This study aims to fill an important gap in the literature by comparing the thermal performance of two residential buildings (timber frame with adobe infill and brick masonry) located within the traditional fabric of Afyonkarahisar, focusing solely on the differences in construction techniques. Unlike previous studies comparing buildings with different morphological characteristics, this research selected two buildings located on the same street and with the same orientation; thus, the analysis was reduced to only the material and construction technique. The study first created a detailed dataset containing building form, facade characteristics, material layers, and climate data; then, the thermal transmittance values of the building elements were calculated according to TS 825 standards and transferred to DesignBuilder software. Through heating design analysis and annual energy simulations, wall-floor heat losses, surface temperatures, heating loads, and annual energy consumption were evaluated. The results showed that timber frame walls with adobe infill provided lower heat loss and higher internal surface temperatures compared to brick walls, despite being thinner in thickness. According to the annual energy results, timber-framed houses use about 35% less heating energy than brick masonry houses. While reinforced concrete floors help increase thermal resistance inside, wooden floors actually perform better when the surface is in contact with the outside air. The results obtained demonstrate that traditional materials can be reevaluated in contemporary buildings through appropriate combinations, providing a scientific basis for conservation efforts and new designs.
Erdurmuş et al. (Tue,) studied this question.