The sustainability of human settlements in hot and arid regions requires design strategies that are adapted to climatic conditions and reduce reliance on mechanical energy systems. Iranian vernacular architecture, as the result of centuries of human adaptation to the environment, offers valuable capacities to achieve this goal. The present study aims to explain the role of vernacular residential morphological patterns in Natanz in the development of climate-responsive settlements.
This research adopts a descriptive–analytical method based on a mixed-methods (qualitative–quantitative) approach. Data were collected through documentary studies, field surveys, and computational simulation. Four historical houses, including Mirtarabian, Fakhar, Sourgah, and Toselian, were selected as case studies, and their performance in terms of natural ventilation, thermal comfort, and climatic sustainability was evaluated using DesignBuilder software and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis.
The results indicate that spatial elements such as central courtyards, introverted spatial organization, cross-ventilation openings, the use of local materials with high thermal mass, and appropriate building orientation significantly improve airflow patterns, increase air change rates, enhance thermal comfort, and reduce energy demand. Among the studied cases, the Mirtarabian house demonstrated the most favorable climatic performance. The findings suggest that vernacular architectural patterns of Natanz can provide effective strategies for designing sustainable and climate-responsive contemporary settlements.