The Impact of Courtyard Spatial Characteristics Across Historical Periods on Summer Microclimates: A Case Study from China
This study investigates the impact of spatial changes over a 400-year period on the summer microclimate of a residential courtyard in China. Using ENVI-met simulations, we analyze how factors such as courtyard orientation, building height, and opening positions affect the thermal environment. The re...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Buildings |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/2/224 |
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| author | Qian Zhang Xuan Ma Duo Xu Dian Zhou Yujun Yang Weile Jiang |
| author_facet | Qian Zhang Xuan Ma Duo Xu Dian Zhou Yujun Yang Weile Jiang |
| author_sort | Qian Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study investigates the impact of spatial changes over a 400-year period on the summer microclimate of a residential courtyard in China. Using ENVI-met simulations, we analyze how factors such as courtyard orientation, building height, and opening positions affect the thermal environment. The results show that east–west-oriented courtyards experienced 0.2–0.4 °C lower daytime temperatures compared to north–south ones. Additionally, taller surrounding buildings increased the courtyard’s average daytime temperature by approximately 0.3–0.5 °C, while courtyards with a single opening facing the prevailing wind maintained the lowest temperatures. These findings underscore the importance of historical spatial characteristics in shaping microclimates and offer key insights for contemporary urban planning. By incorporating design strategies based on these historical spatial features, such as optimizing courtyard orientation, enhancing building height variability, and creating appropriate openings for natural ventilation, urban planners can improve microclimate conditions, reduce reliance on mechanical cooling, and enhance energy efficiency. This approach not only contributes to lowering carbon emissions but also boosts resilience to extreme heat events in urban areas, especially in regions facing rapid urbanization and climate change challenges. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ac60d4d43f21407f8d4905901ba9a60a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2075-5309 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Buildings |
| spelling | doaj-art-ac60d4d43f21407f8d4905901ba9a60a2025-01-24T13:26:15ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092025-01-0115222410.3390/buildings15020224The Impact of Courtyard Spatial Characteristics Across Historical Periods on Summer Microclimates: A Case Study from ChinaQian Zhang0Xuan Ma1Duo Xu2Dian Zhou3Yujun Yang4Weile Jiang5School of Humanities and Social Science, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, ChinaSchool of Architecture, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710064, ChinaSchool of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, ChinaSchool of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, ChinaSchool of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, ChinaSchool of Humanities and Social Science, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, ChinaThis study investigates the impact of spatial changes over a 400-year period on the summer microclimate of a residential courtyard in China. Using ENVI-met simulations, we analyze how factors such as courtyard orientation, building height, and opening positions affect the thermal environment. The results show that east–west-oriented courtyards experienced 0.2–0.4 °C lower daytime temperatures compared to north–south ones. Additionally, taller surrounding buildings increased the courtyard’s average daytime temperature by approximately 0.3–0.5 °C, while courtyards with a single opening facing the prevailing wind maintained the lowest temperatures. These findings underscore the importance of historical spatial characteristics in shaping microclimates and offer key insights for contemporary urban planning. By incorporating design strategies based on these historical spatial features, such as optimizing courtyard orientation, enhancing building height variability, and creating appropriate openings for natural ventilation, urban planners can improve microclimate conditions, reduce reliance on mechanical cooling, and enhance energy efficiency. This approach not only contributes to lowering carbon emissions but also boosts resilience to extreme heat events in urban areas, especially in regions facing rapid urbanization and climate change challenges.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/2/224historical courtyardthermal environmentarchitectural designENVI-met model |
| spellingShingle | Qian Zhang Xuan Ma Duo Xu Dian Zhou Yujun Yang Weile Jiang The Impact of Courtyard Spatial Characteristics Across Historical Periods on Summer Microclimates: A Case Study from China Buildings historical courtyard thermal environment architectural design ENVI-met model |
| title | The Impact of Courtyard Spatial Characteristics Across Historical Periods on Summer Microclimates: A Case Study from China |
| title_full | The Impact of Courtyard Spatial Characteristics Across Historical Periods on Summer Microclimates: A Case Study from China |
| title_fullStr | The Impact of Courtyard Spatial Characteristics Across Historical Periods on Summer Microclimates: A Case Study from China |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Impact of Courtyard Spatial Characteristics Across Historical Periods on Summer Microclimates: A Case Study from China |
| title_short | The Impact of Courtyard Spatial Characteristics Across Historical Periods on Summer Microclimates: A Case Study from China |
| title_sort | impact of courtyard spatial characteristics across historical periods on summer microclimates a case study from china |
| topic | historical courtyard thermal environment architectural design ENVI-met model |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/2/224 |
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