Jiménez Alcalá, B: Environmental Aspects of Hispano-Islamic

Hispano-Islamic architecture (VIII-XV C) addresses a great concern about summer heat and light intensity. Thermal comfort was promoted through passive cooling and daylight principally. Thirteen buildings have been studied, both religious and residential. Architectural form provides several occupation patterns and a wealth variety of spaces such as, atria, patios, porticoes or towers, in which microclimates clearly differentiated are generated. In addition, interiors shied from extreme luminance and glare. Cooling techniques involve heat-gain control (heat attenuation and solar orientation) and heat-dissipation (thermal mass, evaporation and ventilation). Daylight has two main facets: control and moderation and decorative symbolic effects. The dissertation includes analytical work based on various types of measurements and simulation studies. The aim of this investigation is the further understanding of the environmental strategies of Hispano-Islamic buildings on the light of sustainable architecture.