Page 44 - JCAU-5-2

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Indoor photothermal environment in Miao dwellings

within this consumption, 30–60% of energy is allocated comfort of traditional residential houses through scientific
towards enhancing indoor thermal conditions (Bodach quantitative analysis, propose corresponding renovation
et al., 2014; Lee et al., 1996; Vefik Alp, 1991). Rapid strategies, and apply them to the renovation of traditional
urbanization in China has contributed to a 45% surge in houses. The study provides a reference for the optimization
building energy consumption over the past two decades of thermal comfort in traditional houses in other regions.
(Nguyen et al., 2011). The Chinese government has
committed to achieving peak carbon emissions by 2030 2. Materials and methods
and establishing a carbon-neutral society by 2060 while 2.1. Research rationales
concurrently ensuring a comfortable and healthy indoor
environment with a target building energy consumption The emergence of ecological architecture, rooted in
below 1% (Qi et al., 2020; Fang et al., 2019). Therefore, bioclimatology, gained prominence in the early 1960s,
improving building energy efficiency by exploring passive with Olgyay spearheading the systematic integration of
energy design is one of the most effective ways to achieve architectural design with climate, regional characteristics,
sustainable building development (Zhang et al., 2021). and human comfort (Olgyay, 1963). Olgyay advocated
for designing buildings that align with the fundamental
Traditional dwellings of all types still exist in nearly a principles of the natural climate of a given region, enabling
third of China’s mountainous regions (Hou et al., 2021). controlled adaptation of specific climatic elements to
Traditional dwellings enhance the comfort of the indoor positively impact indoor comfort. Sustainable architecture,
environment through rational site selection, site design, therefore, embodies an approach that harmoniously
spatial layout, structural optimization, and material integrates local architectural traditions and specific
selection. It reflects the unique and locally adapted environmental attributes, thus addressing growing
dwellings gradually formed by the local people during environmental concerns associated with climate change,
long-term development and evolution according to the resource depletion, and severe pollution. In this context,
natural geography and climate, social and economic the construction industry plays a pivotal role in reducing
development, historical and humanistic environment, building energy consumption and achieving sustainable
as well as ethnic and social customs, which to a certain buildings through the adoption of ecological building
extent achieve harmonious coexistence between humans concepts (Liang et al., 2021; Maxineasa et al., 2021).
and nature. At present, many researchers are engaged in Notable examples include kiln dwellings on the Loess
the study of traditional dwellings in different regions and Plateau in China and hanging foot buildings in Southeast
ethnic groups (Fernandes et al., 2019; Li & Zhu, 2022; Liu Asia and western Hunan Province, China (Jin & Zhang,
et al., 2023; Rijal, 2021; Sözer & Bekele, 2018; Yang et al., 2021). These constructions exemplify the utilization of
2020; Zhang et al., 2022; Zhao et al., 2020). For example, localized architectural approaches that effectively respond
Juan et al. (2019) monitored and simulated the indoor to the regional environment and contribute to sustainable
heat, light, and ventilation environments of traditional building practices.
dwellings in the Qinba Mountains in summer and winter
and summarized the advantages and disadvantages of The indoor thermal environment of buildings is
the physical environment of the dwellings in coping with significantly influenced by various architectural and
climatic characteristics (Juan et al., 2019). Chi et al. (2020) structural characteristics, including layout, space
selected a traditional dwelling in Sizhai, Zhejiang Province, dimensions, window-to-wall ratio, external shading,
as the case study and calculated the daylight coefficient, and thermal envelope properties (Zhang et al.,
air temperature, and airflow rate in test scenarios with 2023). Traditional dwellings in the western Hunan
different combinations of building orientation and region predominantly employ raw earth and wood as
window-to-wall ratios. The optimal interval of the construction materials, featuring simple wooden-framed
window-to-wall ratio of the building was investigated windows, often without glass. These traditional dwellings
(Chi et al., 2020). Through the testing and simulation of face challenges related to thermal insulation and exhibit
the indoor physical environment of traditional residential substantially lower airtightness compared to urban houses.
houses and the analysis of the adaptability of the houses Consequently, occupants of traditional dwellings in rural
to the outdoor environment, they summarize the strengths areas demonstrate higher adaptability to fluctuations in
and weaknesses of the indoor physical environment of the indoor thermal environment when compared to their
local traditional residential houses. With that, they aim urban counterparts. Previous research has indicated that
to maximize the use of local materials and resources, traditional dwellings exhibit superior thermal comfort
adapt to the regional climate and environment using in comparison to modern dwellings due to their semi-
passive energy-saving technologies, improve the indoor open spaces and variable envelope structures, enabling

Volume 5 Issue 2 (2023) 2 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.403