With the rapid growth of urbanisation and the widespread use of heating and cooling systems, buildings are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption. Improving the thermal comfort of residents in buildings and avoiding active fossil fuel-based systems is a critical challenge for many cities around the world. Vernacular architecture has co-evolved with local climatic conditions and is often referred to as environmentally friendly architecture. The effect of bioclimatic design measures on thermal comfort, especially in cold semi-arid regions, has seldom been studied and, as a result, architects and planners do not know enough about bioclimatic design measures to achieve almost optimal conditions in these areas. The aim of this study is the assessment of bioclimatic design techniques used in the vernacular architecture of cold semi-arid regions. The research is a case study of residential units in Dehbar village, Khorasan Razavi province, Iran. For this purpose, the physical variables of a group of village houses (their layout, spacing between them, circulation of air, openings, walls, floors, roofs, outdoor sleeping arrangements and protection from rain) were studied. The research findings highlight the relationship between vernacular architecture and local conditions, demonstrating how optimal use of sunlight can prevent heat loss. The results of this study could be considered in similar climatic regions with similar structural characteristics.

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