10 th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SOCIAL SCIENCES & HUMANITIES July 18-19, 2022 Sivas WEB: https://www.ispecongress.org/sosyal-bilimler / E-MAIL: ispeckongresi@gmail.com 70 A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ARCHITECTURAL IDENTITY OF RESIDENTIAL SUN ROOM Fatemeh MONZAVI Near East University, Faculty of Architecture, Department of Interior Architecture ORCID: 0000-0002-9835-1831 Assist. Prof. Dr. Ayten Özsavaş AKÇAY Near East University, Faculty of Architecture, Department of Architecture ORCID: 0000-0003-3409-6621 ABSTRACT Architecture, particularly bioclimatic architecture, attempts to minimize the building's energy usage and achieve microclimate management of the interior spaces. Various architectural solutions have been developed for climatic comfort throughout different time spans. One of the solutions is using passive lighting or natural sunlight in building construction, which started in 6000 BC in China and continued until the 21st century around the world. A special space, named “Sun room” which is observed worldwide, creates a summer and winter user- friendly and nature-friendly sustainable room. However, as time passed, it underwent improvements that resulted in structural, functional, and even name changes. Therefore, this study aims to analyze and discuss architectural identity elements of residential buildings’ sun room spaces, through architectural design. Moreover, the features of various architectural eras are compared using the most important criteria, function, and the evolution of sun rooms in residential buildings is analyzed from the past to the present through the perspective of passive energy design. This study is based on a theoretical approach, reinforced essentially by the outcomes of a literature review and investigation using qualitative methodology. The findings indicated that, despite a sun room's positive impact on energy balance in all types of buildings and their temperatures, it varied according to geographical location/ sun's position, local culture, people's needs, new designs, etc. Ultimately, it is expected that this research will positively demonstrate the development of the distinct features, functions, and potentials of the sun room, and its specific typologies. But if this particular space is not constructed and used with care, it will eventually lose its efficiency. Keywords: Architectural Identity, Residential Building, Sun Room, Passive Energy, Sunlight INTRODUCTION From the ancient days, humans have always needed to live in shelters in order to protect themselves from adverse environmental circumstances such as rain, storms, cold or hot temperatures, and other similar things. As a result, the climate has become an essential component of the ambient circumstances, and its use in architectural design is recognized as being very beneficial. It is generally agreed that architecture is a reflection of a civilization's requirements, society, technological advancements, cultural traditions, and climate. All of these aspects, except for the weather, may be altered and transformed throughout the course of time. Architecture and urban design are both influenced by climate, which is a constant environmental component. As a result of this, various climatic circumstances that are specific to the nations need them to take certain architectural considerations in order to produce living spaces that are more pleasant. In addition, they may be used to characterize the architectural features of many nations at distinct periods throughout their histories. According to Ozay (2002), several architectural approaches to achieving climatic comfort were created during the course of a wide range of historical periods.