An integrated framework for a sustainable hotel complex in Ghazni: A climate-responsive, culturally-attuned model for arid climates

  • Mohammad Tahir Zamani orcid

    Architecture Department, Engineering Faculty, Paktia University, Gardez 2201, Afghanistan
  • Abdul Saboor Moshwani orcid

    Architecture Department, Engineering Faculty, Paktia University, Gardez 2201, Afghanistan
  • Abdullah Khan Kamalzai orcid

    Architecture Department, Engineering Faculty, Paktia University, Gardez 2201, Afghanistan
  • Shams-ul-Rahman Faroqzai

    Architecture Department, Engineering Faculty, Paktia University, Gardez 2201, Afghanistan
  • Obaid Ullah Sohail Torab

    Architecture Department, Engineering Faculty, Paktia University, Gardez 2201, Afghanistan
  • Sayed Hassan Hassan orcid

    Architecture Department, Engineering Faculty, Paktia University, Gardez 2201, Afghanistan
  • Ezatullah Popal orcid

    Architecture Department, Engineering Faculty, Paktia University, Gardez 2201, Afghanistan
Article ID: 4026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59400/be4026
Keywords: sustainable hotel design, building performance simulation, lifecycle carbon assessment, renewable energy integration, context-sensitive design, Ghazni

Abstract

This study addresses the critical need for sustainable hospitality infrastructure in regions with distinct climatic and cultural contexts, focusing on Ghazni, Afghanistan (AFG). It answers two primary research questions: (1) What quantified energy and carbon reductions can be achieved by integrating vernacular passive strategies with active renewable systems in a hotel model for Ghazni? (2) What design parameters ensure cultural relevance, technical feasibility, and local adaptability? The study develops and evaluates an integrated, context-specific Sustainable Hotel Model (SHM) through a mixed-methods approach, combining socio-technical surveys (N = 250), expert interviews (N = 24), and building performance simulation using Autodesk Revit (BIM) and EnergyPlus. A household survey revealed strong public endorsement for sustainability (76% priority) and solar energy (94.95% support), alongside significant gaps in current hotel practices (77.78% perceived no energy efficiency (EE) measures). Expert interviews informed a four-pillar design framework comprising 65 principles across the Socio-Cultural, Economic, Environmental, and Technical domains. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed SHM achieves a 14.68% reduction in total site energy consumption, a 20.66% reduction in cooling demand, and meets 91.6% of its annual electricity demand via on-site solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. Lifecycle carbon assessment shows a 73.3% reduction in total carbon emissions, driven primarily by an 80.3% reduction in embodied carbon through local, low-embodied-energy materials. The study concludes that authentic sustainability in such contexts requires a synergistic system where high environmental performance is achieved through, not at the expense of, cultural preservation and economic vitality. This research provides a simulation-evaluated, replicable blueprint for decarbonizing the hospitality sector and promoting sustainable regional development in arid, culturally significant regions.

Published
2026-05-08
How to Cite
Zamani, M. T., Moshwani, A. S., Kamalzai, A. K., Faroqzai, S.- ul-R., Torab, O. U. S., Hassan, S. H., & Popal, E. (2026). An integrated framework for a sustainable hotel complex in Ghazni: A climate-responsive, culturally-attuned model for arid climates. Building Engineering, 4(2). https://doi.org/10.59400/be4026
Issue
Vol. 4 No. 2 (2026)
Section
Article

Copyright (c) 2026 Mohammad Tahir Zamani, Abdul Saboor Moshwani, Abdullah Khan Kamalzai, Shams-ul-Rahman Faroqzai, Obaid Ullah Sohail Torab, Sayed Hassan Hassan, Ezatullah Popal

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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