Spatial Climate Adaptation Characteristics and Optimization Strategies of Traditional Residential Courtyards in Cold Locations: A Case Study of Xiaoyi Ancient City in Shanxi Province, China
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Research Subject
2.2. Research Methodology
2.2.1. Field Measurement and Data Collection
2.2.2. Climate Simulation Analysis
2.2.3. Establishment of the Difference Model
2.2.4. Climate Comfort Evaluation
3. Results
3.1. Analysis of the Current Situation
3.1.1. Eave Space and Climate Response
3.1.2. Landscape Response to Climate Conditions
3.1.3. Courtyard Spatial Proportions and Climate Response
3.1.4. Residential Materials and Climate Response
3.2. Quantitative Analysis Results
3.2.1. Residential Orientation
3.2.2. Courtyard Spatial Orientation
3.2.3. Entrance Position
3.2.4. Courtyard Enclosure Degree
3.2.5. Distance Between the Main and Side House
3.2.6. Courtyard Spatial Proportions
3.2.7. Entrance Porch Proportion
3.2.8. Eave Space Dimensions
3.2.9. Window-to-Wall Proportions
3.3. Optimization Models
3.3.1. Three Optimization Models
- (1)
- T-shaped courtyard layout: The courtyard is oriented to the south, with the entrance at the center of the inverted house. The gray area beneath the main house eaves measures 1200 mm, whereas the gray area beneath the side house eaves measures 500 mm. The entrance porch space proportions are 1.5:1, the courtyard space proportions are 3:1, the window-to-wall proportions for the main house are 0.33, and the side house is 0.32. The separation between the main house and the side house is 2400 mm.
- (2)
- Linear courtyard layout: The courtyard is oriented to the south, with the entrance in the central area of the inverted house. The clearance beneath the main house eaves is 1200 mm, while the clearance beneath the side house eaves is 500 mm. The entrance porch space proportions are 1.5:1, the courtyard space proportions are 5:1, the window-to-wall proportions for the main house are 0.33, and the side house is 0.32.
- (3)
- U-shaped courtyard layout: The courtyard is oriented to the south, with the entrance in the central area of the inverted house. The gray area beneath the main house eaves measures 1200 mm, whereas the gray area beneath the side house eaves measures 500 mm. The courtyard space proportions are 3:1, the window-to-wall proportions for the main house are 0.33, and the side house is 0.32. The separation between the main house and the side house is 2400 mm, with an entrance porch space proportion of 1.5:1.
3.3.2. Optimization Models Validation
3.4. Optimization Strategy for Qiaobei No. 4 Residential
3.4.1. Status of Qiaobei No. 4 Residential
3.4.2. Optimization Models Validation
- (1)
- Reduce the Scale of the Eaves under the Main House
- (2)
- Adjust the Functional Division of the Courtyard Space
- (3)
- Increase Greenery in the Courtyard Space
- (4)
- Optimize the Entrance Space of the Courtyard
4. Discussion
4.1. Analysis of Findings
4.2. Research Limitations and Future Direction
5. Conclusions and Recommendations
5.1. Conclusions
- (1)
- Through field research and both domestic and international studies and analyses, the factors significantly associated with the climate adaptability of courtyard spaces are identified, including residential orientation, courtyard enclosure degree, window-to-wall ratio, and the eave space dimensions, all of which are closely linked to climate adaptability. The south-facing residential and the courtyard south orientation effectively harness solar radiation and optimize winter illumination and summer heat dissipation, thus improving indoor comfort.
- (2)
- A suitable enhancement of the courtyard’s enclosure can significantly diminish wind velocity during winter and prolonged sunlight exposure, hence decreasing the residents’ energy consumption. During summer, a diminished window-to-wall ratio can mitigate solar radiation ingress and decrease cooling energy expenditure.
- (3)
- The thoughtful arrangement of the eave space and the position of the entrance can significantly enhance the wind environment within the courtyard by modifying the spatial scale, augmenting natural ventilation, elevating thermal comfort, and decreasing the residents’ energy consumption. Moreover, the design of the entrance porch proportion can significantly diminish heat loss during winter and enhance airflow in summer, hence improving energy efficiency and comfort.
5.2. Optimization Recommendations
Author Contributions
Funding
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Annual Radiation (MJ/m2Y) | Annual Sunshine Hours (h/Y) | Average Annual Peak Sunshine Hours (h) | Daily Average Time of Peak Sunshine (h) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Xiaoyi City, Shanxi Province | 5016–5852 | 2200–3000 | 1387–1624 | 3.8–4.45 |
Courtyard Space Layout | Feature | Feature | Feature | Feature | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Plane Type | One-line | Shaped | Shaped | Multi-entry courtyard | ||||
Functional Type | residential courtyard type | shop courtyard type | ||||||
Entrance Location | Central (Inverted House) | One side (Inverted House) | One side (Side House) | |||||
Orientation of Courtyard | East | South | West | North | ||||
Courtyard Space Proportions | 5:1 | 3:1 | 2:1 | 1.5:1 | ||||
Distance Between Main House/Inverted House and Side House | 1200 mm | 2000 mm | 2400 mm | |||||
Enclosure Degree | 0.8 | 0.85 | 0.9 | 0.93 | ||||
Entrance Porch Proportions | 1:1 | 1.5:1 | 2:1 | 3:1 | ||||
Eaves Space of Main House | 1200 mm | 2000 mm | 2400 mm | |||||
Eaves Space of Side House | 500 mm | 800 mm | 900 mm | 1000 mm | 1100 mm | 1200 mm | ||
Main House Window–Wall Proportions | 0.2 | 0.25 | 0.3 | 0.33 | ||||
Side House Window–Wall Proportions | 0.15 | 0.2 | 0.25 | 0.32 |
Difference Model | Difference Model | Difference Model | Difference Model | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Courtyard Space Layout—T-Shaped Courtyard—Porch proportions | Courtyard proportions 3:1 Porch proportions: 1:1 (1) | Courtyard proportions 3:1 Porch proportions: 1.5:1 (2) | Courtyard proportions 3:1 Porch proportions: 2:1 (3) | Courtyard proportions 3:1 Porch proportions: 3:1 (4) |
Courtyard Space Layout—T-Shaped Courtyard—With Inverted House | Courtyard proportions 5:1 (5) | Courtyard proportions 2:1 (6) | Courtyard proportions 3:1 (7) | Courtyard proportions 1.5:1 (8) |
Courtyard Space Layout—One-line Courtyard—With Inverted House | Courtyard proportions 5:1 (9) | Courtyard proportions 2:1 (10) | Courtyard proportions 3:1 (11) | Courtyard proportions 1.5:1 (12) |
Courtyard Space Layout—One-line Courtyard—Without Inverted House | Courtyard proportions 5:1 (13) | Courtyard proportions 2:1 (14) | Courtyard proportions 3:1 (15) | Courtyard proportions 1.5:1 (16) |
Courtyard Space Layout—I-Shaped Courtyard proportions 3:1 | Distance Between Side House: 1.2 m (17) | Distance Between Side House: 2.0 m (18) | Distance Between Side House: 2.4 m (19) | |
Courtyard Space Layout—I-Shaped Courtyard proportions 5:1 | Distance Between Side House: 1.2 m (20) | Distance Between Side House: 2.0 m (21) | Distance Between Side House: 2.4 m (22) | |
Courtyard Space—Eaves Space proportions—Main House | Eaves Space 1.2 m (23) | Eaves Space 2.0 m (24) | Eaves Space 2.4 m (25) | no Eaves Space (26) |
Courtyard Space—Eaves Space proportions—Side House | Eaves Space 500 mm (27) | Eaves Space 800 mm (28) | Eaves Space 900 mm (29) | Eaves Space 1.0 m (30) |
Courtyard Space—Eaves Space proportions—Side House | Eaves Space 1.1 m (31) | Eaves Space 1.2 m (32) | Without Eaves Space (33) | |
Courtyard Space—Building Orientation | (34) | |||
Courtyard Space—Opening Location | Inverted House (35) | Inverted House on One Side with Side House (36) | One Side with Inverted House (37) | Central (Inverted House) (38) |
Without an Inverted House (39) | ||||
Courtyard Space—Window–Wall proportions—Main House | 0.2 (40) | 0.25 (41) | 0.3 (42) | 0.33 (43) |
Courtyard Space—Window–Wall proportions—Side House | 0.15 (44) | 0.2 (45) | 0.25 (46) | 0.32 (47) |
Courtyard Space—Enclosure Degree | 0.8 (48) | 0.85 (49) | 0.9 (50) | 0.93 (51) |
Level | Human Perception | Temperature–Humidity Index |
---|---|---|
1 | Cold | <14.0 |
2 | Cool | 14.0–16.9 |
3 | comforts | Comfortable |
4 | Hot | 25.5–27.5 |
5 | sultriness | Stuffy Hot |
Optimization Model 1 | Optimization Mode 2 | Optimization Mode 3 | |
---|---|---|---|
Summer Wind Environment | |||
Winter Wind Environment | |||
Summer Thermal Environment | |||
Winter Thermal Environment | |||
Summer Lighting Environment | |||
Winter Lighting Environment | |||
Daylighting Coefficient |
Courtyard Space | Comfort | Main Room | Comfort | Southern Wing Room | Comfort | Northern Wing Room | Comfort | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
March | 7.2 | Cold | 9.6 | Cold | 9.2 | Cold | 10.6 | Cold |
July | 20.9 | Comfort | 17.8 | Comfort | 18.3 | Comfort | 16.9 | Cold |
December | 5.3 | Cold | 7.6 | Cold | 5.7 | Cold | 8.8 | Cold |
Summer | Winter | |
---|---|---|
Wind environment | ||
Thermal environment | ||
Light environment-sunshine | ||
Light environment-light factor |
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Wang, G.; Cui, X.; Song, W.; Hao, Y. Spatial Climate Adaptation Characteristics and Optimization Strategies of Traditional Residential Courtyards in Cold Locations: A Case Study of Xiaoyi Ancient City in Shanxi Province, China. Buildings 2025, 15, 1659. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15101659
Wang G, Cui X, Song W, Hao Y. Spatial Climate Adaptation Characteristics and Optimization Strategies of Traditional Residential Courtyards in Cold Locations: A Case Study of Xiaoyi Ancient City in Shanxi Province, China. Buildings. 2025; 15(10):1659. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15101659
Chicago/Turabian StyleWang, Guohua, Xu Cui, Wen Song, and Yangguang Hao. 2025. "Spatial Climate Adaptation Characteristics and Optimization Strategies of Traditional Residential Courtyards in Cold Locations: A Case Study of Xiaoyi Ancient City in Shanxi Province, China" Buildings 15, no. 10: 1659. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15101659
APA StyleWang, G., Cui, X., Song, W., & Hao, Y. (2025). Spatial Climate Adaptation Characteristics and Optimization Strategies of Traditional Residential Courtyards in Cold Locations: A Case Study of Xiaoyi Ancient City in Shanxi Province, China. Buildings, 15(10), 1659. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15101659