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Key research themes
1. How can biomimicry and ecosystem-inspired design principles enhance sustainability and resilience in bioclimatic architecture?
This research theme explores the integration of biomimetic approaches and ecosystem processes into architectural design to achieve sustainability, energy efficiency, and adaptability. It focuses on understanding natural systems' self-organization, feedback mechanisms, and resilience to inform built environment strategies that reduce environmental impact and improve occupant comfort.
Key finding: This paper systematically reviews the definitions, design frameworks, and actual case studies of biomimicry in architecture, revealing its strong potential for sustainable building design by harnessing nature’s circular... Read more
Key finding: The study identifies specific ecosystem processes—such as optimization of whole systems, self-organization, decentralization, and complex feedback loops—that can be translated into architectural design principles to enhance... Read more
Key finding: Through comparative analysis, this paper distinguishes three distinct biomimetic design approaches in architecture, each with different implications for sustainability outcomes. It reveals the challenge of applying biomimicry... Read more
2. What role do traditional architectural methods and vernacular knowledge play in informing contemporary bioclimatic architectural design?
This theme investigates the significance of vernacular architecture and primitive ecological understanding as sustainable, climate-adaptive design practices. It emphasizes how historical and local building techniques, shaped by climatic responsiveness and material availability, provide vital lessons for contemporary architecture to create regionally adapted, environmentally integrated, and socio-culturally coherent designs.
Key finding: The paper articulates the evolution of ‘ecological design’ in architecture from functional adaptation to climate towards holistic integration with local context, culture, and history. It critiques modern technocratic building... Read more
Key finding: This study shows that traditional vernacular buildings, adapted through passive bioclimatic strategies like natural ventilation and orientation, are crucial for achieving energy-efficient and comfortable indoor environments... Read more
Key finding: Focusing on Mediterranean vernacular urban heritage, the paper uncovers how passive cooling strategies such as natural ventilation—enabled by urban morphology like narrow streets and courtyards—play a vital role in thermal... Read more
3. How can building simulation and meteorological data optimize bioclimatic architectural design for thermal comfort and energy efficiency?
This theme addresses methodological advancements in modeling and analyzing climatic and microclimatic conditions impacting building performance. It examines the use of detailed meteorological sequences, indoor environment simulation, and the incorporation of local climate data to refine design strategies that balance passive and active systems in various climates, especially cold and temperate regions.
Key finding: The paper introduces a novel methodology to generate Typical Meteorological Sequences (TMS) that accurately represent seasonal long-term meteorological patterns relevant for simulating biological system productivity. This... Read more
Key finding: This study demonstrates that high-performance building envelopes radically influence indoor climate dependency on internal gains and ventilation, highlighting the critical importance of accurate building performance... Read more
Key finding: The paper identifies key climatic, natural, social, and urban factors influencing bioclimatic microclimates in southern Kazakhstan, advocating for architectural and planning strategies such as building height modulation,... Read more