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2 Building and Environment 44 (2009) Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Building and Environment journal homepage: Evaluation of a sustainable Greek vernacular settlement and its landscape: Architectural typology and building physics Vissilia Anna-Maria * Architect-Landscape Architect, Adjunct Lecturer, Department of Structural Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Civil Engineering, Kodrou 13, Athens, Greece article info abstract Article history: Received 17 September 2007 Received in revised form 14 May 2008 Accepted 15 May 2008 Keywords: Vernacular architecture Adobe (mud brick) Sustainable Bioclimatic design Building physics Landscape Sernikaki is a Greek vernacular settlement that can be imagined as a living organism is the outcome of centuries of optimization of material use, construction techniques and climate considerations. Being mountainous and isolated, this small vernacular settlement has preserved old types of dwellings longer than other areas in Phokida, in mainland Greece, and it can, thus, provide rich material for the understanding of architectural continuity and evolution. In this study, various types of adobe dwellings are surveyed and their response to climate, in terms of site and building design, is evaluated. In addition, the techniques of creating microclimatic conditions by incorporating the existing environmental parameters into the design are considered. Bioclimatic design employs appropriate technologies and design principles based on a thoughtful approach to climate and environment. It is concerned with the layout of the buildings (orientation in relation to sun and wind, aspect ratio), the spacing (site planning), the air movement, the openings (size position, protection), and the building envelope (walls: construction materials-thickness, roof construction detailing). This paper evaluates specific vernacular dwelling types and their response to climate, based on passive design principles that could be adapted to current architectural practice in the area, in order to optimize the relationship between site, building and climate. Ó 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction The architecture of vernacular settlements reflects Greek lifestyle and cultural values of the past. These building types and their site planning have evolved through time and they have reached their form and layout through trial and error methods. They were able to respond to the needs of their inhabitants, the climatic conditions, and the topography, because of the simplicity of the building processes, the techniques and the local materials employed (adobe, stone and timber). In the vernacular architecture of Sernikaki one can easily observe an absence of purely conceptual and aesthetic purposes, and a focus on a holistic approach that considers the role of the environment as a major one, within the limits of the resources available. Within this view, the traditional builders were concerned with a variety of parameters that affected a building as well as with the quality of the building itself. Traditionally designed buildings are often considered as the predecessors of modern bioclimatic design [1]. They display years of embodied experience built on the relationship between building and climate, implying a logical analysis, the consideration of appropriate principles, and a rational use of resources. These buildings, therefore, can be studied as models of environmentally responsive and sustainable architecture. In our days, the need for energy thrift design has been well understood and for this purpose appropriate regulations have been drafted [2,3]. There is also a greater awareness of the importance of the socio cultural identity of a place. Both issues make the study of vernacular settlements, such as Sernikaki, very important. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the Greek vernacular settlement of Sernikaki, in terms of its architectural typology and building physics. This paper shows that such a building environment acts as a living organism that is inherently sustainable through the use of various bioclimatic concepts applied in its original construction, is tightly integrated with the landscape and has a minimum waste of resources. The subsequent analysis is comprised of two major parts: 1) a study concerning the evolution of the built environment (typological analysis, site planning, construction materials and techniques); and 2) an evaluation of specific vernacular dwelling types and their response to climate, based on passive design principles that are responsible for the bioclimatic character of the settlement. 2. Bioclimatic concepts and building physics * Tel.: þ ; fax: þ address: annamaria@vissilia.com Bioclimatic design, by definition, satisfies the needs of human beings (thermal, luminous and acoustics). It considers climatic /$ see front matter Ó 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi: /j.buildenv

3 1096 V. Anna-Maria / Building and Environment 44 (2009) conditions, uses techniques and materials available in the region and attempts to integrate the building with its surroundings. Moreover, bioclimatic design relies on building physics, which is the ability and knowledge of how to allow sunlight, heat, and airflow through the building envelope when necessary, at certain moments of each day and month of the year [4]. The vernacular architecture of Sernikaki may be defined as bioclimatic since, it can be argued, the traditional builder of Sernikaki understood bioclimatic concepts, aspects of building physics, and the strong relationship between site, climate and building that made him aware of the consequences of design choices. The ways vernacular architecture of Sernikaki considers the effects of climatic conditions on the buildings envelope suggests knowledge of the building physics at an empirical level. This empirical knowledge pertains to basic concepts of thermal properties and of heat transfer, air movement and solar geometry. 3. Sernikaki: a Greek vernacular settlement in Phokida 3.1. Location and history Sernikaki is a mountainous village located in Phokida, in mainland Greece, 6 km Southeast of Amfissa with approximately 300 inhabitants (Fig. 1). It is located at East longitude, North latitude and at an altitude of 307 m above sea level. It is one of the oldest vernacular settlements established in the area around the ancient olive plantation of Amfissa. It was relatively isolated throughout its historical course, and thus protected from outside influences. The smooth development of the built environment was frequently interrupted by earthquakes, the most recent ones being in 1870 and 1894, which caused enormous destruction along the region. Most of the houses date back to the second half of the 19th century and they have totally replaced older structures or been added to older house-cores Climatic data Due to its location Sernikaki enjoys a moderate climate with warm summers and moderately cold winters. Getting correct climatic data of Sernikaki is not easy since it is a village without a meteorological station. The climatic data shown in Table 1 uses the nearest station data, about 60 km away. Air temperature reaches a mean maximum of 27.1 C and a mean minimum of 8.3 C. The summer months have an average temperature of 26.2 C, while the winter months have an average temperature of 9 C. The annual average temperature is about 17 C and the relative humidity varies from 55% to 78%. North easterly winds characterize the warm season, thus bringing warmth, while the cold season is characterized by strong North westerly winds [5] Mahoney indicators The climatic data has been incorporated in the Mahoney Tables which provide preliminary design recommendations. They are grouped under eight headings: layout, spacing, air movement, openings, position of openings, protection of openings, walls, and roofs. The following is a summary of the recommendations for Sernikaki: a) Layout: buildings oriented on an east west axis to reduce sun exposure; b) Spacing: compact planning; c) Air movement: rooms double-banked with temporary means for wind passage; d) Openings: medium-sized openings, 20 40% of wall area; e) Position of openings: openings in north and south walls at body height on windward elevation, as well as including openings in internal walls; f) Protection of openings: protection from direct sunlight; g) Walls: high mass; and h) Roofs: high mass [6]. 4. Analysis of the built environment Sernikaki has a strong vernacular character of great interest, both morphologically and structurally, with a unique landscape pattern. This study examines the most important architectural forms found in Sernikaki that played a significant role in the evolution of vernacular architecture in Phokida and which are subject to preservation. The collected data is the outcome of personal field work, i.e., the author measured, sketched, observed, and interviewed inhabitants, local designers as well as public and private experts relating to the energy aspects of the buildings Typological analysis In the microcosm of Sernikaki, certain types of mainland Greek dwellings were introduced to central Greece by building guilds. These types of dwellings gradually evolved according to the needs of the population. Dwellings were the result of collaboration among many people over many generations including collaboration between builders and owners. In Sernikaki, there is clarity in the general layout of the dwellings both in its architectural synthesis as well as in its structural formation; the building envelope is simple, clear, and easy to grasp. Two main themes are constant, i.e., massive building forms and extensive s. A thorough investigation of the existing dwellings of Sernikaki, resulted in the identification of four major types of buildings and their respective variations. The classification and typological analysis is based on functional characteristics, i.e., use-patterns and variations of the basic form (Table 2) Site planning Fig. 1. Overview of the settlement. Sernikaki developed in response to orientation, wind direction, and topography (Fig. 2). It has a clear-cut organization that defines the use of space and determines the distinction between public and private areas. Dwellings are detached with extensive s and sinuous streets of varying shape, width, and position (flat, inclined or stepped with stone stairways) that connect buildings to one another (Fig. 3). The main zones of circulation are found at the lower level whereas several secondary ones of smaller size connect the building in other levels. A number of relationships and size ratios between streets and houses are recorded, all indicative of the human scale of the settlement (Fig. 4). As for the private gardens, they are pleasant spaces where outdoor activities take place almost throughout the year. Dwellings and gardens have developed in harmony and interdependence.

4 V. Anna-Maria / Building and Environment 44 (2009) Table 1 Climatic data Season Winter Spring Summer Autumn Month December January February March April May June July August September October November Mean temperature ( C) Max. temperature ( C) Min. temperature ( C) Amount of rainfall (mm) Relative humidity (%) Days of Rainfall Average wind speed Prevailing wind direction NW NW NW NW NE NE NE NE NE NE NW NW tall adobe/stone walls define the boundaries between public and private spaces (Fig. 5). Gardens have either flat or stepped terraces depending on the topography and usually contain paved areas, a well, auxiliary buildings, an orchard, flowerbeds and even an arched trellis usually covered with vines (Fig. 6). Their shape, size and location vary according to the tall walls of the boundaries of each site by which they are defined. There are two distinct plan layouts identified: one with entrances on the north side, directly from the street, and one with entrances on the south side, through the garden. The roofs were most often four pitched: oak, juniper, pine and cypress; common timber types used for the roof structure. The load-bearing walls support the roof frame placed above the timber ties at this position. The final layer of the roof comprises of wooden boards and clay tiles that are placed on the top boards. The roof tiles, usually of the Byzantine type, were placed on top planks. The empty space under the roof was never used as a loft, and the roof had a small slope. The ceiling underneath was constructed with boards, 2 or 3 cm thick. The empty space between the ceiling and the roof, called katarraktis, provided natural ventilation [7] Construction materials and techniques The building materials used are: adobe (sun dried mud bricks) and mortar of the same material as the adobe units, stone, and timber. The most common building method in Sernikaki is a mixed manner of construction, with stone used for the whole ground floor, or part of it, and adobe used for the floor above (Fig. 7) The main building material used for constructing the loadbearing walls of the dwellings was adobe, since earth is the most plentiful resource in the region. Adobe units were made of earth, usually red earth, or whatever kind could be found on site, mixed with straw along with water, pressed in wooden moulds and dried in the hot sun for a few days until they were ready to be used for construction [7]. The adobe walls have a thickness of cm and an average height of 8.00 m. They were built with horizontally set timber ties of various dimensions (6 cm 8 cm or 10 cm 12 cm), spaced at cm. These timber ties go around the buildings, ensuring that the structures are solid and resistant to earthquakes. The creation of these horizontal ties at regular intervals permitted the continuation of construction at higher levels even though the mortar at the lower levels was not yet dried and solidified. Such constructional methods protected against sudden subsidence and cracking of the walls. The first set of timber ties was usually placed above a stone base in order to be protected from humidity and water. Thus, in most cases stone construction ( cm) forms a base of approximately 0.90 cm in height above the ground level on which the bearing adobe walls rest. The mezzanine floor of the dwellings consists of the patera (beams that bear the wooden floor) placed right above the timber ties in holes cm apart in the walls. They are usually made of cypress and are of circular cross-section 0.35 cm in diameter and m in length. The boards, planks of hard wood were nailed to the beams [7]. The interior partition walls called tsatmas, were built up from the wooden floor and were very light in construction. They had a width of around 10 cm and consisted of a wooden frame of narrow straight laths placed horizontally every 40 cm. The empty spaces in between were filled with bits of wood, cane, seaweed or shavings. The walls had a top layer of plaster, which covered all the empty spaces, and made them look like ordinary walls despite their being extremely light [7]. 5. Evaluation 5.1. Architectural typology and building physics Vernacular dwellings of Sernikaki are evaluated in terms of building physics criteria that pertain to solar geometry, thermal mass, heat transfer, air movement, and solar geometry. Moreover, the evaluation is based on the design variables proposed by Mahoney as the ones that promote the creation of buildings responsive to the climate. These are: a) the layout of the buildings (orientation in relation to sun and wind, aspect ratio); b) spacing (site planning); c) air movement; d) openings (size position, protection); and e) building envelope (walls: construction materials-thickness, roof construction detailing) [6] Layout Orientation: Dwellings are oriented on a 30 north east axis. Aspect ratio: The term aspect ratio is used to denote the ratio of the longer dimension of a rectangular plan to the shorter. The N/W and S/E walls are longer than the N/E and S/W and the aspect ratio varies from 1.0 to Spacing Site planning: dwellings of compact geometry and extensive s are designed considering climate conditions (Fig. 8). Gardens provide shady and cool places that become the main living units of the summer months (Fig. 9). The use of gardens along with their associated landscape features (trees, flowerbeds, vine trellises, soft ground surfaces) and their appropriate placing serves as an additional climate modifier, ensuring human comfort both indoors and outdoors [8] Air movement Provision of fresh air: The rooms of the dwellings are provided with sufficient natural ventilation through the appropriate placement of the openings to take advantage of breezes as well as through their sizes in relation to the size of the room. The wooden external shutters are often used as controlled natural ventilation. In addition they are able to control the sunlight. There is also provision for ventilation in the empty space katarraktis between the ceiling and the roof that adds to the overall cooling [7].

5 Table 2 Typological analysis 1098 Types of Architectural typology dwellings Plan scheme Description Architectural elements Types of openings Ia One storey All activities take place in one room Ib IIa IIb The ground floor is used as working place The first floor is used as residence All activities take place in one room An exterior wooden or stone staircase leads to the first floor Three-stories unit The basement and the ground floor are used as working place The first floor is used as residence All activities take place in one room An exterior wooden or stone staircase leads to the first floor The ground floor is used as working place The first floor is used as residence. It is divided into two rooms: a sala (living room) and a family room An exterior wooden or stone staircase leads to the first floor V. Anna-Maria / Building and Environment 44 (2009) IIc The ground floor is used as working place The first floor is used as residence. It is divided into two room: a sala (living room) and a family room An exterior wooden or stone staircase leads to the first floor

6 IIIa1 The ground floor is used as a working place The first floor is used as residence. It is divided into two room: a sala and a family room An exterior wooden or stone staircase leads to the first floor IIIa2 The ground floor is used as working place The first floor is used as residence. It is divided into four rooms separated by a corridor. Bedrooms are private spaces An external wooden or stone staircase leads to the first floor IIIa3 IIIa4 IIIb1 The ground floor is used as working place The first floor is used as residence. It is divided into four asymmetrical rooms. Bedrooms are private spaces An external wooden or stone staircase leads to the first floor Three-stories unit The basement and the ground floor are used as working places The first floor is used as residence. It is divided into three rooms separated by a corridor. Bedrooms are private spaces An external wooden or stone staircase leads to the first floor The ground floor is used as working place The first floor is used as residence. It is divided into three rooms separated by a corridor. Bedrooms are private spaces An external wooden or stone staircase leads to the first floor (continued on next page) V. Anna-Maria / Building and Environment 44 (2009)

7 Table 2 (continued) Types of Architectural typology dwellings Plan scheme Description Architectural elements Types of openings 1100 IIIb2 Three-stories unit The basement is used as working place The ground floor and the first floor are used as residence. An interior wooden staircase connects the two floors. Bedrooms are on the ground floor, whereas a sala is found on the first floor An external wooden or stone staircase leads to the first floor IV The ground floor and the first floor are used as residence. An interior wooden staircase connects the two floors. Living rooms are on the ground floor whereas bedrooms are on the first floor. V. Anna-Maria / Building and Environment 44 (2009)

8 V. Anna-Maria / Building and Environment 44 (2009) Fig. 2. Plan of the settlement. Fig. 4. The human scale of the settlement Openings Size position of openings: Openings are placed according to sun orientation, topography, views, and wind patterns. Their types, proportions and sizes are determined by the orientation of their wall. Thus, optimum views, natural lighting and cooling breezes are achieved with suitable orientation, design and geometry of the openings as well as their juxtaposition. There are several S/E openings of relatively big size whereas those facing N/W are fewer and of small size. There are a very small number of windows of small size facing south west and several openings in the northeastern façades. In addition, their placement on a 30 north east axis, facing the direction of the wind, provides natural ventilation from prevailing breezes in summer. The sizes of the openings are relatively small in relation to room area, and the ratio between their width and length is about 1:2 (Table 2). Protection of the openings: Protection of the openings from solar radiation during summer is also achieved with the use of movable shading devices such as wooden external shutters that permit the dwelling to be fully shaded during the summer but fully exposed to solar radiation in winter. Such devices are: blinds and lattices, curtains, vertical shafts, external horizontal shades, and shutters. Since openings are directly related to thermal comfort in dwellings that have walls of high thermal inertia, the way they are handled is of vital importance. Windows are supposed to have their shutters totally closed during the warmest hours of the day, not letting in either the light or the heat from the outside (Fig. 10). Other protecting shading devices used along with the external ones are: blinds, lattices, and curtains found in the interior of the dwellings. It is also interesting to note that the amount of sunlight entering the interior of the house is further reduced by placing the window frame inside the window recess (Table 2). Open spaces, such as balconies (Fig. 11) or hagiatia (Fig. 12), are architectural components of bulky volumes under various Fig. 3. Dwellings detached with extensive s and sinuous streets (Varying Shape, Width and Position). Fig. 5. tall walls defining the boundary between public and private spaces.

9 1102 V. Anna-Maria / Building and Environment 44 (2009) Fig. 6. Various gardens. forms creating pronounced shade on the sun-warmed facades, changing the current of air, and protecting from rain exposure. They are usually south and east oriented, providing a thermal refuge and a place of transition from inwards to outwards. The principle difference between balcony and hagiati is their respective size, the latter being larger than the former ( m wide to provide for outdoor functions). Moreover, the hagiati is covered Fig. 8. dwelling of compact geometry and extensive. Fig. 7. Sernikaki s mixed manner of construction-stone ground floor and adobe for floors above. Fig. 9. Vine trellis close to the dwelling providing shade during the summer.

10 V. Anna-Maria / Building and Environment 44 (2009) Fig. 10. Openings having their shutters closed during the warmest hours of the day. by a roof that is angled away from the main roof to best reduce solar admittance Building envelope Walls: Thick walls made of adobe form the most common external walls. The wall section has a thickness of cm and a low U-value (U ¼ 1.02); hence it serves as a good insulator [9]. The time lag of these walls is high; they store heat during the daytime and radiate it into the room at night when the outside temperature is below the comfort range [10,11]. The light colored surfaces of the façades are used as a mechanism for the protection of the high walls against solar radiation as they absorb less heat in summer, thus preventing the rise of internal temperatures. Roofs: Consistent with the use of high thermal capacity vertical envelopes, dwellings use roof construction materials and detailing that possess medium thermal capacities (K ¼ 1.5) [12]. Table 3 evaluates all types of dwellings by their layout, spacing, air movement, openings, and building envelope (Table 3). Dwellings are oriented on a 30 north east axis; and, in most cases, their N/W & S/E walls are slightly longer than the N/E & S/W. It can be assumed that such an orientation is preferred to the east west axis suggested by the Mahoney Tables as the most suitable to provide maximum environmental comfort that work with the elements of sunshine, light, air, and indoor temperatures. All types of dwellings use compact geometry as much as possible, which provides maximum volume with minimum area exposed to the sun. The preference for compact built forms, along with the use of envelope materials with high thermal capacities, aligns with the recommendations in the Mahoney Tables to maximize heat storage. Moreover, they are organized so that they are detached with extensive s rather than attached as suggested in the Fig. 11. Various balconies. Mahoney Tables. The extensive tall garden walls that define the boundaries between public and private spaces seem to function as continuous windbreaks, especially during winter. The Mahoney Tables suggest rooms double-banked with temporary means for wind passage. Contrary to this suggestion, the floor plan of the dwellings representative of the older vernacular types is Fig. 12. Various Hagiatia.

11 Table 3 Evaluation of the architectural typology and building physics 1104 Types of residence Layout Spacing Air movement Openings Building envelope Aspect ratio Site planning Plan layout Size Position Protection Walls Roofs Orientation Ia 1.00 SE: 12.5%, NW:, SW: 10.5%, NE: 9.5% External wooden shutters Adobe stone walls of high Ib 1.00 IIa 1.40 IIb 1.60 IIc 1.00 SE: 13.0%, NW:, SW:, NE: 11% SE: 10.5%, NW: 8.0%, SW:, NE: 7.5% SE: 19.0%, NW:, SW:, NE: 11.0% SE: 15.0%, NW: 6.7%, SW:, NE: 7.5% External wooden shutters Hagiati at the E. side External wooden shutters External wooden shutters Balcony at the S. side External wooden shutters Hagiati at the S.E. side Adobe stone walls of high of high Adobe stone walls of high of high V. Anna-Maria / Building and Environment 44 (2009) IIIa SE: 11.7%, NW: 1.17%, SW:, NE: 7.15% External wooden shutters Balcony at the E. side of high IIIa Double-banked Axial corridor SE: 22%, NW: 9.0%, SW:, NE: 4.4% External wooden shutters Balcony at the N. side Hagiati at the S. side of high IIIa Double-banked Axial corridor SE: 19.8%, NW: 8.7%, SW:, NE: 13.9% Balconies at both S. & E. sides of high

12 V. Anna-Maria / Building and Environment 44 (2009) of high of high of high of high single-banked (one room wide) whereas the floor plan of the dwellings representative of neoclassical architecture adapted to the vernacular architectural idiom of Sernikaki (types: IIa2, IIa3, IIa4, and IV) is double-banked (two rooms wide) with an axial corridor for wind passage. The openings in the vertical envelope are modestly sized, equaling between 10 20% of the vertical surface area, a lower percentage than the one suggested in the Mahoney Tables. The need for openings in the vertical envelope is based on providing contact with the outside, admitting light, and permitting ventilation of the building interior. Thus, several S/E and N/E openings have been chosen to provide the best exploitation of winter solar radiation whereas N/W and S/W openings are fewer and of small size. In addition, architectural components such as balconies, hagiatia, and external wooden shutters are employed to reduce solar admittance, a design guideline also suggested in the Mahoney Tables Sernikaki: a sustainable Greek vernacular settlement Balconies at both S. & N. sides SE: 23.0%, NW: 12.0%, SW: 10.8%, NE: 6.0% Double-banked Axial corridor Balconies at both S. & N. sides Hagiati at the E. side SE: 11.9%, NW: 5.3%, SW:, NE: 10.68% Balcony at the S. side Hagiati at the S. side SE: 12.8%, NW: 3.56%, SW: 2.57%, NE: 7.7% Balconies at the N. S. & E. sides SE: 23.8%, NW: 7.4%, SW: 8.3%, NE: 18.8% Double-banked Axial corridor The fact that Sernikaki has maintained its qualities for more than a hundred years suggests that the techniques of its construction and the building materials employed were well thought professional choices aiming at sustainability. Moreover, traditional builders did not only aim at achieving comfort without the need of any mechanical systems, but were also concerned about energy, material costs, as well as the impact of the buildings on the environment. This becomes obvious by their use of recyclable materials. Therefore, the vernacular architecture of Sernikaki can be defined as sustainable. The criteria that lead to the creation of such a sustainable vernacular settlement are: 1) holistic consideration of negative environmental impacts that arise in the construction of buildings and their infrastructures; 2) design recommendations, which minimize the adverse environmental effects in building; 3) use of materials with low maintenance and energy efficiency; 4) selection of building materials that provide thermal comfort; 5) use of renewable and natural resources; 6) reduction of energy consumption by maximizing passive thermal comfort; 7) concern for integral quality: economic, social and environmental performance; 8) improvement of environmental quality; and 9) provision for comfortable living spaces [13]. 6. Present-day condition of Sernikaki IIIa IIIb IIIb IV 1.30 Today, Sernikaki is relatively untouched. However, additions to the traditional dwellings or new constructions added to the vernacular core are being built with little consideration of the climate since they depend heavily on mechanical systems to provide thermal comfort. Specific guidelines, codes, regulations and legislations for restoring and preserving such an important vernacular settlement have not been precisely set. Government regulations are mainly concerned with the preservation of the outer shell of buildings, and therefore direct the owners to preserve only architectural facades at the expense of many other important qualities of the buildings such as the ones discussed in this paper. Additions and restorations are made with no concrete guidelines and usually occur when the dwellings fall into disuse and decay. This tendency threatens to change the entire character of the settlement unless current architectural practices incorporate the above explored guidelines that provide recommendations on the orientation and layout of buildings, the size and position of the openings, and the characteristics of walls and roofs. Such an embedded understanding of vernacular architecture may serve as a model for sustainable design in response to climate, energy use and notions of environmental quality [14].

13 1106 V. Anna-Maria / Building and Environment 44 (2009) Conclusions Sernikaki is a vernacular Greek settlement that takes advantage of its climate through the appropriate application of design elements and building technology for energy preservation as well for ensuring comfortable dwelling conditions. This paper was concerned with the layout of the buildings (orientation in relation to sun and wind, aspect ratio), the spacing (site planning), the air movement, the openings (size position, protection), and the building envelope (walls: construction materials-thickness, roof construction detailing). It evaluated specific vernacular dwelling types and their response to climate, based on design principles that could be adapted to current architectural practice in the area, in order to optimize, the relationship between site, building and climate. This paper attempts to reveal the secrets applied in such durable, compatible, elegant, reliable and eco-efficient buildings in Sernikaki. It can be presumed that these vernacular characteristics generate climatic benefits since people who had lived in them but have recently moved into new buildings complain that the new buildings are not as comfortable as the traditional ones. Therefore, they can form design recommendations that could be incorporated into current architectural practices in the area. The dwellings of Sernikaki demonstrate an economical use of local building resources, and respond to climatic conditions using low-energy design principles that provide human comfort. These design principles are consistent with the form, orientation and materiality of the buildings. Their combination of engineering and architecture reveals an aesthetic quality which, instead of imposing on the environment it emanates from it. The study of these dwellings, on the one hand helps to better understand their development, and on the other, provides examples of a sustainable building tradition, from which many lessons can be learned. Associating bioclimatic design with vernacular typology may indicate design recommendations, which can be replicated not only as a gesture of respect towards tradition but also for its essential value of providing the region with buildings which by being climatically responsive are also energy efficient. References [1] Coch H. Bioclimatism in vernacular architecture. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 1996;2(1 2): [2] Balaras C, Gaglia A, Georgopoulou E, Mirasgedis S, Sarafidis Y, Lalas D. European residential building and empirical assessment of the Hellenic building stock, energy consumption, emissions and potential energy savings. Building and Environment 2007;42: [3] Kolokotroni M, Young AN. Guidelines for bioclimatic housing design in Greece. Building and Environment 1990;25(4): [4] Szokolay S. Introduction to architectural science: the basis of sustainable design. London: Elsevier Ltd.; [5] EMY. Climatic records of Greece: Department of Meteorology. [6] Heerwagen D. Passive and active environmental controls: informing the schematic designing of buildings. McGraw-Hill; [7] Kouremenos K. In: Philippides D, editor. Phokida, in Greek traditional architecture. Greece: Melissa Publishing House; [8] Brown RGillespie T. Microclimatic landscape design: creating thermal comfort and energy efficiency. Canada: John Wiley & Sons Inc; [9] Oikonomou A. Summer thermal comfort in traditional buildings of the 19th century in Florina, north-western Greece. In: International conference Passive and Low Energy Cooling for the Built Environment ; p [10] Parra-Saldivar ML, Batty W. Thermal behavior of adobe constructions. Building and Environment 2006;41: [11] Eben Saleh MA. Adobe as a thermal regulating material. Solar &Wind Technology 1990;7(4): [12] Evangelinos E, Zacharopoulos E. Thermal value of the building shell in traditional buildings. Design and Art in Greece 1989;20:52 3. [13] Godfaurd J, Clements-Croome D, Jeronimidis G. Sustainable building solutions: a review of lessons from the natural world. Building and Environment 2005;40(3): [14] Asquith l, Vellinga M. Vernacular architecture in the twenty-first century: theory, education and practice. London & New York: Taylor & Francis; 2006.