干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

This study investigates the so called roun orientations on the example of two cities in the hot-dry region of Iran, Yazd and Esfahan. Urban design in the hot-dry region of Iran is characterized by attached buildings with internal courtyards which are separated from external public environment. The roun orientations of the internal courtyards are at 30 degrees angle from the North-South axis in Yazd and Esfahan clockwise and counterclockwise, respectively. These orientations provide two southern and two northern sides in an internal courtyard. The analysis is based on the annual amount of solar radiation on the courtyard walls and the seasonal wind directions which strikes them. The results demonstrate advantages of each north-facing and south-facing side in a roun orientation for summer and winter, respectively. Furthermore the case studies in Yazd and Esfahan illustrate the existence of roun orientations in historic districts. In addition the position of indoor semi-open spaces such as iwan as well as wind catchers mainly on the southern sides of the case studies’ courtyards proves the advantages of these sides to be used in summer.