Integrating Vernacular Wisdom and Contemporary Performance in Mediterranean Residential Architecture: Santarém, Portugal Case Study

This study comparatively analyzed residential architecture in Santarém, Portugal, as a representative case for the broader inland Mediterranean context, evaluating vernacular, contemporary, and hybrid typologies in terms of thermal performance and cost-effectiveness. Traditional buildings, characteristic of Mediterranean climates, relied on high thermal mass and cross-ventilation for summer cooling but exhibited poor envelope insulation (average U≈1.4 W/m²K), leading to elevated winter heating needs (≈150 kWh/m²·year) and non-compliance with Nearly Zero-Energy Building (NZEB) standards. By contrast, contemporary NZEB-compliant solutions, optimized for Mediterranean conditions, employed high-performance insulation and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (average U≈0.13 W/m²K; ~35 kWh/m²·year), offering enhanced comfort but requiring a significant initial investment (+75%) and long payback periods (~46 years). The hybrid approach, integrating Mediterranean vernacular strategies with targeted technological upgrades, presented the most effective compromise. It reduced energy consumption by ~50% (78 kWh/m²·year, net 39 kWh/m²·year with renewables), involved a moderate additional cost (~28%), and shortened the payback period to ~33 years. This typology demonstrates a feasible and regionally adaptable model for energy-efficient housing in Mediterranean settings, aligning climate-responsive design with current energy performance requirements.