The information in this section confirms and supports what is in the literature. For example: To explore the main strategies that are used in the T.C.H.T in the historical area, the interviewees were asked how would you describe the urban and design planning of the inner courtyard house that enriches the traditional environmental performance.
The interviewees considered that fabric of the traditional city had generally created a microclimate that moderated the climate of the surrounding houses. The planning was unique and achieved great comfort for the residents of the city by encouraging
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air currents to flow. They went on to add that an alternative was to line-up the homes in general without leaving spaces for heat transfer, making the whole city work as one unit that decreased the number of roofs exposed to direct sunrays, and increased the shaded areas. As a fabric, it worked positively within its environment.
The interviewees referred to the compactness of the T.C.H.T plus the central area;
the compatibility between the fabric and the courtyard; and the integration of the CHs. so as to create spaces of variable height to ensure differences in temperature, so an air flow could be created. The generally compact urban fabric gave environmental protection from the high temperature outside the house for the spaces of the interior CH. by using the ploy of convergence and divergence between the adjacent houses to provide shade. One interviewee had worked with T.C.H.T in the Al-Kadhimiya area, said:
“Compactness has a great relevance to urban planning in general and to the housing areas in particular. Then, we have the psychological aspect, variety, complexity, hierarchy, and others altogether which play a distinct role in controlling environmental performance first, then enriching it, second. On the other hand, to enrich the environmental performance the use of the CH. as an effective, compact unit in the urban design has an influential impact on the area specified” (Arch., 16, 2012).
Also, from the data collected in the field work which is similar to the literature, the architectinterviewees focused on three different ideas, including:
Environmental aspects
The architect interviewees pointed that the form of traditional house with an interior courtyard was closed by three sides reduced much of the solar gain on its external walls. Proper orientation of the house enables the use of natural energies. In the meantime, the interviewees highlighted the single traditional houses contain reactions and compatibilities on both a single and overall level, as well as multiple levels on the section level. The interviewees discussed the fact that traditional houses with an interior courtyard have several levels: some levels are used heavily in summer while others are abandoned in the summer. This confirms what is called “the zoning levels” (Arch., 20, 2012), and the level differentiation achieves thermal comfort. For example, this was emphasised by one interviewee:
“The thermal comfort was given the priority, and for this reason there were multiple spaces that formed the traditional unit, while the presence of multiple levels
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gives the traditional unit flexibility. All the levels deal efficiently with gaining and losing heat and the creation of air currents” (Arch., 21, 2012).
Furthermore, the design of the house has spaces and many details that permit the circulation of the air for thermal-gain and loss. Also, the light and sunrays are filtered and play an important role in creating air currents such as the transitional space which are well protected against outside penetration, also achieves cooling air movement in accordance with the size of spaces and the effect on air movement generally, and inside the T.C.H.T. especially. Also, the shape and type of horizontal ceiling made from special materials reduces the heat. Also, secondary roofs are made as support to reduce thermal loads to the minimum by the reduction of gain and loss of temperature in different seasons. All this creates thermal comfort.
Additionally, the variables of the highest spaces enrich the interior CH. and help its ventilation by giving thermal isolation. This was articulated by one interviewee:
“You can find the dome and vault which reduce the heat; besides, the columns that supported the dome are made of hollow jars of clay arranged one over the other.
This is strong support and light at the same time. The secondary two metre high roofs in the T.C.H.T. especially in the Al Kadhimiya historical area, are made by using empty jars of clay; these increase the fresh air and control the temperature” (Arch.LI, 18, 2012).
Last but not least, the interviewees clarified that the T.C.H.T have different forms of openings which differ in their locations Each opening works to divert warm air and light without allowing strong sunlight to enter directly. The arcade-covered paths extend masses over the walkways to “create a new alleyway”. In order to reduce the mass of the house, the architect designed many spaces between the columns and arches that are used to store food and cool it, and thus they “work as refrigerators”.
At the end, smaller details such as the arabesque found in all the slots that open to the outer spaces, and the use of decorations in the windows, reflect light and reduce direct sunrays. Even small mirrors in the walls and ceilings, and painting with light colours, has an impact on the reflection coefficient of light. Such an idea was articulated by one professional interviewee who illustrated the reasons behind her opinion:
“I think that the total plan, section and elevation through the design, elements and detail, besides the activities for the traditional house, have a good response for
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weather conditions. We can say the traditional unit reflects the environmental performance” (Arch., 24, 2012).
Social aspects
The architect’s interviewees added that the T.C.H.T is in alignment with the culture and social of Iraq. Also, the adaptation connects the house through its openings with the sky and God. The house takes into account the lifestyle and social traditions of the society. The great dynamics lie in using spaces vertically and horizontally at any time of day or night and in all seasons by using a familiar technique. Furthermore, it provides a suitable zone for the family, such as the Diwan, the women quarters, the service locations; moreover, it is stable but flexible enough to deal with both space and furniture. The possibility of future separate zones for young families will emerge from within the extended family. The T.C.H.T gives plenty of room to accommodate all future eventualities and therefore it divides into several zones easily, which is a comfort to our Arabic society in general and Iraqi society in particular.
In contrast, the interviewees described how the change in social relationships over the years may be a point of weakness, since the unit is designed to facilitate strong social relationships, and there is no social-economic development of the community.
For example, one architect interviewee who had lived in a T.C.H.T. for more than 50 years, said:
“From my point of view, the strengths outweigh the points of weakness concerning environmental, social, economic, architectural and structural aspects. Unfortunately, today there is a rejection of these traditional units since they represent a certain social-economic class of people and a fascination with western models without thinking. Our ancestors used to choose what was best for them and use it” (Arch., 18, 2012).
Aesthetical aspects
The interviewees highlighted the most beautiful architectural values of the old district in Baghdad, especially the Al-Kadhimiya historical area, since it represents a strong interchangeable relationship between: the dimensions in the presence of
“positive and negative” spaces, the private and public sector; closed and open spaces; transitional spaces; the space relationships and space sizes; and, lastly, dimensional relationships. Other aspects of the relationship include: the proportion between the height and width of the road and the void and the mass for the houses;
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shade and shadow; and the close relations between neighbours such as in Figure6.1. Also, there is the low heights of all the T.C.H.T, and their human scale; the surprise element while walking inside a traditional area of the city such as the Al-Kadhimiya; the house details; the unique wood art and brick work, and the better understanding and use of the climatic elements. The use of light colours with high reflecting coefficients reduces thermal loads especially on the direct external front elevations. Different sized interior courtyards are preferred both shaded and sunny courtyards to increase the difference in pressure and secure the wanted air flow.
Figure 6.1: Most beautiful architectural values of the old district in the Al-Kadhimiya historical area such as shade and shadow; and the close relations between neighbours (PH.CH1+4, 2012), (Author).
Furthermore, these architectinterviewees discussed the aesthetic aspectsin these types of houses, especially in the Al-Kadhimiya historical area, and therefore the traditional unit is linked with beauty for social or environmental reasons or both.
These are, first, the different types of special spaces inside the traditional unit serving the resident and providing comfort, for example the “Ursi”, which is the living room, the biggest room in the house decorated with beautiful wood and mirrors. Second, there are the elements such as the “Shanasheel” which are a wooden glazed decorative element; it is aesthetically pleasing to passers-by and a barrier against sunrays. Finally, the details such as the wooden columns, wooden decorative roof which contains a small mirror with “an eye”, the decorative bricks are usually drilled or arranged in certain patterns that are used to form the domes. Moreover, there is the use of a stucco decoration with original decoration or geometric designs in the form of a line surrounding the niches of the main rooms to enrich the beautiful scene
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inside. Lastly, the use of transparent or colouredglass in decorating the walls brings beauty and romance to these Baghdadi houses. This view can be explored in the account of one interviewee:
“When we visit the old district in Baghdad city you see amazing places and spaces which is a distinct architectural design with a private soul and decorative components” (Arch., 4, 2012).
To highlight elements that respondent to environmental condition in the T.C.H.T. in the Iraq general and Baghdad special, the architect interviewees were asked what sort of architectural physical elements respond to environmental changes. These elements include:
The Bad-Geer –the wind catcher
The interviewees confirmed that the Bad-Geer was an important element that affected and responded to the environmental condition. They were very frequently seen in the T.C.Hs in the Al-Kadhimiya historical area.
At the same time, the interviewees pointed out that this projection was seen on roofs to intercept cooler, faster, less dusty air flows. The presence of the Bad-Geer and the natural air currents inside it provide continuous interior cooling, it maintains air flow and cools the house interior, it may not remove the heat from the air itself, but rather relies on the rate of air flow to provide a cooling effect, and rapidly cool and humidify the air. Such an idea was articulated in an account by an interviewee who had long experience with T.C.H.T:
“The most important element that reflects our heritage and affects the CH.
performance is the Bad-Geer. During the day when the inside temperature is lower than outside, hot inside air flows down the walls of the wind tower, lose heat, and enter fresher than the outside air into the room; it absorbs heat refreshing ambient air, and then is evacuated through a window. During the night, if the wind is not blowing, the wind tower functions as a chimney by sucking exhausted hot air from rooms and replacing it with fresh outside air entering through openings” (Arch., 6, 2012).
Shanasheels
Also, the interviewees said that the “Shanasheels” were on the first floor and the level of the interior interfaces, and had a relationship with the space, which is the second element that responds to climate.
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The interviewees explained that “Shanasheel” achieves different function: it works as an environmental system by allow air from three sides to enter, thereby helping to lower the temperature. Also, it is a way to provide environmental protection from sun and rain and also to control sunrays and the lighting colours so the light can reach the deepest spaces and provide shade. They play the role of air cooler as well as reducing the temperature since their wood absorbs humidity from the air during the night that will evaporate during the day time. Moreover, the “Shanasheels” provide a level of lighting regulation, as the spaces deflect direct sun light see Figure 6.2.
There is a kind of filtration for sound and light, and a significant aesthetic effect. One architect interviewee expressed this idea in her account when saying:
“The slots found in the wooden frame will filter or adsorb all high audio frequencies and permit only low audio frequencies.4 The coloured glass and wooden carvings provide natural lighting, a view, beauty and refraction of light and serve to provide thermal comfort” (Arch., 7, 2012).
Figure 6.2: The “Shanasheel” is an element that response environmentally, socially and aesthetically that is distinctive to the Al-Kadhimiya historical 1+2 (PH.CH10, 2012), 3+4 (PH.CH5,
2012), (Author).
4This is known as the "Acoustic diffraction phenomenon.”
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Courtyard
The interviewees noted that the interior courtyard is another element that reflects the environmental and social aspect and it is essential a T.C.H.T. The courtyard provides constant cooling and natural ventilation and also serves as a light source.
The interviewees pointed out that the courtyard works as a “cold-store” at night, and stayed until late afternoon. The courtyard itself works as a cold air-catcher when the temperature drops at night on hot summer days, for example. Interviewees clarified that the courtyard is provided with elements such as a small garden in the centre of the courtyard with plants and fountains affected the climate, as it acted as a dust filter, enhanced the air by freshening and cooling it, and moistened the hot dry weather inside; it also improved the inner scene. Furthermore, just outside the garden is a special place where large water jars are situated. This was clearly expressed by one interviewee:
“A simple green area suitable for sitting in the shade, called the Bakjh, is where some trees such as calder, palms, pomegranates, citron and others are grown with roses to improve the shade. Such plants provide the inner space with O2 and reduce the CO2, and could be quite a good dust filter. Moreover, using water surfaces inside the courtyard, like fountains, or even a small swimming pool, cools and moistens the hot dry weather inside” (Arch., 21, 2012).
Walls
The interviewees indicated that the presence of thick walls provides thermal isolation, while the temperature can be controlled through the thickness of the outside walls. This idea was emphasised by one interviewee who worked with a team to develop the historic area:
“The thickness of the walls, especially those on the ground floor, gives natural protection against the heat, and stop any loss of internal and external temperature”
(Arch.,16, 2012).
Materials
The same interviewees noted the use of natural and adequate building materials on horizontal and vertical levels, with high thermal capacity in general for the walls, ceilings and roofs, as well as columns. The building materials clearly not only absorb and store heat or coolness but also act as insulation, so once the heat or coolness
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are in, they stay there. This idea was echoed by an architect with experience in T.C.HTs. in Baghdad:
“They also used bricks, soil and palm as a building material. The efficiency of these materials has an appropriate thermal capacity for all the above reasons; the house will save the heat according to the seasons” (Arch., 15, 2012).
There were no significant differences between this information and many others obtained from architects about this issue and those presented in the literature review.
All the points above indicate that the courtyard is an excellent environmental tool for responding to different environmental conditions. From this huge positive perspective, we understand why the architects used the design principles of the T.C.H.T. However, if these architects are so positive in comparison with the negative perspective of the T.C.H.T, why did they not base their current design on them and why they add a new overlook to their new designs?