Urban Morphology and Energy Performance: Spatial-Simulation Assessment from Hebron, Palestine
Urban morphology critically governs residential energy demand, yet empirical evidence from semi-arid, geopolitically constrained cities remains scarce. This study quantifies the influence of neighbourhood form on heating and cooling loads in Hebron, Palestine. Three morphologically distinct distric...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Alanya Üniversitesi
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs |
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| Online Access: | https://ijcua.com/ijcua/article/view/519 |
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| author | Azeez Ezaldeen Ahmad Aburmalah Doğa Üzümcüoğlu |
| author_facet | Azeez Ezaldeen Ahmad Aburmalah Doğa Üzümcüoğlu |
| author_sort | Azeez Ezaldeen Ahmad Aburmalah |
| collection | DOAJ |
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Urban morphology critically governs residential energy demand, yet empirical evidence from semi-arid, geopolitically constrained cities remains scarce. This study quantifies the influence of neighbourhood form on heating and cooling loads in Hebron, Palestine. Three morphologically distinct districts—Old City (compact), Zeitoun (semi-structured) and Al Sheikh (unplanned sprawl)—were mapped in ArcGIS Pro to derive Floor Space Index, Ground Space Index and Open Space Ratio. Prototype mid-rise dwellings were modelled in DesignBuilder and simulated with EnergyPlus under identical boundary conditions. Pearson correlations and ANOVA assessed relationships between morphological variables and annual loads. Results show cooling demand decreases by 34 % as FSI rises from 0.7 to 1.2, whereas heating demand doubles under the same densification. The moderately dense Zeitoun configuration (FSI≈1.0, OSR≈1.6) achieved the lowest combined energy use, outperforming both extreme forms. Findings demonstrate that mid-rise, medium-density layouts balance summer shading with winter solar access, offering a viable pathway for energy-aware expansion in semi-arid contexts. The integrated spatial-simulation framework provides planners with transferable metrics for zoning and retrofit prioritisation, supporting climate-responsive urban policy across the Middle East. Future research should incorporate behavioural patterns and multiple building typologies to refine these benchmarks under climate-change scenarios.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-37fdfc2e5c8e423caa76136e50b500c5 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2475-6164 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Alanya Üniversitesi |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs |
| spelling | doaj-art-37fdfc2e5c8e423caa76136e50b500c52025-08-20T02:09:30ZengAlanya ÜniversitesiJournal of Contemporary Urban Affairs2475-61642025-06-019110.25034/ijcua.2025.v9n1-8Urban Morphology and Energy Performance: Spatial-Simulation Assessment from Hebron, PalestineAzeez Ezaldeen Ahmad Aburmalah0https://orcid.org/0009-0004-6666-3488Doğa Üzümcüoğlu1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8968-5103Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, Design and Fine Arts, Girne American University, Girne, North Cyprus Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, Design and Fine Arts, Girne American University, Girne, North Cyprus Urban morphology critically governs residential energy demand, yet empirical evidence from semi-arid, geopolitically constrained cities remains scarce. This study quantifies the influence of neighbourhood form on heating and cooling loads in Hebron, Palestine. Three morphologically distinct districts—Old City (compact), Zeitoun (semi-structured) and Al Sheikh (unplanned sprawl)—were mapped in ArcGIS Pro to derive Floor Space Index, Ground Space Index and Open Space Ratio. Prototype mid-rise dwellings were modelled in DesignBuilder and simulated with EnergyPlus under identical boundary conditions. Pearson correlations and ANOVA assessed relationships between morphological variables and annual loads. Results show cooling demand decreases by 34 % as FSI rises from 0.7 to 1.2, whereas heating demand doubles under the same densification. The moderately dense Zeitoun configuration (FSI≈1.0, OSR≈1.6) achieved the lowest combined energy use, outperforming both extreme forms. Findings demonstrate that mid-rise, medium-density layouts balance summer shading with winter solar access, offering a viable pathway for energy-aware expansion in semi-arid contexts. The integrated spatial-simulation framework provides planners with transferable metrics for zoning and retrofit prioritisation, supporting climate-responsive urban policy across the Middle East. Future research should incorporate behavioural patterns and multiple building typologies to refine these benchmarks under climate-change scenarios. https://ijcua.com/ijcua/article/view/519Urban morphologyBuilding energy simulationEnergy performanceSemi-arid cityGIS spatial analysisHebron |
| spellingShingle | Azeez Ezaldeen Ahmad Aburmalah Doğa Üzümcüoğlu Urban Morphology and Energy Performance: Spatial-Simulation Assessment from Hebron, Palestine Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs Urban morphology Building energy simulation Energy performance Semi-arid city GIS spatial analysis Hebron |
| title | Urban Morphology and Energy Performance: Spatial-Simulation Assessment from Hebron, Palestine |
| title_full | Urban Morphology and Energy Performance: Spatial-Simulation Assessment from Hebron, Palestine |
| title_fullStr | Urban Morphology and Energy Performance: Spatial-Simulation Assessment from Hebron, Palestine |
| title_full_unstemmed | Urban Morphology and Energy Performance: Spatial-Simulation Assessment from Hebron, Palestine |
| title_short | Urban Morphology and Energy Performance: Spatial-Simulation Assessment from Hebron, Palestine |
| title_sort | urban morphology and energy performance spatial simulation assessment from hebron palestine |
| topic | Urban morphology Building energy simulation Energy performance Semi-arid city GIS spatial analysis Hebron |
| url | https://ijcua.com/ijcua/article/view/519 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT azeezezaldeenahmadaburmalah urbanmorphologyandenergyperformancespatialsimulationassessmentfromhebronpalestine AT dogauzumcuoglu urbanmorphologyandenergyperformancespatialsimulationassessmentfromhebronpalestine |