Enhancing Thermal Comfort in Historic Buildings by Wind-Driven Ventilation Systems—A Case Study of the Praterateliers in Vienna

This study investigates the effectiveness of natural wind-driven ventilation systems in enhancing thermal comfort and energy efficiency within the context of Central European climates, specifically Vienna. By addressing the unique challenges posed by cultural heritage buildings, such as the Praterat...

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Main Authors: Aida Shayegani, Viera Joklova, Katarina Kristianova, Juraj Illes
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/2/269
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author Aida Shayegani
Viera Joklova
Katarina Kristianova
Juraj Illes
author_facet Aida Shayegani
Viera Joklova
Katarina Kristianova
Juraj Illes
author_sort Aida Shayegani
collection DOAJ
description This study investigates the effectiveness of natural wind-driven ventilation systems in enhancing thermal comfort and energy efficiency within the context of Central European climates, specifically Vienna. By addressing the unique challenges posed by cultural heritage buildings, such as the Praterateliers’ Pavilions, this research highlights the role of sustainable ventilation strategies in mitigating urban overheating, which is exacerbated by climate change. A novel focus is placed on integrating windcatchers with passive systems like earth tubes and solar ventilation to reduce reliance on mechanical cooling and achieve lower carbon emissions while adhering to heritage preservation regulations. Using DesignBuilder simulations and future climate data (2020–2030), this research evaluates the thermal performance of key zones within the Praterateliers under different operational scenarios. The selected analysis period (May to September) captures the peak thermal stress conditions in Vienna, with wind rose diagrams and temperature characteristics providing insights into the ventilation potential during these months. The quantitative results demonstrate that cross-ventilation, combined with windcatchers and subterranean air exchange systems, improved thermal comfort metrics—such as predicted mean vote indices—by up to 30%, particularly in windward and leeward zones. These findings underscore the viability of non-invasive natural ventilation systems in achieving optimal thermal conditions, demonstrating an innovative yet preservation-friendly approach to sustainable architecture. This research not only advances the application of passive cooling strategies in heritage buildings but also provides scalable solutions for addressing urban overheating in modern constructions.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1996-1073
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publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher MDPI AG
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series Energies
spelling doaj-art-6e30d56dbb564064a7c9a44525e93fe62025-01-24T13:30:51ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732025-01-0118226910.3390/en18020269Enhancing Thermal Comfort in Historic Buildings by Wind-Driven Ventilation Systems—A Case Study of the Praterateliers in ViennaAida Shayegani0Viera Joklova1Katarina Kristianova2Juraj Illes3Institute of Urban Design and Urban Planning, Faculty of Architecture and Design, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Namestie Slobody 19, 81245 Bratislava, SlovakiaInstitute of Urban Design and Urban Planning, Faculty of Architecture and Design, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Namestie Slobody 19, 81245 Bratislava, SlovakiaCenter of Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Architecture and Design, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Namestie Slobody 19, 81245 Bratislava, SlovakiaInstitute of Urban Design and Urban Planning, Faculty of Architecture and Design, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Namestie Slobody 19, 81245 Bratislava, SlovakiaThis study investigates the effectiveness of natural wind-driven ventilation systems in enhancing thermal comfort and energy efficiency within the context of Central European climates, specifically Vienna. By addressing the unique challenges posed by cultural heritage buildings, such as the Praterateliers’ Pavilions, this research highlights the role of sustainable ventilation strategies in mitigating urban overheating, which is exacerbated by climate change. A novel focus is placed on integrating windcatchers with passive systems like earth tubes and solar ventilation to reduce reliance on mechanical cooling and achieve lower carbon emissions while adhering to heritage preservation regulations. Using DesignBuilder simulations and future climate data (2020–2030), this research evaluates the thermal performance of key zones within the Praterateliers under different operational scenarios. The selected analysis period (May to September) captures the peak thermal stress conditions in Vienna, with wind rose diagrams and temperature characteristics providing insights into the ventilation potential during these months. The quantitative results demonstrate that cross-ventilation, combined with windcatchers and subterranean air exchange systems, improved thermal comfort metrics—such as predicted mean vote indices—by up to 30%, particularly in windward and leeward zones. These findings underscore the viability of non-invasive natural ventilation systems in achieving optimal thermal conditions, demonstrating an innovative yet preservation-friendly approach to sustainable architecture. This research not only advances the application of passive cooling strategies in heritage buildings but also provides scalable solutions for addressing urban overheating in modern constructions.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/2/269natural ventilationwindcatcherspassive cooling in historic buildingsCentral European climateDesignBuilder
spellingShingle Aida Shayegani
Viera Joklova
Katarina Kristianova
Juraj Illes
Enhancing Thermal Comfort in Historic Buildings by Wind-Driven Ventilation Systems—A Case Study of the Praterateliers in Vienna
Energies
natural ventilation
windcatchers
passive cooling in historic buildings
Central European climate
DesignBuilder
title Enhancing Thermal Comfort in Historic Buildings by Wind-Driven Ventilation Systems—A Case Study of the Praterateliers in Vienna
title_full Enhancing Thermal Comfort in Historic Buildings by Wind-Driven Ventilation Systems—A Case Study of the Praterateliers in Vienna
title_fullStr Enhancing Thermal Comfort in Historic Buildings by Wind-Driven Ventilation Systems—A Case Study of the Praterateliers in Vienna
title_full_unstemmed Enhancing Thermal Comfort in Historic Buildings by Wind-Driven Ventilation Systems—A Case Study of the Praterateliers in Vienna
title_short Enhancing Thermal Comfort in Historic Buildings by Wind-Driven Ventilation Systems—A Case Study of the Praterateliers in Vienna
title_sort enhancing thermal comfort in historic buildings by wind driven ventilation systems a case study of the praterateliers in vienna
topic natural ventilation
windcatchers
passive cooling in historic buildings
Central European climate
DesignBuilder
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/2/269
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