Within the framework of the initiatives of Iranian Students Culture, Education and Science Association, Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) hosted Yazd University Faculty of Fine Arts and Architecture Dean Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sayed Mohammed Hossein Ayatollahi and a seminar took place at EMU Faculty of Architecture Alpay Ozdural Hall.
During the seminar that took place as part of the operations of ARCHIXTRA, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sayed Mohammed Hossein Ayatollahi informed the attendants about the city of Yazd which is one of the cities in UNESCO’s World Heritage List. In his speech, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ayatollahi described the unique characteristics of ancient Yazd houses in terms of their passive solar design and thermal comfort in the circumstances of a desert climate. Yazd region is renowned for its “Badgir” wind towers cooling the lower parts of the housings and as a result creating a more liveable atmosphere. Ayatollahi stated that this is the only way Yazidi people can adapt themselves to the geographical conditions of the region and added that the water requirement of the city has been fullfilled by the subsoil irrigation systems named “Qanat”, which was also invented by the local people.
Furthermore, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ayatollahi expressed that along with the everchanging living conditions, the locals are preferably settling to modern housings leading to a decline of population in the ancient regions of the city and as Yazd Fine Arts and Architecture Faculty; their aim is to renovate the historical buildings by establishing research centers for the encouragement of scientific studies.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sayed Mohammed Hossein Ayatollahi has post-graduate and doctorate diplomas in the field of Architecture and still works as the Dean of Yazd Fine Arts and Architecture Faculty. The academician has a number of scientific puclications in the area of Yazd wind towers.