Purpose This study aims to enhance the passive-cooling performance of Mashrabiya-inspired façade shading for residential buildings in Baghdad's hot-arid climate through an orientation-specific, performance-based optimisation framework that responds to intense solar exposure and climatic building pathology. Design/methodology/approach A parametric simulation workflow was developed using Rhinoceros 3D, Grasshopper, Ladybug Tools and the Galapagos evolutionary solver. Vertical, horizontal and hybrid louvre configurations were evaluated across north, east, south and west façade orientations. Annual Direct Sunlight Hours (DSH) were minimised as the primary objective, while Useful Daylight Illuminance (UDI) and Continuous Daylight Autonomy (CDA) were assessed for post-optimisation daylight performance. Findings The results show that hybrid configurations provided the most balanced performance by substantially reducing excessive solar penetration while maintaining acceptable daylight availability. Orientation-sensitive optimisation enhanced the environmental adaptability of Mashrabiya-inspired façade systems by allowing shading geometry to respond more effectively to façade-specific solar exposure. Research limitations/implications This study is limited to a simulation-based evaluation using Baghdad EPW climate data and static Mashrabiya-inspired louvre configurations. Field monitoring and occupant-based validation were outside the present scope. Future research should extend the framework by including cooling energy demand, operative temperature, glare assessment and field validation in occupied residential buildings. Practical implications The findings provide architects and retrofit designers with an orientation-specific approach for improving façade shading in Baghdad's hot-arid residential buildings. The optimised Mashrabiya-inspired louvres can support passive-cooling performance, reduce direct solar exposure and offer a culturally appropriate retrofit strategy for existing residential façades. Social implications The proposed façade strategy has the potential to support improved indoor comfort in existing housing while reducing dependence on mechanical cooling. By adapting Mashrabiya and Shanasheel principles through contemporary simulation and optimisation, the study supports culturally grounded climate adaptation and contributes to discussions on reducing electricity demand in hot-arid urban contexts. Originality/value This study integrates Mashrabiya-inspired design logic with evolutionary optimisation to support performance-based façade retrofitting in Baghdad's hot-arid climate. Its originality lies in applying orientation-specific optimisation to vertical, horizontal and hybrid louvre configurations, using DSH as the main solar-exposure metric and UDI/CDA as post-optimisation daylight assessment indicators.
Ayyash et al. (Wed,) studied this question.
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