Harran earthen houses as a precedent for environmental comfort

Purpose This study aims to conduct environmental comfort analyses of vernacular architecture to establish design principles for a more sustainable design domain. In the scope of this research, 47 individual Harran earthen houses, comprising 32 different types and six typologies are examined. Design/methodology/approach Environmental comfort is selected as an umbrella term for the analysis of thermal comfort, visual comfort, and natural ventilation performance criteria. The performance simulations are conducted utilizing ClimateStudio and SolidWorks software. These simulations yield values for thermal comfort, glare, daylight, solar radiation, airflow, and pressure, which are used to compare different Harran earthen house typologies. Findings The study’s results indicate that various environmental comfort standards are met by Harran earthen houses through passive systems, without the need for technology or mechanical equipment. In terms of thermal comfort, visual comfort, and natural ventilation performance criteria, a typology that has advantages in one criterion may have disadvantages in the others. Factors such as orientation, material selection, opening arrangement, and architectural form are found to have an impact on environmental comfort. Originality/value This study differs from previous Harran earthen house and environmental comfort studies by focusing on multiple performance criteria and conducting a typology-based comparison based on performance analysis. The results of the study are expected to provide valuable insights into the environmental comfort studies of Harran earthen houses, emphasizing their relevance and applicability in contemporary architectural and urban design.