Pedestrian Level Relationship between Building Forms and Streets Effects on the Condition of Comfort in Historical Context

Abstract

In urban design, the shape and form of the building and the layout of the buildings on the topography significantly influence the microclimatic comfort quality at the pedestrian level or in the public spaces all around the buildings by directing the winds to the streets and the designed open spaces. In this study, The Arabahmet region, one of the oldest historical settlements and cultural heritage of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, is located within the capital city of Nicosia, Cyprus, and the continuation of the Arabahmet doctrine under the control of the United Nations, which is now between the territories of Southern part of Cyprus and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). This region has been a witness to many urban and periodical experiences over a wide period of time, covering many ages. This settlement is one of the settlement areas in which the Ottoman Empire and Republican periods, especially the Byzantine empire, and rarely seen the chance to see the official and civic influences on a city together. The overall aim of the study is to reveal the general potentials of the historic land of the Arabahmet region, which is about to become a depressed region due to different reasons, in many parameters, especially the physical comfort criteria.

1. Introduction

In urban design, the settlement pattern of the buildings has very important effects on the comfort values both around the buildings and inside the buildings. For example, the microclimate in urban areas differs significantly from the microclimate in rural areas. Air temperatures in the urban texture are higher due to the urban heat island effect, and wind velocity are lower due to the roughness rates in the urban texture and the buildings block the wind flows. Spacing between buildings, street ratios and building-street relations are important in terms of providing wind environment needs of buildings, especially with urban texture ventilation. A desirable wind environment at the pedestrian level can contribute to improving the quality of urban life for many reasons, including pollutant dispersion, city ventilation, thermal comfort and wind comfort [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13]. In urban design, many buildings and their surroundings depend on design criteria including building height variation, and building porosity, in urban and regional planning studies to improve urban high density, low wind environments. A review of the literature studies found a strong relationship between different building heights and wind environments at pedestrian level in residential layout and open-semi-open space design between buildings [14]. In another study, the effect of different building heights on the wind speed ratio was examined and it was stated that the height variation of the building blocks could increase the wind flow motion at the pedestrian level, especially for compact conditions [15, 16, 17].

The effect of wind around buildings depends not only on the topography and the roughness of the surface, but also on the geometry of the building, the arrangement of the surrounding buildings, and the wind direction. The wind flow has multiple effects, including heat transfer by convection, penetration of rain, the dilution of the pollutants, noise or dust removal. The most significant effects on pedestrian are the mechanical and thermodynamic effects. Comfort for pedestrians is influenced by a number of variables, including wind speed (and critical speed bursts), season and the local climate, the environment temperature, rainfall, humidity, people activity in public spaces, clothing, and factors like age and psychological well-being of other pedestrians. The appearance of high wind speeds can be avoided by a preliminary assessment of the wind behavior at ground level and near buildings [18]. The major problems encountered in the evaluation of the urban microclimate are due to the heterogeneity in the land texture of the urban texture and the structure of the semi-open spaces that will create shade, and it has been seen that many problems are caused by the fact that they are not handled sensitively during the building design process [19]. Wind flow manifests itself at the pedestrian level in basically two ways: it can either be felt as a wind velocity that affects the heat exchange between people and the environment; or as a force coming from the sum of the pressure field on the human body [20].

The urban texture are usually covered by streets, designing urban streets plays an important role in creating the urban climate. The urban streets vary in geometry as defined by height/width ratio and length/width and also the orientation that is defined by its long axis. These factors have a direct bearing on solar radiation absorption and emission as well as urban ventilation, which in turn affects temperature changes in the street as well as the environment at large [21].

It has been shown that the street canyon’s shape and orientation have an impact on the potential for cooling the entire urban system, solar access inside and outside of buildings, permeability to airflow for urban ventilation, and interior and outdoor habitats [22]. The most convenient urban characteristics responsible for the microclimatic variations in a street canyon, according to studies in this field, are the geometry’s parameters (height-to-width ratio and street orientation) [23]. The capacity for airflow at street level, sun access, and therefore the urban microclimate are directly impacted by these factors [24, 25].

2. Computational fluid dynamics for urban design and pedestrian level wind comfort between buildings

In recent years, the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technique has been widely used not only in environmental research, but also in building design and urban design processes, especially at the pedestrian level [26]. In a study completed in Japan, CFD applications in the pedestrian level wind environment were examined in detail, and Blocken (2014) reviewed CFD studies in wind engineering in the last 50 years [27, 28]. Also many studies have been carried out with CFD on both indoor comfort and energy performances and outdoor pedestrian level comfort, building facade pressure, speed values and design-comfort performance values [29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36]. In these studies, it is seen that CFD significantly reduces the costs of studies while allowing a more comprehensive and in-depth analysis of subjects that are objectively difficult to investigate experimentally [35, 36, 37, 38]. When the comparing with wind tunnel testing and on-site monitoring technique, CFD simulation has some advantages such as whole flow wind data and low costs. A “comfortable climate environment” in an urban microclimatic environment is the most important parameter for human health and comfort. Therefore, in recent years, researches, research projects and studies on wind microclimate conditions at pedestrian level around both high-density and low-density buildings in urban areas have been increasing day by day [39, 40, 41, 42].

3. The evaluation of pedestrian level wind condition and comfort criteria

In the evaluation of wind comfort, besides the wind velocity, the frequency of occurrence is also important. For this reason, the wind comfort criteria include the threshold wind speed and frequency of occurrence that will cause discomfort to pedestrians. A wide variety of wind comfort criteria based on the threshold mean wind speed and probability of exceeding have been previously proposed [43, 44, 45, 46]. The following criteria are required for the evaluation of the wind climate environment favorable for pedestrians at the comfort level: (1) Statistical meteorological data of the meteorological station closest to the study area; (2) Topographic and aerodynamic information of the study area and (3) Mechanical wind comfort criteria. Aerodynamic data helps to calculate and interpret statistical data in a particular region obtained from the weather station. The converted data at the building location is then compared with the wind comfort criteria. The meteorological data received from the meteorological station consists of the hourly average wind speed. (Ums: measured at 10 m altitude) wind and wind direction at terrain (y0, meteo = 0.03 m). These wind speed data from the weather station are substituted into the equation below to calculate the probability of exceeding the threshold wind speed [43, 47, 48].

$$P\left(>U\right)=\exp \left[-{\left(\frac{U}{c}\right)}^k\right]$$E1

Where P (>U) represents the probability of exceeding the wind speed; U is the average wind speed magnitude of the area where the building is located, the terrain; C is the dispersion parameter and k is the building form parameter. These constants are obtained by applying Eq. (1) to the meteorological data. Then the statistical information must be converted to the area of interest by means of aerodynamic information using the amplification factor R (Eq. (2)) This amplification factor consists of the design related contribution and the terrain related contribution (Eq. (3)) [47]. The design contribution includes modification of statistical wind climate information due to local building design. This modification can be achieved using either wind tunnel measurement or CFD simulation. The terrain related change explains the differences in weather station and terrain roughness and can be obtained using Eqs. (4) and (5), [47, 48].

$$R=U/U_{ms}$$E2

$$R=\frac{U}{U_{ms}}=\frac{U}{U_0}\ast \frac{U_0}{U_{ms}},$$E3

$$\frac{U_0}{U_{ms}}=\frac{U_{site}\left(at1.75m\right)}{U_{meteo}\left(at10m\right)}=\frac{u_{site}^{\ast }.\ln \left(\frac{1.75m}{y_{0,site}}+1\right)}{u_{meteo}^{\ast }.\ln \left(\frac{10m}{y_{0,meteo}}+1\right)}$$E4

$$P\left(>U\right)=\exp \left[-{\left(\frac{U}{R\ast c}\right)}^k\right]$$E5

In the assessment of the wind environment at the pedestrian level, field measurements in the real urban area (field measurement), wind tunnel tests in the scale model of the urban area and CFD simulation techniques are used. However, it is not possible to make changes at the early design stage and to measure area for urban development projects. The use of the CFD technique provides all the flow field data, while the field measurement can only be made for a few locations. But simulating the wind environment using CFD techniques is a difficult task. Regarding wind comfort at pedestrian level, as the height of the building increases, the maximum wind speed ratio increases due to the strong downwash effect, because the tall building catches the wind at a higher speed and directs it to the pedestrian level. Therefore, it creates high wind speed conditions and improves the ventilation conditions of adjacent areas of the building [49, 50, 51]. Although larger buildings increase the coverage of the low wind speed zone downstream of the building, increasing the incoming wind protection effect, the turbulence density is not significantly affected by the building’s height change [48, 49, 50, 51].

In this context, the aim of this study are examining the pedestrian level wind and comfort conditions of the existing urban texture in the settlement pattern of the Arabahmet region, which is located in the historical texture, in Nicosia Arabahmet and green line (buffer zone) texture, determining the comfortable and uncomfortable areas, examining the pedestrian level comfort conditions and wind and thermal comfort conditions, examining the effects on urban heat islands and microclimate. Similar to this, the impact of three different building porosity sizes on wind comfort surrounding a cluster of buildings and an isolated building are assessed. The findings of wind tunnel tests are used to verify the accuracy of the CFD simulation, which forecasts the wind environment at street level. The wind comfort surrounding structures is evaluated using the new wind comfort standards. From a practical standpoint, this work offers city planners and architects a solid foundation for improving pedestrian level wind comfort without sacrificing effective site use.

4. Characteristics of case study area

Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean. Since the tweleveth century, Nicosia has been the capital of Cyprus. It is the only town located inland and therefore isolated. Coastal towns were repeatedly destroyed by hostile invasions, so the capital was moved inland. Still, there is a large area southeast of the old city that appears to have been inhabited for about 5,000 years. Cyprus was inhabited by Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots in 1960. The peaceful coexistence of the Greek and Turkish communities came to an end in late 1963, with the outbreak of a political crisis and intercommunal violence. Turkish Cypriots withdrew from the joint institutions. The United Nations has sent peacekeepers to the island for the first time, and it still exists.

This study; The Arabahmet region, which is one of the oldest historical settlements and cultural heritages of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, located within the borders of Nicosia, the capital of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, and a part of the Arabahmet region currently within the borders of the T.R.N.C., and the lands of Southern Cyprus and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. It was studied in the area that covers the area under the control of the United Nations (Figure 1). Arabahmet district is located in the west of the walled city of Nicosia, in an area extending to Zahra Bastion in the north, Kaytazağa Bastion in the south and Sarayonu Square in the east.

Figure 1.

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Map and Plan view of the Arabahmet District of Nicosia Walled City [52].

This region; It is a region that has witnessed many urban and periodical experiences over a wide period of time, and is still in progress. In this settlement pattern, it is one of the settlement areas where we rarely have the chance to see both the official and civil effects of the Byzantine Empire, the Ottoman Empire and the Republic periods together on a city. With these features, with its historical and socio-cultural richness, it is a great cultural heritage for the TRNC as well as the world heritage (Figure 2).

Figure 2.

Architectural texture characteristic of the historical Arabahmet district.

The settlement effects and periods in the Nicosia-Arabahmet Region are respectively; It can be classified as the Lusignan Period (1192–1489), the Venetian Period (1489–1571), the Ottoman Period (1571–1878), the British Period (1878–1960), the Republic of Cyprus (1960-___) and the Post-1974 Period. The Lusignan Period (1192–1489) is known as one of the important building blocks affecting the historical and physical identity of the Arabahmet Region. Narrow roads, squares, orchards, conjoined houses with flat roofs and inward-looking courtyards are the characteristic features of the urban identity formed in this period. The streets in the region were developed in an organic and irregular way, and squares were created at the intersections of the streets. Local material yellow stone was used in the buildings of this period and the courtyards of the houses were designed as the main places where life took place. The Ottoman Period (1571–1878), after the Lusignan and Venetian Periods, emerges as the most important period that shaped the outlines of the current silhouette of Arabahmet [53].

The narrow streets and the building with inward-looking courtyards, which started in the Lusignan Period, were continued with the influence of climatic factors. While the buildings create the effect of the wall that defines the street, when entering the courtyard through the porch, a high-privacy interior life setup and the spatial organization of the residences are created. In general, it is known that the buildings in good condition in the region were preserved during the Ottoman Period and the houses of the period were built on the protected buildings. In other words, the ground floors of many buildings belonged to the Lusignan and Venetian Periods, while the upper floors were built during the Ottoman Period. The adjacent rows of houses are connected to each other from the back or inner courtyard, thus weakening the house-street relationship. The streets in these old settlements had a narrow and organic structure, and the houses along this street were generally used by a single family. Referring to the “bay window” characteristic observed in Ottoman buildings during the British period (1878–1960), the balconies formed on the facades of the buildings, the verandas designed at the door entrances, the rationality and width of the windows and the street-house relationship were strengthened and thus the relationship of architecture with the city was increased [54]. Nicosia - Arabahmet District hosts different periods. It is a historical residential area of Cyprus where cultural diversity is observed. Therefore, traces of every cultural group that lived in Cyprus can be found in the Arabahmet Region [55]. Thus, the architectural and urban texture created by each period by adding to the previous period shows extremely rich and unique historical qualities.

The general aim of the study is to reveal the general potentials of the historical texture of the Arabahmet region, which is about to become a depression area due to different reasons, in many parameters, especially in physical comfort criteria. Also, it is to reveal the current potentials of the green line (buffer zone) texture, which is the continuation of the texture of Arabahmet, which has become a ghost town, which has now been emptied due to political reasons, and to present principles and general approaches to politicians, decision-making bodies, urban designers and architects through the potentials of this texture. Investigation of wind conditions, wind comfort and wind hazard conditions at pedestrian level for architects, city planners, researchers, consultancy companies and government officials, especially to be used in urban transformation and development project studies in this region, determination of critical points, regions and all these parameters of texture is to produce a detailed report on.

A moderate climate with hot, dry summers and wet winters characterizes the case study region. Nicosia is a city in the center of Cyprus, between longitude 33°24′E and latitude 35°09′N. The city’s lengthy summer season, which lasts from April to October, is hot and dry. The warmest month of the year is often July, while January is typically the coldest. The range of wintertime temperatures is 9–12°C, while summertime highs frequently reach 42°C. The months of December through March have the most rainfall. Westerly winds with an average wind speed of 3.7 m/s are the most prevalent [56].

5. Methodology and numerical modeling

Due to the administrative and financial barriers to field measurements as well as the more thorough analytical parameters offered by numerical simulation, CFD Fluent was chosen for this project to model pedestrian level comfort levels and wind condition settings. The 3D stable RANS equations and the CFD package Fluent were used to do the CFD simulations. The realizable (k-) turbulence model offered the closure. This turbulence model was selected based on suggestions made by [57] and past validation investigations for wind conditions at the pedestrian level [11]. One of the most crucial factors in analyses of the building’s exterior aerodynamics is the accurate modeling of the atmospheric boundary layer in CFD. The roughness coefficient is defined as 0 in the CFD since a lot of analytical software does flow analysis for materials with a low roughness coefficient. The roughness coefficient must to additionally be specified according to the area where the construction is situated. As it is an open zone surface, 0.2 m is the specified surface roughness [58].

The algorithm paired with the Pseudo Transient option and the pressure velocity matching are taken into account. Second order equations are used for viscous terms. Simulations were made for eight wind directions. The following minimum values were reached: for x, y, z velocity components: 10⁻⁷, (k –ε): 10⁻⁴, for continuity: 10⁻⁴. The first phase involves creating a flow volume all around the structures. The computational area is where this is located. The mesh structure is used to mesh this area while building the mathematical model. Afterward, boundary conditions are established. The equations are solved and the answer is obtained once these definitions have been formed. An example of the mesh structure used is given in Figure 3. 18 million polyhedral elements are used in the mesh structure created in the model. When the findings are compared to experimental values, the grid’s quality has an impact on the precision. When the grid tuning was applied twice during the analysis, the grid became denser where it was required and the flow solution converging into the continuous flow regime. Depending on the average pressure changes on the pre-determined surfaces in the structures, it was applied automatically every 300 iterations.

Figure 3.

CFD 3D Model and Mesh Structure for the case study texture.

In accordance with AIJ recommendations, four levels (2.25 m above ground, layer height: 0.5 m) are placed below the assessment height. The first phase involves creating a flow volume all around the structures. The computational area is where this is located. While building the mathematical model, this region is connected to the network structure. Afterward, boundary conditions are established. The equations are solved and the answer is obtained once these definitions have been formed. In all simulations, a denser network structure has been developed in regions where substantial pressure and velocity gradients are anticipated [59].

A portion of the continuous space surrounding the structure under consideration must first be discretized. The computational domain is the name given to this area of space. There was a limited volume created from the domain. The basic equations were drawn up for each volume of the computing domain. The equations are then resolved in the presence of a set of starting and boundary conditions. Every simulation that is run makes use of a mesh that is denser in areas where pressure or velocity gradients are expected to be high.

A solid model of the case study area was created with the information obtained from the 2-D architectural project and site plans of the buildings. Three dimensional model of the project is illustrated in Figure 3. The CFD model represents buildings set along with the real topography of their location. The design of buildings must account for wind loads, and these are affected by wind gradients. The respective gradient levels, usually assumed in the Building Codes, are 500 m for cities, 400 m for suburbs, and 300 m for flat open terrain.

The approaching wind was created from a power-law model to approximate the mean velocity profile:

$$U=U_r+{\left(\frac{Z-d}{Z_r}\right)}^{\alpha }$$E6

Where U is mean wind speed, Zr is reference height, Ur is wind speed at reference height Zr, d is zero plane displacement, and is power-law exponent. For open country, suburban, and urban exposures, respectively, the exponent changes depending on the type of terrain; it is 0.14, 0.25, and 0.35 for each. The power-law equation is employed at the inlet condition to simulate a mean wind speed of 30.5 m/s at the building height according to an exponent, which is dependent on the surface roughness of the terrain surrounding the building model. On the basis of the actual wind characteristic, the input parameters for wind density and wind dynamic viscosity were developed (Table 1).

Description of the Terrain	Power Law Exponent, α	Gradient Height, zg
For open country, flat coastal belts, small islands situated in large bodies of water, prairie grasslands, tundra, etc.	(0.14)	900 ft. (274 m)
For wooded countryside, parkland, towns, outskirts of large cities, rough coastal belts	(0.29)	1300 ft. (396 m)
For centres of large cities	(0.40)	1700 ft. (518 m)

Table 1.

Power law exponents for various descriptions of terrain.

In all simulations, a denser network structure has been created in areas where velocity and pressure gradients are expected to be high. CFD-based numerical models are frequently used as a technique to study the airflow near structures in urban terrain. By giving both the real wind flow velocity and the distribution of turbulence throughout the whole research area, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) overcomes the issue of producing and modifying air flow conditions experienced in a wind tunnel. Surface roughness modeling in an atmospheric boundary layer is included in the case study field of wind modeling, which also accounts for local meteorological period average data and regional topography characteristics [60, 61, 62].

Mean wind velocity 5–10–15-20 m/s were used as inlet boundary conditions at eight directions. 20 m/s maximum wind velocity was used as inlet boundary conditions at eight directions. The suitable computational modeling, such as domain size, grid size, and grid discrepancy, is largely dependent on the accuracy of simulation results in order to account for the worst case situations. Since the AIJ (Architectural Institute of Japan) recommendations are one of the standards in the literature for the urban pedestrian wind environment, the CFD simulation modeling for the validation technique mentioned in this work complies with them. Based on a number of cross-comparisons between CFD, wind tunnel tests, and field measurements, AIJ recommendations were developed. In contrast, Cost recommendations, another well-liked guideline, is founded on a literature study [14]. The validation experiment’s computation area measures 500 × 500 × 20 m. (WxLxH). 150,200 grid points are used to partition the domain. The Simple approach handled the problem of pressure velocity coupling. The viscosity terms of the governing equations were discretized using second-order methods. The iterations were terminated when the scaled residuals showed a very little further reduction with an increasing number of iterations.

6. Results and discussion

As a result of the analysis, it has been observed that there are some parameters that positively affect the pedestrian level wind comfort in the carriage texture. Historical Arabahmet district of compact settlement strategy is one of the prominent building design and urban texture layout parameters. Buildings are designed as a closely joined in historical Arabahmet district. In the traditional Arabahmet town, dwellings are distinguished by mutual shadowing for the best protection against solar radiation, which creates tight settlements, winding streets, and intimate squares. The variety of residences, the proximity to social centers, and notably the winding streets are what make these structures distinctive. These intersecting, slender streets provide space for westerly and, less commonly, easterly winds, and they are built to cast shadows to decrease the impact of the intense heat experienced in the streets during summers. The narrow streets permit breeze flows and which, also facilitate passive cooling for pedestrian comfort. Compacted streets make walking easier due to the shadow they give to the street, and it has been observed that they allow especially women to sit on the street.

Urban airflow patterns in Arabahmet’s historical settlement are influenced by the interaction of an incoming wind with the built environment. For pedestrian comfort, health, outdoor and interior thermal comfort, air quality, building energy efficiency, and the creation of a pleasant urban microclimate, the development of airflow inside a street canyon is crucial. Urban canopy layer and urban boundary layer are the two primary layers that make up the air over an urban texture. The urban canopy layer is the layer between building facades and roof tops that is affected by solar radiation hitting the ground and building facades. The urban border layer is higher than the typical building height. The key elements that impact air temperature in the urban boundary layer are heat transfer, pollution emission, evaporation and transpiration, and generally modern urban growth. In this study, especially the wind flow situation in the urban canopy layer region and the wind-pedestrian level relationship between buildings are discussed.

As a result of the analyzes, important inferences and conclusions were reached in both macro-scale and micro-scale detailed district and street-scale studies. In this context, when the wind situation taken from the area of approximately 1.00 m from the ground level is examined, it is seen that the wind speeds of 1.00–1.50 m/s are observed in the wind sheltered areas of the inter-building regions (Figures 4 and 5). It can be said that these velocities are seen more intensely in the texture of arabahmet and there may be more positive regions in terms of wind comfort.

Figure 4.

General Macro view-wind flow and wind velocity distribution of the historical urban texture at 1.00 m above the ground.

Figure 5.

Closer view at the texture-wind flow and wind velocity distribution of the historical urban texture at 1.00 m above the ground.

Airflow in the urban canopy layer is more obstructed in complex urban textures due to impediments like buildings and trees than airflow in the urban border layer. As a result, the airflow in the urban canopy layer is slower than it is in the nearby rural areas. But in arabahmet texture environment is designed to allow air to circulate between the urban canyons and also to allow the use of some courtyard buildings to reduce heat through the shading effect. For this reason, the evening breezes prevailing in this district during the hot Nicosia summers, also contributed to people preferring this district. Narrow streets with one or two floor houses, with or without oriel windows, lined up in the Arabahmet District form silhouettes reflecting the history of Cyprus (Figures 4 and 5).

Another building design and building layout criteria observed in Arabahamet texture and also reflected in the analysis result; It has low-rise houses with courtyards and small gardens with water elements. Due to the scorching summer months, the majority of Arabahmet homes include courtyards. These homes are all very identical in size and shape, being either rectangular or square in design. The courtyard, which is utilized for a variety of activities, including social gathering and entertainment, is where the majority of everyday activities take place. They also serve the purpose of air filters; such as dust in the atmosphere within the courtyard. Some courtyards within the texture of Arabahmet have small pools, fountains, etc. with water elements. These provide effective comfort to the users with the cooling effect through the cool air flows that occur in the wind protected outdoor spaces in the winter and the courtyards in the summer.

The courtyards of houses provided shelter for the windy weather, being placed either in the opposite direction from the street, or separated from the street by high walls. In addition to the street geometry and orientation, which affects the wind flow between buildings in the Arabahmet texture, the canopy formation made by the building configurations in the building-street relationship can affect the air flow. Streets which are straight and parallel to each other would promote air movement into and within the urban areas (Figures 4 and 5). Narrow and winding streets reduce cold or hot winds and decrease the influence of stormy winds.

Similarly, another building design and building layout criteria observed in Arabahamet texture and also reflected in the analysis result; It is the use of bay windows and wide cantilevered roofs on building facades. The bay windows (cumba), thick adobe walls, pitch roof structures and their overhangs are all the expression of the climatic responsive design. In Arabahmet settlements, arcades, porches, colonnades, cantilevered roof or components, and membranes serve as traditional responses to the climate in the villages and urban settings. This provides a transition from indoor to outdoor light, and also provides a transition from the outdoor to indoor the airflow. The arcade hall, which in some of these homes is always on the south, is the most well-known climate-modifying component. The porch, which is located in the southern portion of the house and is made up of an arched area and a semi-open space, is very important to the Arabahmet traditional house. Due to the passage space that is between the closed and open portions, it is more effective during the winter. Also, it provides an ideal space and allows for the cool flow of air during the summer period. It also serves as shading elements for most of the day’s especial sunny periods.

Apart from all these suggestions, it is possible to make some conclusions as a result of the analyzes obtained and the observations in the region. In order to achieve better outdoor pedestrian comfort, there are some important points to consider when designing an urban area. Some of those, for hot and humid climatic regions with climatic characteristics similar to the Arabahmet texture, it should be aligned parallel to the prevailing wind direction in order to remove the pollution accumulated at the pedestrian level and to obtain air movements that will provide the pedestrian level wind comfort. In dense and low-rise residential areas similar to the Arabahmet texture, during periods of low wind speed and high temperature, the use of elevated design zones in the building form and form design in the texture and the courtyard building design approach will increase natural ventilation at ground level.

7. Conclusion

Urban areas should be designed to provide comfort and security to their inhabitants. Residents of such urban areas for hundreds of years have been shielded from the wind by buildings close to each other. Determining the importance of pedestrian-wind comfort at pedestrian level for pedestrian level comfort in urban design, many urban authorities today demand information about possible wind conditions for large construction projects at the design stage. Pedestrian-level wind plays an important role in such building designs, as disturbing wind conditions can undermine the success of such newly constructed buildings.

A wider street provides better mixing of air and consequently better airflow in the urban canyon. In addition, better ventilation could be occurred in a street with various building heights. Therefore, in order to maintain a pleasant microclimate in urban areas, it is vital and important that urban streets are designed with proper airflow. This can affect the global climate and the energy consumption of buildings.

Although, architectures and urban designer make a lot efforts to design urban streets according to the historical urban texture climate, quantitative information about the best possible street design, based on scientific methods, in order to regulate the climate comfort is still required.

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank to Doğuş Bodamyalızade for his contribution about information and documents during the process of this research project. I would also like to express my special thanks to Ozge Ozbekoglu, whose work I was impressed by.