some info & links
I was born in Thessaloniki, Greece (1957). After making Aliya (immigrating to Israel, 1975) I studied at the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, from which I hold B.Arch.T.Pl. and M.Sc. degrees, and earned a Ph.D. degree in archaeology from the Ben-Gurion University (BGU) of the Negev. I joined the Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, BGU, in 1986. I am Professor of Desert Architecture and have Chaired the Desert Architecture & Urban Planning (DAUP) Unit, and the Bona Terra Dept. of Man in the Desert (MID) (2005-2010). My work has been published in papers, reports, chapters in books and collective volumes in English, Hebrew, Spanish, Serbian and Chinese.
I lecture extensively in Israel and abroad, and have been Visiting Lecturer, Environment & Energy Studies (currently Sustainable Environmental Design), AASA, London (1992); Visiting Professor, School of Architecture, Oxford Brookes University (2000-2001); Honorary Visiting Professor, School of Architecture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (2010-2011); Visiting Professor, School of Science & Technology, International Hellenic University (2012-2018); invited lecturer, Dept. Building & Environment, Donau Universitaet, Austria; and Visiting Professor, Energy Management in the Built Environment Research Lab, Chemical & Environmental Engineering School, Technical University of Crete, Chania, Greece (2021-2022).
I am currently a faculty member of the departments of Civil & Environmental Engineering and Energy Engineering, both at the Faculty of Engineering Sciences, BGU.
I participate in the design of environmentally conscious and experimental projects, including private and public buildings and clusters in the Israeli deserts; act as consultant to various institutions, among them Israel Ministries of Construction and Housing; Energy Water and Infrastructures; Interior; Israel Land Administration; and Standards Institute of Israel; and was active in the Israel Green Building Council (ILGBC) in its first years, particularly in the formation of its professional courses syllabus. I have been a member of the BGU Green Campus Council, and have been heading multidisciplinary teams focusing on green technologies and their integration, and sustainable development.
Awards:
Research interests include:
Current research includes ZERO-PLUS (EU Horizon 2020), as well as a number of applied research initiatives.
For my research, outreach and educational activities and involvement in promoting green sustainable architecture, I was voted by an independent experts' panel (Feb.2014) one of the 100 Israelis most influential in the country's environmental policy (infrastructures and construction sector).
I lecture extensively in Israel and abroad, and have been Visiting Lecturer, Environment & Energy Studies (currently Sustainable Environmental Design), AASA, London (1992); Visiting Professor, School of Architecture, Oxford Brookes University (2000-2001); Honorary Visiting Professor, School of Architecture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (2010-2011); Visiting Professor, School of Science & Technology, International Hellenic University (2012-2018); invited lecturer, Dept. Building & Environment, Donau Universitaet, Austria; and Visiting Professor, Energy Management in the Built Environment Research Lab, Chemical & Environmental Engineering School, Technical University of Crete, Chania, Greece (2021-2022).
I am currently a faculty member of the departments of Civil & Environmental Engineering and Energy Engineering, both at the Faculty of Engineering Sciences, BGU.
I participate in the design of environmentally conscious and experimental projects, including private and public buildings and clusters in the Israeli deserts; act as consultant to various institutions, among them Israel Ministries of Construction and Housing; Energy Water and Infrastructures; Interior; Israel Land Administration; and Standards Institute of Israel; and was active in the Israel Green Building Council (ILGBC) in its first years, particularly in the formation of its professional courses syllabus. I have been a member of the BGU Green Campus Council, and have been heading multidisciplinary teams focusing on green technologies and their integration, and sustainable development.
Awards:
- Sheba Award for Outstanding Contributions in Desert Architecture (1988)
- Dori Award for Technology (1992)
- PLEA International Best Paper Award (2000)
- Best Tutor, School of Architecture, Oxford Brookes University (2000-2001)
- Best Specialization Course, Albert Katz International School for Desert Studies, BGU (2001-2)
- Ben-Gurion Award for Excelling Scientist (2006)
- JCT Award for Scientific Endeavor in Israel (2008)
- Emilio Ambasz Award for Green Architecture - Research (2011)
- Emilio Ambasz Award for Green Architecture - Research (2013-4 )
- Israel Green Building Council Award for Leadership in Green Building (2016)
- Excelling Course Award, edX MOOC - Environmental Protection and Sustainability (2021).
Research interests include:
- Sustainable design in arid zones
- Energy conservation in buildings
- Energy aspects of skyscrapers in hot climates
- Post Occupancy Evaluation (POE)
- Indoor Environment Quality (IEQ)
- Life Cycle Energy Analysis (LCEA)
- Retrofit and upgrade of vernacular prototypes with low-tech materials and details
- Microclimate of open spaces
- Proactive contingency planning
Current research includes ZERO-PLUS (EU Horizon 2020), as well as a number of applied research initiatives.
For my research, outreach and educational activities and involvement in promoting green sustainable architecture, I was voted by an independent experts' panel (Feb.2014) one of the 100 Israelis most influential in the country's environmental policy (infrastructures and construction sector).
Following are some links to recently uploaded material:
- Read chapter by I.A. Meir: Rethinking buildings and cities towards climate resilience.
rethinking_buildings_and_cities_towards_climate_resilience.pdf |
In D. Knafo (ed.) (2022) On the Verge of a New Regionalism. Knafo Klimor Architects Ltd., Tel Aviv& Haifa, pp.20-25.
- Read article by Maayan Jaffe-Hoffman in the Jerusalem Post (July 11, 2023): Sinking cities: New York, Chicago, Tel Aviv at risk from climate change
A new study showed for the first time that "underground climate change" causes the ground beneath urban areas to move, expand and contract.
sinking_cities_-_jp_2023_0711.pdf |
- Read article in Israel21c (Jan.09, 2023): Skyscrapers are huge mistakes, warns engineering expert
israel21c_2023.pdf |
- An article titled Could urbanization kill us? was published (May 17, 2022) in The Jerusalem Post: Ben-Gurion University’s Prof. Isaac Meir says sustainable urban design and building practices are essential for a healthy future.
jerusalem_post_-_pages_from_small_16052022_p2-3.pdf |
- Read position article by Isaac Meir in Globes (Nov.18, 2020 - in Hebrew): Building incompatibility with a changing climate will cost human lives
- Read here article by Rossela Tercatin in The Jerusalem Post (July 16, 2020): Do some cisterns in the Negev date back to the time of Abraham?
"Why did those ancient populations invest a lot of resources in quarrying and digging water cisterns in a sparse area without natural vegetation?"
The article gives a brief glimpse at a paper recently published by:
Ore G., H.J. Bruins, I.A. Meir (2020) Ancient cisterns in the Negev Highlands: Types and spatial correlation with Bronze and Iron Age sites. Journal of Archaeological Science 30 (2020) 102227. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2020.102227
- Read here recent article by Sue Surkes in Times of Israel (May 21, 2020): Researchers develop system to measure solar energy potential of city roofs. Ben Gurion University team maps roofs across entire southern city of Kiryat Malachi with 97% accuracy
- Read here recent article by Karin Kloosterman in Green Prophet (May 21, 2020): Calculate your cities' solar power potential
- 6th Jeffrey Cook Workshop (2019): Zero Plus Energy Settlements. Presentations.
Important Notice: The presentations linked through this site are the sole property of their authors and are copyright protected. You are welcome to view and quote them, but you are kindly requested to refrain from downloading, copying or using in any other manner, without prior written consent of their authors.
- Listen to the interview (in Hebrew; 2019) with Michael Mero (peoplebroadcasting.org) on the Lime-Hemp-Concrete research project with Prof. Alva Peled and Rotem Haik.
- Read here article by Patricia Golan (August 1, 2019) in Jerusalem Report on A Bedouin eco-farm celebrates a decade of sustainability.
- Read articles (in Hebrew) on building with Hempcrete:
As green as it gets: Building with hemp is economically advantageous, too.
uploaded (Sept.20, 2019) in the real estate page of walla.co.il
How green is your home?
uploaded (Sept.26, 2019) in Zavit (Angle) - Science and Environment News Agency
- SB Campus Radio Episode 4.1 Interview with Prof. Isaac Meir (a.k.a. Sakis) - This interview brings an interesting overview about Greece, Jews, History, Politics, Academy, Music and stuff you can find in his office... (50:21; 2017)
- 5th Jeffrey Cook Workshop (2017): The Challenge of Climate Responsive Architecture in Hotter and Drier Cities. Presentations
- Check our course on Environmental Protection and Sustainability, now on edX. Running for sixth year.
- From Amos Gitai’s TV series (in Hebrew; 2016) Sustainability – Man, Nature and Environment: Environmentally Aware Planning
- Read our digital book (in Hebrew; 2010): Design Manual for Bio-Climatic Construction in Israel
- Article in Israel21c, #Social Action, by Stephanie Freid (July 15, 2007): Eco-architect from Israel builds environment-friendly homes for the future
POE of a lab and office university building. An exercise with Civil & Environmental Engineering undergraduate and research students (January 2023).
New papers:
One of the older yet still relevant publications of the Desert Architecture Unit and the Applied Solar Calculations Unit is the book Energy Aspects of Design in Arid Zones, by Isaac A. Meir, Y. Etzion, D. Faiman, which was researched, written and published under research budgets by the Israel Ministry of Energy and Infrastructures, Research and Development Division, RD-11-89 and RD-04-90 (1990 & 1994 in Hebrew ; 1994 in English). The Hebrew version can be downloaded in separate chapter and sub-chapter PDF files, which can be found below.
In addition to writing much of the text, I worked on the book's graphics with much love and care. Many of them can be found in various sites around the Internet, in most cases used without reference. You are more than welcome to make good use of this book, but please give appropriate credit to the authors.
- Meir I., G.Z. Chrysafaki, A. Mousourakis, K. Gobakis, D. Kolokotsa (2024) A systematic approach for assessing buildings with natural materials in the Mediterranean climate. Energy and Buildings 113916. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2024.113916
- Cicelsky A., I.A. Meir, A. Peled (2023) Novel insulating construction blocks of crop residue (straw) and natural binders. MRS Energy & Sustainability, 2329-2237. https://doi.org/10.1557/s43581-023-00075-x
- Cicelsky A., I.A. Meir, A. Peled (2023) Novel insulating construction blocks of crop residue (straw) and natural binders. Supplementary information. https://static-content.springer.com/esm/art%3A10.1557%2Fs43581-023-00075-x/MediaObjects/43581_2023_75_MOESM1_ESM.pdf
- S.T. Saroglou, H. Itzhak-Ben-Shalom, I.A. MeirPI (2023) Climatic variability in altitude: Architecture, thermal comfort, and safety along the facade of a residential tower in the Mediterranean climate. Buildings 13, 1979. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13081979 .
- Haik R., I.A. Meir, A. Peled (2023) Lime hemp concrete with unfired binders vs. conventional building materials: a comparative assessment of energy requirements and CO2 emissions. Energies 16(2), 708. https://www.mdpi.com/journal/energies/special_issues/Energy_Carbon_Materials#published
- Carlucci S., M.A. Lange, G. Artopoulos, H.M. Albuflasa, M.N. Asimakopoulou, S. Attia, E. Azar, E. Cüce, A. Hajiah, I.A. Meir, M. Neophytou, M. Nicolaides, D. Serghides, A. Sprecher, M. Tawalbeh (2022) Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East Climate Change Initiative. Report of the Task Force on the Built Environment. The Cyprus Institute, Nicosia. p.100. https://emme-cci.org/scientific-task-forces/task-force-built-environment/
- Saroglou T., H. Itzhak-Ben-Shalom, I.A.Meir (2022) Pedestrian Thermal Perception: Studies around two High-rise Buildings in the Mediterranean Climate. Building Research & Information RBRI 2007751. https://doi.org/10.1080/09613218.2021.2007751
- Haik R., A. Peled, I. A. Meir (2021) Thermal performance of a lime hemp concrete (LHC) building with alternative binders: a comparison with conventional building materials. Building Research and Information, 49:7, 763-776. https://doi.org/10.1080/09613218.2021.1889950
- Zilberberg E., P. Trapper, I.A. Meir, S. Isaac (2021). The impact of thermal mass and insulation of building structure on energy efficiency. Energy & Buildings 241: 110954.
- Haik R., A. Peled, I. A. Meir (2021) Thermal performance of a lime hemp concrete (LHC) building with alternative binders: a comparison with conventional building materials. Building Research and Information. https://doi.org/10.1080/09613218.2021.1889950
- Mavrigiannaki A., G. Pignatta, M.N. Assimakopoulos, M. Isaac, R. Gupta, D. Kolokotsa, M. Laskari, I.A. Meir, S. Isaac (2021). "Examining the benefits and barriers for the implementation of Net Zero Energy settlements." Energy and Buildings 230(2021) 110564. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2020.110564
- Saroglou S., I.A. Meir, T. Theodosiou (2020) Energy efficiency of a high-rise office building in the Mediterranean climate with the use of different envelope scenarios. In R. Roggema, A. Roggema (eds.) Smart and Sustainable Cities and Buildings. Springer Nature Switzerland, pp.651-661. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-37635-2_45
- Saroglou S., T. Theodosiou, I.A. Meir (2020) DSF studies towards energy efficiency for a tall building design in the Mediterranean climate. 1st Int. Conf. Climate Resilient Built Environment – iCRBE, Bali, Indonesia, 21-23 Sept. 2020. iCRBE Procedia Volume 1: Issue 1 (2020) 165-179. https://doi.org/10.32438/iCRBE.202026
- Saroglou T., T. Theodosiou, I.A. Meir (2020) Improving the energy efficiency of a Mediterranean high-rise envelope. CTBUH Journal 2020 II: 20-27. https://global.ctbuh.org/resources/papers/download/4301-improving-the-energy-efficiency-of-a-mediterranean-high-rise-envelope.pdf
- Ore G., H.J. Bruins, I.A. Meir (2020) Ancient cisterns in the Negev Highlands: Types and spatial correlation with Bronze and Iron Age sites. Journal of Archaeological Science 30 (2020) 102227.
- Tiwari A., I.A. Meir, A. Karnieli (2020) Object-based image procedures for assessing solar energy photovoltaic potential from heterogenic rooftops using airborne LiDAR and orthophoto. Remote Sens. 2020, 12(2), 223; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs12020223
- Haik R., G. Bar-Nes, A. Peled, I.A. Meir (2020) Sustainable lime hemp concrete (LHC): Alternative unfired binders as lime replacement. Construction and Building Materials 241, 117981; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.117981
- Haik R., A. Peled, I.A. Meir (2020) The thermal performance of lime hemp concrete (LHC) with alternative binders. Energy and Buildings 2020, 210, 109740; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2019.109740
- Saroglou S., T. Theodosiou, B. Givoni, I.A. Meir (2020) Studies on the optimum double-skin curtain wall design for high-rise buildings in the Mediterranean climate. Energy and Buildings 208 (2020) 109641 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2019.109641
- Saroglou S., T. Theodosiou, I.A. Meir (2020) Adapting high-rise buildings to local climates: Studies for an optimum envelope scenario towards energy efficiency for a high-rise building in the Mediterranean climate. In S. Roaf, F. Nicol,W. Finlayson (eds.) 11th Windsor Conference, Resilient Comfort in a Heating World. Cumberland Lodge, Windsor Great Park, 16-18 Apr. 2020, pp. 579-591.
- Saroglou S., T. Theodosiou, B. Givoni, I.A. Meir (2019) A Study of different envelope scenarios towards low carbon high-rise buildings in the Mediterranean climate - can DSF be part of the solution? Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews 113(2019)109237: 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2019.06.044
- Meir I.A., S. Isaac, D. Kolokotsa, K. Gobakis, G. Pignatta (2019) Towards ZECs – A brief note on commissioning and POE within the EU ZeroPlus Settlements. SBE19 Conf. Sustainability in the Built Environment for Climate Mitigation, Thessaloniki, Oct.23-25. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science 410 012038.
- Meir, I.A., R. Bernstein, K. Shalev (2019). Architectonic experimentation in early Israeli architecture vis-à-vis climatic constraints: the case of the Negev Desert. In I. Ben-Asher Gitler and A. Geva (eds) Israel as A Modern Experimental Lab, 1948-1978. Critical Studies in Architecture of the Middle East series (edited by M. Gharipour and C. Gruber), Intellect Books, Bristol, pp.255-278.
- Reider R., I.A. Meir (2019) Comparing the energy implications of FRP and concrete residential construction in a hot arid climate. Energy & Buildings 186: 98-107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2019.01.003
- Meron N., I.A. Meir (2018) Green construction of schools in Israel: costs and benefits. Ecology & Environment. 3(10.2018):42-47 (in Hebrew) http://magazine.isees.org.il/ArticlePage.aspx?ArticleId=786 .
- Meir I.A. , M. Schwartz, Y. Davara, Y. Garb (2018) A window of one’s own. A public office building Post-Occupancy Evaluation. Building Research & Information 38(1): 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1080/09613218.2018.1434366
- Saroglou S., I.A. Meir, T. Theodosiou, B. Givoni (2017) Towards energy efficient skyscrapers. Energy & Buildings 149:1-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2017.05.057
- Meron N., I.A. Meir (2017) Building green schools in Israel: Costs, economic benefits and teacher satisfaction. Energy & Buildings 152: 12-18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2017.07.044
- Saroglou, T., I.A. Meir, T. Theodosiou (2017) Quantifying energy consumption in skyscrapers of various heights. Procedia – Environmental Sciences, 38: 314-321. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proenv.2017.03.085
- Meir, I.A. (2016). Green architecture – the architecture of survivability. In: Messinas, E., D. Price (eds) ECOWEEK:The Book #1: 50 Voices for Sustainability. ECOWEEK, www.ecoweek.org, pp.148-155. https://issuu.com/ecoweek/docs/ecoweek_the_book_part_1
- Pearlmutter D., N. Huberman, E. Gal, I.A. Meir (2015) Optimizing structural roof form for life-cycle energy efficiency. Energy & Buildings 104: 336-349. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2015.07.008
- Monger C., O.E. Sala, M. Duniway, H. Goldfus, I.A. Meir, R.M. Poch, H. Throop, E. Vivoni (2015) Legacy effects in dryland ecologic and soil-geomorphic systems. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 13(1) :13-19. https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1890/140269
- Meir I.A. (2015). Green technologies in planning and design vis-à-vis climatic uncertainty. Encyclopedia of Energy Engineering and Technology (2nd Edition). Invited entry. Taylor & Francis. pp.796-803.
- Cicelsky, A., I.A. Meir (2014). Parametric analysis of environmentally responsive strategies for building envelopes specific for hot hyperarid regions. Journal of Sustainable Cities and Society 13: 279-302. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2014.02.003
- Gabay, H., I.A. Meir, M. Schwartz, E. Werzberger (2014). Cost-benefit analysis of green buildings: An Israeli office buildings case study. Energy & Buildings. 76: 558-564. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2014.02.027
- Meir, I.A. (2013). Constraints to assets, waste to resources: integrating green technologies in a novel pilot project for drylands. Int. J. Sustainable Energy 34(3-4): 154-165. https://doi.org/10.1080/14786451.2013.858160
- Meir, I.A., Y. Avni, A. Peeters, S. Meir (2013). A disaster waiting to happen. On the dynamic relations between geological processes and development in a desert environment. Landscape & Urban Planning 113: 19-29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2013.01.012
- Sztankeler, V., I.A. Meir, M. Schwartz (2012). Physical development in an ecologically sensitive area. The planning of the Dead Sea Region. Geography Research Forum 32: 82-98.
- Meir I.A., A. Peeters, D. Pearlmutter, S. Halassa, Y. Garb, J.M. Davis (2012). Green Building Standards in MENA: An assessment of regional constraints, needs and trends. Advances in Building Energy Research 6(2): 173-211 (invited paper).
- Meir, I.A., I. Stavi (2011). Evolution of the ‘modern’ transitory shelter and settlements of the Negev Bedouin. Journal of Nomadic Peoples 15(2): 33-52.
- Meir, I.A., D. Pearlmutter (2010). Building for climate change: Planning and design considerations in time of climatic uncertainty. Corrosion Engineering Science & Technology. 45(1): 70-75 (invited paper).
- Meir, I.A., Y. Garb, Dixin Jiao, A. Cicelsky (2009). Post Occupancy Evaluation (POE): An inevitable step toward sustainability. Advances in Building Energy Research 3(1): 189-220. Invited paper.
One of the older yet still relevant publications of the Desert Architecture Unit and the Applied Solar Calculations Unit is the book Energy Aspects of Design in Arid Zones, by Isaac A. Meir, Y. Etzion, D. Faiman, which was researched, written and published under research budgets by the Israel Ministry of Energy and Infrastructures, Research and Development Division, RD-11-89 and RD-04-90 (1990 & 1994 in Hebrew ; 1994 in English). The Hebrew version can be downloaded in separate chapter and sub-chapter PDF files, which can be found below.
In addition to writing much of the text, I worked on the book's graphics with much love and care. Many of them can be found in various sites around the Internet, in most cases used without reference. You are more than welcome to make good use of this book, but please give appropriate credit to the authors.
meir_etzion_faiman_1990_energy_aspects_of_design_in_arid_zones_-_chapter1compressed.pdf |
pages_from_meir_etzion_faiman_1990_energy_aspects_of_design_in_arid_zones_-_chapter2a_compressed.pdf |
pages_from_meir_etzion_faiman_1990_energy_aspects_of_design_in_arid_zones_-_chapter2b_compressed-2.pdf |
pages_from_meir_etzion_faiman_1990_energy_aspects_of_design_in_arid_zones_-_chapter3a_compressed.pdf |
pages_from_meir_etzion_faiman_1990_energy_aspects_of_design_in_arid_zones_-_chapter3b_compressed.pdf |
meir_etzion_faiman_1990_energy_aspects_of_design_in_arid_zones_-_chapter4_appendixes_compressed.pdf |