Earth Shelter Architecture; a pattern for sustainable architecture in the arid and warm climate of Iran (Study of environmental criteria of sustainable architecture)

In recent decades, the crisis of environmental pollution has been widely raised in the world,which is of concern to human society and, considering the continuous reduction of nonrenewable energy as well as the existence of suitable sources of sustainable energy (solar, geothermal, wind, etc.), architects, as an important part of society who have a lot of intervention in the environment, need to think more in their constructions and use new ideas to reduce energy consumption and pollution. Soil architecture is the most original and ancient example of Iranian architecture and the use of soil with characteristics such as high heat capacity and significant heat delay time, is a way to manage energy consumption and achieve sustainable and green architecture. The research method with the help of library studies and sources and documents is descriptive-analytical that compare the types of earth shelter buildings with various uses in ۳ categories: religious, residential, and services in arid and warm climates. Also, underground spaces are explained as sustainable architecture in arid and warm climates, and finally, the adaptation of these construction patterns with the criteria of sustainable architecture principles is measured.

Keywords:

Earth shelter , Underground spaces , Sustainable architecture