Climatic Building Envelope Employed in Vernacular Residential Architecture in Golestan-Iran

Climate is one of the many factors such as socio-cultural values, economics, materials, administrative factors and technology that influence architectural forms. The climatic solutions effecting on architecture, differ in various regions, cultures, time and technology. The climate of the province of Golestan plays an active role in the formation and diversity of vernacular dwellings. This region is in contact with numerous environmental factors. It is limited by Alborz Mountain in the south, by Turkmenistan desert in the north-east, and by Caspian Sea in the north-west bringing about high humidity in this province. With this background, the paperʹs question raised: "How do the climatic design principles of vernacular architecture respond to microclimates in this region?" In this paper, the focus is on buildingʹs envelopes and shells in three local climatic scopes of the region. The paper is based on a combination of research methodologies: field research (integrating case studies) and archival research. The climatic data are being analyzed by Mahoney tables providing preliminary design recommendations. They are grouped under eight headings: layout, spacing, ventilation, openings (size, position and protection), the relation between building and ground, veranda, wall and roof. This essay argues about the knowledge and skill of vernacular and traditional bioclimatic construction suggesting conceptual strategies for improve current dwelling aiming to a sustainable future.