Climate-Driven Transformation of Vernacular Buildings: A Typology-Based Energy Retrofit Approach

Climate change poses significant challenges to the built environment, particularly in rural and mountainous regions where vernacular architecture represents an important part of cultural heritage. Traditional buildings, although originally adapted to local climatic conditions, often fail to meet contemporary requirements for energy efficiency and thermal comfort. This study investigates climate adaptation strategies for vernacular buildings through sustainable energy retrofit, focusing on three typologically distinct traditional houses in Sredačka Župa (Kosovo). The research combines typological analysis and building energy simulation using DesignBuilder software 8.5, version 5.0.3.007, to evaluate the thermal performance of selected case studies. Special attention is given to the application of innovative thermal coatings as a minimally invasive retrofit solution compatible with heritage conservation principles. Four scenarios are analyzed, including the baseline condition and different coating strategies, in order to assess their impact on energy consumption, heat losses and indoor thermal comfort. The results demonstrate that the effectiveness of energy retrofit measures varies depending on building typology, construction system and spatial organization. The application of advanced thermal coatings shows a significant potential to reduce energy demand while requiring only minimal, low-thickness intervention in the existing building envelope. Furthermore, the findings highlight the importance of integrating traditional climate-responsive design principles with contemporary material technologies. This study contributes to the field of sustainable architecture by proposing a climate adaptation framework for vernacular buildings, emphasizing the role of low-impact interventions in enhancing resilience and energy performance in the built environment.