Performance evaluation of traditional bath buildings via empirically tested simulation models

Abstract

In a recent research effort, we studied the performance of a certain class of traditional buildings in Egypt, Turkey, Morocco, Syria, and Algeria, namely public baths (‘hammams’). Over a period of 1 year, indoor and outdoor climate data as well as visual and acoustical performance information was collected for a selected number of these buildings. To further explore indoor environmental conditions, the monitored data were used to calibrate digital performance simulation models of a number of the objects studied. Specifically, thermal performance simulation models were generated for three hammams in Egypt, Turkey, and Algeria. Likewise, acoustical performance simulation models were generated for three baths in Algeria. These calibrated thermal and acoustical simulation models were shown to reliably reproduce measurements. Thus, they could be parametrically applied to evaluate alternative options for the renovation, restoration, reuse, and adaptation of these buildings.

Keywords:

• traditional buildings
• simulation models
• parametric studies
• thermal performance
• acoustics

Acknowledgements

The research regarding hammam buildings presented in this article was supported, in part, by a European Union grant; project: ‘Hammam, Aspects and Multidisciplinary Methods of Analysis for the Mediterranean Region’, European Commission's 6th Framework Program Specific Targeted Research Projects FP6-2003-INCO-MPC-2 Contract No.: 517704. Scientific coordinator: OIKODROM, Vienna, Austria. The authors acknowledge the support of the research participants and local project partners toward the collection of information for the generation and calibration of the simulation models illustrated in this article. These include Alaa al Habashi, Nigel Mortimer, Garry Jenkins, Dina Shehayeb, Alp Güney, Kamal Raftani, Abdeslam Taleb, Samira Debache, Sarab Atassi, and Tarek Bouznada. The authors also would like to acknowledge the contributions of Belinda Kainrath and Joseph Lechleitner toward processing the room acoustics data used in this article.