Design choices: The project involves the construction of a typical home in the UAE. In the urban contexts of desert regions, such as those of the Arabian Peninsula, the design of residential settlements plays a crucial role in managing heat, natural ventilation and energy consumption. An urban design scheme based on a rectangular plot with terraced houses, although efficient from the point of view of land use and construction costs, has several major disadvantages in terms of both climate and urban design.
The oasis is born with the seed of a palm tree and the hand of man. A small excavation collects moisture, the seed takes root irrigated with water drained with ingenious systems. The oasis effect is thus created, a process favourable to life thanks to the coexistence of different living organisms that comply with the laws of nature.
The organisation in rectangular plots favours car use and functional separation of spaces, to the detriment of social interaction. In the absence of well-shaded and walkable public spaces.
Circular plots between 430 m2 and 470 m2 (average area of 450 m2 ), instead of rectangular plots, allow optimal orientation with respect to the prevailing sun and wind, increasing the possibilities of cross-ventilation.
A higher urban density allows for amenities within a radius of 300 m, accessible by paths for pedestrian use only.
This type of aggregation enhances the richness of traditional Arab urbanism, characterised by winding paths, inner courtyards, natural shading and a strong integration with the climatic context, with well-shaded, walkable public spaces. Each dwelling can be reached by cars with hierarchical routes. Collective mobility is ensured by a BRT system (Bus Rapid Transit).
Compact and continuous shape
The circular geometry ensures a minimal external surface area in relation to the enclosed volume (very low S/V ratio). This is advantageous in hostile environments, where every square meter exposed to the sun represents a potential source of unwanted heat absorption. The continuity of the perimeter walls forms a sort of “protective shell,” similar to a fortress, which isolates the inhabited spaces from the surrounding context.
Centripetal and functional organization
The rooms are distributed around a central void, the courtyard, which serves as a space for socializing, distribution, ventilation, and lighting. The building can be divided into zones (day/night, public/private) in an orderly manner, following the circularity. The shape helps to reduce the distance between spaces, improving efficiency of use.
Constructive and structural adaptability
The perimeter walls can be built with local materials with high mass (such as adobe, unfired bricks, or stone), which are also easy to use in curved forms. The ring structure lends itself well to mechanical stability, resisting wind loads and thermal expansion thanks to its geometric continuity.
CLIMATIC ADVANTAGES
Natural solar control
The central void (courtyard) is protected from direct sunlight for most of the day thanks to the height of the surrounding walls. The shade that moves across the courtyard during the day mitigates soil overheating. The ring shape allows the surfaces exposed to the sun to be distributed evenly, preventing excessive overheating of a single facade.
Passive thermal regulation
The solid materials used (typical of vernacular architecture) have high thermal inertia: they absorb heat during the hot hours and release it slowly during the night, dampening temperature fluctuations. The building functions as a natural heat accumulator, promoting constant indoor comfort.
Creation of a microclimate in the courtyard
The courtyard acts as a climate well: warm air tends to rise and escape vertically, facilitating air exchange and natural ventilation of the rooms facing it. When integrated with natural elements (vegetation, water, porous paving), the courtyard promotes evaporative cooling and air humidification, compensating for the typical dryness of the desert.
Protection from wind and sand
The closed, continuous shape of the building acts as an aerodynamic barrier against hot, strong winds laden with sand. Access points can be reduced and screened off from the outside, limiting the entry of sand, while the courtyard remains a protected and sheltered space, even during storms.
