University of Tehran Press Journal of Fine Arts: Architecture & Urban Planning 2228-6020 31 1 2026 04 21 Efficiency of the Khavun-chini of historical houses in Shushtar in shading the building Efficiency of the Khavun-chini of historical houses in Shushtar in shading the building 23 46 106171 10.22059/jfaup.2026.407150.673145 FA َAli Zangeneh PhD Student of Architecture, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Basic Science, Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran. 0009-0004-7121-7693 Mostafa Masoudinejad Assistant Professor, Department of Architecture, Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran. 0000-0001-6671-6122 Amin-alah Ahadi Assistant Professor, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Technology and Engineering, Parand Branch, Islamic Azad University, Parand, Iran. 0000-0002-8969-6416 Journal Article 2025 11 28 The ancient city of Shushtar, with its 243 hectares of historical fabric, is a living and successful example of architectural experience in the hot and semi-humid climate of Iran; a type of architecture that is in harmony with the climate, in which the use of brick and brick facades has played a fundamental role. "Khavun-chini" is the art of Shushtari architects; a type of prominent brickwork decoration executed in a checkered pattern that, in addition to being beautiful, also has a thermal function. The main issue in this research is to investigate the effectiveness of Shushtar Khavun-chinis in shading the southern facade of the building and its thermal capability. This research, using a quantitative approach and descriptive-analytical method, has investigated the shading ability of 66 patterns from the brick facades of historical buildings in Shushtar (decorations of the main entrances of houses and courtyard walls), which mostly date back to the late Qajar and the first Pahlavi period. Information on various motifs was mostly obtained through field surveys. After drawing the Khavun-chinis map, in order to determine the most optimal angle of the building, the shading of three examples of brick facades was studied in the field by constructing a 1:1 model. The study showed that the largest area of shadows produced by these motifs during different hours of the day occurs when the Khavuns is rotated 10 degrees (northeast to southwest) against the sunlight, and the smallest shading occurs when the Khavun-chinis is rotated 40 degrees. After finding the optimal angle, simulation of the selected samples was performed using EcoTect software. By comparing field and simulation results, the validity of this software for research in the Shushtar climate was confirmed and the shading of the entire Khavuns was simulated. A comparison of Shushtar brick facades in terms of shading showed that pattern number 42, with a value of 6.86, has the highest efficiency, and pattern number 39, with a value of 3.34, has the lowest efficiency in shading the southern facade of the building. Comparing the degree of protrusion of Shushtar Khavun-chini motifs with their efficiency shows that although the shadow is produced by the protruding part of these motifs, the main factor in the difference between the efficiency of these motifs in shading is not the variable of protrusion of the motif. As a result of this research, the effectiveness of brick facades in shading the southern facade of the building was identified, and through field and software analysis, the best angle for the building's placement in the city of Shushtar to produce maximum shade by the sunshades was determined. Considering the study conducted on the effect of the amount (area) of protrusion of patterns on the shading efficiency of Khavun-chinis and the lack of scientific evidence based on a direct relationship between this variable and shading efficiency; It seems that investigating the effect of the variables "dispersion" and "orientation" of the role on the shading efficiency of Shushtar bloodsuckers could be a suitable field for future research. The ancient city of Shushtar, with its 243 hectares of historical fabric, is a living and successful example of architectural experience in the hot and semi-humid climate of Iran; a type of architecture that is in harmony with the climate, in which the use of brick and brick facades has played a fundamental role. "Khavun-chini" is the art of Shushtari architects; a type of prominent brickwork decoration executed in a checkered pattern that, in addition to being beautiful, also has a thermal function. The main issue in this research is to investigate the effectiveness of Shushtar Khavun-chinis in shading the southern facade of the building and its thermal capability. This research, using a quantitative approach and descriptive-analytical method, has investigated the shading ability of 66 patterns from the brick facades of historical buildings in Shushtar (decorations of the main entrances of houses and courtyard walls), which mostly date back to the late Qajar and the first Pahlavi period. Information on various motifs was mostly obtained through field surveys. After drawing the Khavun-chinis map, in order to determine the most optimal angle of the building, the shading of three examples of brick facades was studied in the field by constructing a 1:1 model. The study showed that the largest area of shadows produced by these motifs during different hours of the day occurs when the Khavuns is rotated 10 degrees (northeast to southwest) against the sunlight, and the smallest shading occurs when the Khavun-chinis is rotated 40 degrees. After finding the optimal angle, simulation of the selected samples was performed using EcoTect software. By comparing field and simulation results, the validity of this software for research in the Shushtar climate was confirmed and the shading of the entire Khavuns was simulated. A comparison of Shushtar brick facades in terms of shading showed that pattern number 42, with a value of 6.86, has the highest efficiency, and pattern number 39, with a value of 3.34, has the lowest efficiency in shading the southern facade of the building. Comparing the degree of protrusion of Shushtar Khavun-chini motifs with their efficiency shows that although the shadow is produced by the protruding part of these motifs, the main factor in the difference between the efficiency of these motifs in shading is not the variable of protrusion of the motif. As a result of this research, the effectiveness of brick facades in shading the southern facade of the building was identified, and through field and software analysis, the best angle for the building's placement in the city of Shushtar to produce maximum shade by the sunshades was determined. Considering the study conducted on the effect of the amount (area) of protrusion of patterns on the shading efficiency of Khavun-chinis and the lack of scientific evidence based on a direct relationship between this variable and shading efficiency; It seems that investigating the effect of the variables "dispersion" and "orientation" of the role on the shading efficiency of Shushtar bloodsuckers could be a suitable field for future research. https://jfaup.ut.ac.ir/article_106171_76aabd38809d6ad5141236abdb6d9563.pdf