This master's thesis analyzes and redesigns the current performance design of the Main Library in Najran University campus, Najran, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) to achieve a completely energy independent and off-grid building. The research demonstrates the energy development in KSA, investigates and analyzes the project, and studies the energy systems. Climate data for Najran city was generated and analyzed in Climate Consultant 6.0. The research examines case studies from hot-arid climates that are responsive climatically. In addition, the energy generation and storage systems are calculated and specified to the building and its site; Quick Energy Simulation Tool (eQUEST) was used to analyze and simulate the energy use in the existing building. Furthermore, Revit software was utilized to develop the project design and simulate daylight intensity for indoor and outdoor spaces. Additionally, Cool Vent simulated the natural ventilation for the building for the low-energy performance case and the high-energy performance case, and direct passive evaporative cool towers were simulated in COOLT software. Appropriate building envelopes, passive cooling strategies, and native landscapes are applied to the off-grid case. Solar power generation outcomes, wind turbines output, batteries size are optimized in HOMER energy simulation software; thus, this off-grid building generates electricity more than its use, then, stores the extra energy in batteries banks. Through this research energy independency was accomplished with a reduction in total energy consumption by 64%, and human thermal comfort levels were attained in the proposed design.

abstract: Biomimicry is an approach that entails understanding the natural system and designs and mimicking them to create new non-biological systems that can solve human problems. From bio-based material development to biologically inspired designs, architects and designers excelled in highlighting the fascination of integrating the biomimetic thinking process into the modern design that provides more comfortable space in which to live. This thesis explores how historical sustainable strategies from Islamic traditional architecture incorporated natural design system that could now be appropriately applied to interior architecture. In addition, it explores the current existing problems in this field and the possibilities of biomimetic sustainable solutions for existing buildings in the hot dry climate regions of Saudi Arabia. The author concentrates on examining Islamic traditional architecture where the past architects incorporated certain aspects of nature in their construction and through using local resources, built buildings that mitigated heat and provided protection from cold. As a result of completing this research, it was found that there are common characteristics between the traditional Islamic architecture elements and system solutions found in some natural organisms. Characteristics included, for example, evaporative cooling, stuck effect, and avoiding heat gain. However, in the natural world, there is always opportunities to further explore more about the impacts of biomimicry and natural strategies applicable to enhance interior environments of buildings. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Design 2016

Natural hazards kill 82,500 people globally in a typical year, with earthquakes as the largest cause of death amongst all natural hazards in Central and Southern America, East Asia, Europe, and the Near East. Damages are highest in middle-income countries due to lack of resources for hazard prevention and mitigation. Dancing to the Desert concentrates on Bam, Iran, as a typical post earthquake city, searching for architecture appropriate for post-disaster cities of hot-arid climates. Dancing to the Desert is a discourse on current seismic, urban, and architectural design conditions in hot-arid climates of the globe, and searches for an appropriate architecture for post-disaster cities in developing regions of the desert climate. Chapter One includes analysis on global seismic hazard conditions, focusing on the hot-arid climates in the world and concentrating on the city of Bam, Iran. Chapter Two includes a detailed analysis of the traditional as well as contemporary architecture of Bam, searching for appropriate architectural elements to use in the proposed architecture. Chapter Three proposes a Pilot Project for an orphanage in Bam, based on the architectural elements and strategies discussed in Chapter Two. Through scientific research, case studies, a site visit to Bam, and discussions with local residents, this thesis finds an appropriate proposal adaptable to all post-disaster cities of the hot-arid climate. It also suggests various strategies for disaster prevention and mitigation through public education. These strategies educate the public in employing cultural and environmental friendly resilient architecture, which will subsequently reduce damage and fatalities on brisk of disaster. It also familiarizes the public with the proposed disaster prevention and mitigation strategies and facilitates the adoption of the proposed design in future post-disaster conditions.

Natural hazards kill 82,500 people globally in a typical year, with earthquakes as the largest cause of death amongst all natural hazards in Central and Southern America, East Asia, Europe, and the Near East. Damages are highest in middle-income countries due to lack of resources for hazard prevention and mitigation. Dancing to the Desert concentrates on Bam, Iran, as a typical post earthquake city, searching for architecture appropriate for post-disaster cities of hot-arid climates. Dancing to the Desert is a discourse on current seismic, urban, and architectural design conditions in hot-arid climates of the globe, and searches for an appropriate architecture for post-disaster cities in developing regions of the desert climate. Chapter One includes analysis on global seismic hazard conditions, focusing on the hot-arid climates in the world and concentrating on the city of Bam, Iran. Chapter Two includes a detailed analysis of the traditional as well as contemporary architecture of Bam, searching for appropriate architectural elements to use in the proposed architecture. Chapter Three proposes a Pilot Project for an orphanage in Bam, based on the architectural elements and strategies discussed in Chapter Two. Through scientific research, case studies, a site visit to Bam, and discussions with local residents, this thesis finds an appropriate proposal adaptable to all post-disaster cities of the hot-arid climate. It also suggests various strategies for disaster prevention and mitigation through public education. These strategies educate the public in employing cultural and environmental friendly resilient architecture, which will subsequently reduce damage and fatalities on brisk of disaster. It also familiarizes the public with the proposed disaster prevention and mitigation strategies and facilitates the adoption of the proposed design in future post-disaster conditions.

Urbanization modifies the thermal characteristics of the land and makes way for a succession of transformations in the urban environmental system. This phenomenon, known as Urban Heat Island (UHI), is characterized by elevated temperatures in urban areas that negatively impact on the quality of life and environment in urban areas including, increased emissions of Green House Gases (GHGs) and rising energy consumption. These impacts add to global climate change and thus, mitigating UHI is essential to mitigating global climate change. One GHG, Carbon Dioxide (CO2), accounts for about half of the Earth’s anthropogenic GHG emissions. Terrestrial ecosystems can act as Carbon sinks (C sinks), i.e. natural vegetation reservoirs that absorb more C than they release. Thus, C sinks play an essential and critical function in lowering CO2. Furthermore, providing appropriate C sinks at both the building and urban scales can decrease UHI and contribute to reduction in energy consumption. This study used Landsat 8 imagery of the site, Al Bayt Stadium in Qatar, to investigate the effects of surface UHI by computing the Land Surface Temperature (LST) difference of the site---pre- and post-construction, as well as examine the correlation between natural vegetation abundance and temperature in ten locations within the site’s vicinity. Results show that minimum, maximum and mean LST of the case study area (2014 vs. 2020) decreased 2.80 oC, 5.5 oC and 2.3 oC, respectively, as well as a decreasing trend in the LST as a function of increasing C Sinks. These results demonstrate the importance of introducing C sinks to lower LST and mitigate UHI. Mitigating UHI also has a direct effect on Energy Consumption Balance (ECB). This equilibrium is achieved not only through the introduction of C sinks, but balancing C sinks with high albedo materials and natural ventilation.  Thus, this study also investigated the site’s various design aspects (e.g. cooling technology, structure and surface albedo materials, landscaping) and found that Al Bayt Stadium’s design successfully incorporates strategies to reduce energy consumption at both the urban (macro) and building (micro) scales.

The study relates international knowledge of climatically responsive and energy-efficient design to work done in South Africa. It also explores the relevance of design devices from international regions to the climates of this country. The research approach explores existing analyses of the main climate regions and the effects of climate factors on human comfort in each, in order to derive appropriate design solutions for the climate of South Africa. In South Africa obstacles exist in the face of energy efficiency. The cheapness of electricity to the consumer and the virtual non-existence of appropriate legislation appear to be two of the most significant obstacles. Design and subsequent construction of suburban residences is carried out with little regard for climatic context. Water is shown to be a particularly scarce and unevenly distributed commodity, which the affluent have greater access to and consume in greater quantities. However, it is demonstrated that the South African climate is virtually ideal for several climate-responsive energy-efficiency techniques. Especially due to the high solar radiation levels there is potential for various active and passive solar design techniques and technologies. The impact of atmospheric temperature and humidity, wind, radiation and precipitation on human comfort is investigated. Humidity and wind are demonstrated to be very influential on human comfort, whereas radiation and wind are the most easily manipulated through design. Furthermore, the specific topography and location of a site can influence the microclimate and solar access of an area to a significant degree. The South African climate is predominantly either hot semi-arid or temperate. Most of the western interior is hot arid whereas the eastern interior and highveld is predominantly temperate, with temperatures increasing to the north and decreasing to the south. The only cool region of the country is found in the highlands of the Drakensberg, with a significant portion of the eastern coast being hot humid. Methodologies and guidelines for both layout, or macro design, and detailed design of residential suburbs are explored. The manipulation of solar radiation, sunlight and wind, as well as the management of rainwater and used household water is explored. It is shown that designing suburbs to create access to solar radiation forms the basis of solar design, with solar access control, material and surface treatment largely determining the success of individual designs. Wind manipulation is achieved mainly through planting design, influencing mostly heat loss and gain ratios into buildings. Effective household water management can substantially reduce its consumption. Further research is needed in all aspects of climate-responsive design, especially classification of the South African climate and development of design techniques adapted to this context. / Dissertation (M (Landscape Architecture))--University of Pretoria, 2004. / Architecture / unrestricted