Achieving Sustainable Architecture through the Integration of Vernacular Natural Ventilation Principles into Contemporary Architecture Design

Hoda Ramezani^*Ehsan Reza

• Uluslararasi Kibris Universitesi, Nicosia, Cyprus

This research uniquely addresses the gap between theoretical studies on vernacular ventilation and their practical application in modern residential design. Unlike earlier studies that primarily document or analyze traditional methods, this study systematically reconstructs and technically reinterprets vernacular strategies for direct integration into contemporary housing. The starting point of this research is thus the exploration of how selected values and techniques of traditional architecture can be systematically reconstructed and technically reinterpreted within modern residential design. This marks a distinctive contribution, as it moves beyond theoretical comparison to demonstrate how vernacular construction methods can be adapted, transferred, and integrated into contemporary housing. Within this framework, natural ventilation and passive cooling are identified as primary foci. A mixed-methods approach is adopted: (i) quantitative analysis of global climate classifications, emphasizing their influence on vernacular characteristics; (ii) systematic categorization of natural ventilation strategies and their structural functions; and (iii) integration of these strategies into contemporary housing in North Cyprus through environmental simulations and spatial analyses. Tools such as Revit, Index 360, and DepthmapX, alongside energy performance simulations, are employed to evaluate the environmental effectiveness of adaptive strategies. Findings reveal that vernacular ventilation, when systematically adapted, can significantly reduce energy consumption while enhancing comfort. The proposed framework clarifies pathways for embedding resilience knowledge into design and establishes, for the first time, a technically grounded model that reconstructs traditional methods for direct use in modern architecture. While the study is rooted in the specific context of Northern Cyprus, its insights resonate with global challenges of sustainable housing, where diverse climatic conditions demand adaptive frameworks. By situating North Cyprus as a representative microcosm, the research underscores how localized vernacular knowledge can inform universally relevant design solutions in the face of climate change. This research bridges tradition and innovation, contributing to a sustainable, health-conscious, and policy-oriented discourse while setting a precedent for a prospective North Cyprus building code.