Thermal Characteristics of Outdoor and Semi-outdoor Spaces in Climate of Tehran-Iran

The thermal comfort and its related concerns are becoming much more controversial in modern cities. Contemporary architecture is completely influenced by surrounding environmental issues. In recent years paying attention to architectural design to achieve sustainable and eco- friendly architecture has been one of architects and researchers of this field’s concern. In the past, Iranian architecture was completely responsible for its surrounding environment and provided the thermal comfort to its inhabitants without damaging the nature and environment. Therefore, the ecological consideration to today’s architecture and urbanization and furthermore, lack of sufficient research on ecological issues in architecture explain necessity of the present writing. In same way, the Envi- met 3.1 software is used to simulate the different outdoor and semi- outdoor spaces in Tehran’s climate. In this study semi- closed spaces, semi- open spaces, open spaces and enclosed spaces, in format of designing environment of a residential complex are considered in terms of structure and thermal behaviors. Results of this research show that the semi- open spaces have the lowest temperature. The thermal behavior of semi- closed space is very similar to the semi-open space but because of stagnation of the air, temperature is higher than the semi-open space. Semi-closed space because of less proximity to its surroundings generally has less humidity and relative humidity in open and semi- open spaces is affected by absolute humidity of that place more than the temperature. The wind speed in enclosed open environments is less than other areas and average of radiant temperature in semi-closed spaces reaches the lowest amount.