generations to come.

 

 

A guest blog by Hamzeh Najjar.

 

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