Efficiency of the Khavun-chini of historical houses in Shushtar in shading the building

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 PhD Student of Architecture, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Basic Science, Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Architecture, Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran.

3 Assistant Professor, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Technology and Engineering, Parand Branch, Islamic Azad University, Parand, Iran.

Abstract

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.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

  • Attarian, K., & Azizhaji, E. (2019). Investigation of brick carvings in the inscription of the entrance of Dezful historic houses [Barresiye noghushe ajori dar tazyinate katibeĥ̉ye sardare vorudie khanehhaye tarikhiye Dezfol]. Proceedings of the 3rd International Congress on Contemporary Civil Engineering, Architecture and Urban Development (pp. 1–10). University of Tehran, Iran. (in Persian)

    Alhuwayil, W.K., Abdul-Mujeebu, M., & M. Algarny, A.M. (2018). Impact of external shading strategy on energy performance of multi-story hotel building in hot-humid climate. Energy, 169(C), pp. 1166-1174. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0360544218324356

    Ben-Bacha, C., & Bourbia, F. (2016). Effect of kinetic facades on energy efficiency in office buildings - hot dry climates. Proceedings of the 11th Conference on Advanced Building Skins (pp. 458–468).

    Boukhelkhal, I., & Bourbia, F. (2021). Experimental study on the thermal behavior of exterior coating textures of building in hot and arid climates. Sustainability Journal, 13(8), 4175. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13084175

    Dahar, A., Tahbaz, M., & Taban, M. (2020). Studying the effect of khavunchini on heat transfer from South facade in summer, in very hot and semi-arid climate of Khuzestan [Barresiye asare khovon -chiniy bar enteghale harart az namaye jenobi dar tabastan, dar eghlime besyar garam va nimeh khoshke Khuzestan]. Journal of Architecture in Hot and Dry Climate, (10), 119-140. https://doi.org/10.29252/ahdc.2020.13060.1302 (in Persian)

    Hashemi, N., Heidari, S., & Rahbar, M. (2022). Adaptive thermal comfort as the final metric for evaluating the quality of the exterior shading on building envelopes; The case study: A residential building in Shiraz, Iran [Sazgariye hararti be onvane shakhese nehaeye sanjeshe keifiyate sayeh-andaziye sayehbanhaye kharji, nemonehye mourde motaleeh: sakhtemane maskuni dar Shiraz]. Journal of Fine Arts: Architecture and urban planning, 27 (3), 5-17. https://jfaup.ut.ac.ir/article_88578.html (in Persian)

    Kandar, M.Z., Nimlyat, P.S., Abdullahi, M.G., & Dodo, Y.A. (2019). Influence of inclined wall self-shading strategy on office building heat gain and energy performance in hot humid climate of Malaysia. Heliyon journal, 5(7). e02077. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844019357378

    Liua, S., Kwok, Y.T., Lau, K.K.L., Chan, P.W., & Ng, E. (2019). Investigating the energy saving potential of applying shading panels on opaque façades: A case study for residential buildings in Hong Kong. Energy & Buildings journal, 193, 78-91. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378778818330147

    Mashhoor, Z. (2022). Investigation of brick arrays of historical houses in the city of Behbahan in the Pahlavi Period [Barresiye arayehhaye ajoriye khanehhaye Behbahan dar dorĥ̉ye Pahlavi]. Journal of Iranian Architecture Studies, 20, 27-48. https://jias.kashanu.ac.ir/article_111910.html (in Persian)

    Naeima, GH. (1997). Dezful; the city of bricks [Dezful; shahr-e ajor]. Publications of the National Cultural Heritage Organization. (in Persian)

    Naeima, GH. (2020). Dezful; the city of bricks ] Dezful; shahr-e ajor [(The second volume). Publications of Soroush Danesh. (in Persian)

    Rahimiyeh, F., & Robubi, GH. (1974). Understanding the city and native Iranian housing in warm and semi-humid climate conditions; Dezful-Shushtar [Shenakhte shahr va maskane boumiye Iran dar sharayete ab va havaeiye garm va nimeh martoob; Dezful-Shushtar]. Publications of the Tehran University Students Association. (in Persian)

    Rahaei, O., & Rezaeizadeh, A. (2022). Investigation of thermal behavior of traditional geometric patterns (Khavun-chini) in the external hollow walls of Dezful double-walled walls in order to revive cultural [Barresiye raftare hararatiye noghooshe hendesiye sonata (Khavun-chini) dar jedarehhaye mojavafe kharejiye divarhaye dojedarhye Dezful dar rastaye ehysye hoviyate farhangi]. Journal of Researches in Islamic Architecture, 4, 150-166. https://jria.iust.ac.ir/article-1-1520-fa.html (in Persian)

    Shahda, M.M. (2020). Self-shading walls to improve environmental performance in desert buildings. Architecture Research journal, 10(1), 1-14. http://article.sapub.org/10.5923.j.arch.20201001.01.html

    Taban, M., Pourjafar, M., Bemanian, M., & Heidari, SH. (2012). Climate Impact on Architectural Ornament Analyzing the Shadow of Khavoons in Dezful Historical Context with the Use of Image Processing [Tasire eghlim bar shekle tazeinate mamari ba takiyeh bar tahlile mizane sayeh-andaziye Khavun-chinihaye ajoeiye bafte tarikhiye Dezful]. The Journal of Naqshejahan, 2 (2), 79-90. https://bsnt.modares.ac.ir/article_697.html (in Persian)

    Taban, M., Mehrakizadeh, M., & Najjaran, S. (2019). Recognition of the shading elements in traditional houses of Dezful [Shenakhte anasore sayehandaz dar maskane sonatiye Dezful]. The Journal of Armanshahr, 27, 25-41. https://www.armanshahrjournal.com/article_92444.html (in Persian)

    Tarabieh, K., Abdelmohsen, S., Elghazi, Y., El-Dabaa, R., Hassan, A., & Amer, M. (2017). Parametric investigation of three types of brick bonds for thermal performance in a hot arid climate zone. Passive Low Energy Architecture – Design to Thrive, 3699–3706.

    Vasigh, B., Naseri, H., & Bakhteari, S. (2021). Recognizing the pleasantness of the image in khovon -chiniye at the entrance of the historical houses of Dezful [Bazeshenasiye matlubiyate tasviriye khovon -chiniye sardare khanehhaye tarikhiye Dezfol]. Journal of Negarineh Islamic Art, 7 (20), 57-67. https://niamag.birjand.ac.ir/article_1663.html (in Persian) Zargarzadeh-dezfulli, M., Larry-Baghal, K., Salari-nasab, N., & Babaeimorad, M. (2016). The khovon decorative brickwork technique in architecture of Dezful [Khovon -chiniye, takamole abad va tanasob ajor dar namasazihaye asare memariye Dezful]. Journal of Iranian Architecture Studies, 9, 47-66. https://jias.kashanu.ac.ir/article_111758.html (In Persian) Zangeneh, A., Masoudi-nezhad, M., & Ahadi, A.A. (2023). Patterns and constituent elements of the khavun-chinis of Shushtar [Shenasaeye nogoosh va anasore tashkil dahandehye khovon -chinihaye Shushtar]. Journal of Iranian Architecture Studies, 23, 135-156. https://jias.kashanu.ac.ir/article_114098.html (In Persian)

    - تابان، محسن؛ پورجعفر، محمدرضا؛ بمانیان، محمدرضا و حیدری، شاهین (1391). تأثیر اقلیم بر شکل تزیینات معماری با تکیه بر تحلیل میزان سایه‌اندازی خوون‌چینی‌های آجری بافت تاریخی دزفول. نشریه‌ نقش جهان، 2 (2)، 79-90. https://bsnt.modares.ac.ir/article_697.html

    - تابان، محسن؛ مهرکی زاده، محمد و نجاران، سارا (1398). شناخت عناصر سایه‌انداز در مسکن سنتی دزفول. فصلنامه معماری و شهرسازی آرمانشهر، 27، 25-41. https://www.armanshahrjournal.com/article_92444.html

    • دهار، علی؛ طاهباز، منصوره و تابان، محسن (1398). بررسی اثر خوون ‌چینی بر انتقال حرارت از نمای جنوبی در تابستان، در اقلیم بسیار گرم و نیمه‌خشک خوزستان. نشریۀ معماری اقلیم گرم و خشک، 10، 119-140. https://doi.org/10.29252/ahdc.2020.13060.1302
    • - رحیمیه، فرنگیس و ربوبی، غلامرضا (1353). شناخت شهر و مسکن بومی ایران در شرایط آب و هوایی گرم و نیمه مرطوب؛ دزفول ـ شوشتر. انتشارات انجمن دانشجویان دانشگاه تهران.
    • - رهایی، امید و رضایی‌زاده، آیه (1401). بررسی رفتار حرارتی نقوش هندسی سنتی (خوون‌چینی) در جداره‌های مجوف خارجی دیوارهای دوجداره دزفول در راستای احیای هویت فرهنگی. فصلنامه پژوهش‌های معماری اسلامی، 4، 150-166. https://jria.iust.ac.ir/article-1-1520-fa.html
    • - زرگرزاده دزفولی، مجتبی؛ لاری بقال، سید کیانوش؛ سالاری نسب، نجمه و بابایی‌مراد، مهناز (1395). خوون ‌چینی تکامل و تناسب ابعاد آجر در نماسازی‌های آثار معماری دزفول. دوفصلنامه‌‌ مطالعات معماری ایران، 9، 47-66. https://jias.kashanu.ac.ir/article_111758.html
    • - زنگنه، علی؛ مسعودی‌نژاد، مصطفی و احدی، امین‌اله (1402). شناسایی نقوش و اجزای تشکیل‌دهندۀ خوون‌چینی‌های شوشتر. دوفصلنامۀ مطالعات معماری ایران، 23، 135-156. https://jias.kashanu.ac.ir/article_114098.html
    • - مشهور، زینب (1400). بررسی آرایه‌های آجری خانه‌های تاریخی بهبهان در دورۀ پهلوی. دوفصلنامه‌ مطالعات معماری ایران، 20، 27-48. https://jias.kashanu.ac.ir/article_111910.html
    • - نعیما، غلامرضا (1376). دزفول شهر آجر. انتشارات سازمان میراث فرهنگی کشور.
    • - نعیما، غلامرضا (1399). دزفول شهر آجر (جلد دوم). انتشارات سروش دانش.
    • - وثیق، بهزاد؛ ناصری، حسین و بختیاری، صادق (1399). بازشناسی مطلوبیت تصویری خوون ‌چینی سردر خانه‌های تاریخی دزفول. دوفصلنامه علمی نگارینه هنر اسلامی، 7 (20)، 57-67. https://niamag.birjand.ac.ir/article_1663.html
    • - عطاریان، کوروش و عزیزحاجی، عصمت (1398). بررسی نقوش آجری در تزئینات کتیبۀ سردر ورودی خانه‌های تاریخی دزفول. سومین کنگره بین‌المللی عمران، معماری و شهرسازی معاصر، دانشگاه تهران، ایران.
    • - هاشمی، نیلوفر؛ حیدری، شاهین و رهبر، مرتضی (1401). سازگاری حرارتی به‌عنوان شاخص نهایی سنجش کیفیت سایه‌اندازی سایبان‌های خارجی نمونه مورد مطالعه: ساختمان مسکونی در شیراز. نشریه هنرهای زیبا: معماری و شهرسازی، 27 (3)، 5-17. https://jfaup.ut.ac.ir/article_88578.html
Journal of Fine Arts: Architecture & Urban Planning
Volume 31, Issue 1
June 2026
Pages 23-46

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics