Page 110 - JCAU-6-3

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Sustainability of courtyard building

accounts for 43% of total energy consumption, with 1.3. Study purpose
operational energy consumption alone contributing more Research focused on the sustainability of Chinese historical
than 20% (Zhang et al., 2015). Hence, energy consumption courtyard buildings may provide a reference for the design
in China’s residential building sector is 16% higher than of low-energy buildings, reducing up-front capital costs
the world average, indicating a pressing need to reduce and operating costs. This research focus also provides an
energy consumption in this sector to meet IPCC targets. opportunity to study the sustainability of other aspects of
The concept of a sustainable built environment is historical courtyard buildings and to provide contemporary
being promoted. Sustainable development means that residents with an energy-saving and comfortable living
current development should not come at the expense of environment.
compromising future generations (Brundtland, 1987) and China’s architecture boasts a history spanning
typically is posited to include four pillars: Environmental, approximately 6000 – 7000 years, starting with the
social, economic, and cultural (Purvis et al., 2018). development of square or circular shallow cave houses,
Sustainability in the built environment should encompass such as those excavated at the Banpo site in Shaanxi
the following characteristics: (i) Designed and built with (Ma, 2019). These ancient buildings encapsulate the
life cycle thinking and ecological principles, (ii) ensuring environment, spatial, and philosophical considerations
social equity, (iii) aesthetic, (iv) safe, (v) flexible, and of past generations, making them worthy of study
(vi) adaptable (Berardi, 2013). Applying the concept concerning structure, materials, and siting from
of sustainable development to the creation of the built a sustainability standpoint. The ancients in China
environment can thus contribute to solving the problems embraced principles of “sustainable utilization of
of global warming, environmental degradation, and high resources” and “using only what is needed, leaving the
energy consumption mentioned above.
rest for future use,” advocating controlled development
1.2. Research gap of resources over their destructive exploitation (Zhao &
Liu, 2010). The design of historical Chinese buildings
Although current science and technology are sufficient is consistent with the principles of passive architectural
for designers and construction teams to create residential design, effectively using natural resources, including
buildings with excellent energy performance, the high light and wind (Zhang, 2023). Given the challenges in
energy consumption in China, as discussed above, implementing modern energy conservation approaches
illustrates that existing buildings’ energy efficiency with high-tech building materials, systems, and
approaches, which rely on high technology, equipment, and equipment in China, the traditional methods embedded
capital investment, are not being effectively promoted in in historical buildings may be more acceptable to owners
China. As the largest developing country, China pursues a and developers in developing countries. These methods
highly resource-consuming economic development model. are easier to promote practically since the owners do
Overemphasis on capital interests and a lack of knowledge not require investment in expensive equipment and
and technology are cited as the reasons hindering the technology. However, it is essential to acknowledge past
improvement of energy efficiency in Chinese residential factors such as high energy consumption, pollution,
buildings (Wang et al., 2008). Capital costs are always an population density, and urban metabolism levels.
obstacle to achieving more than a 50% energy reduction
(Pless & Torcellini, 2012). Despite the competitive payback Assessing the sustainability of traditional (vernacular)
times for capital investment in energy-efficient buildings courtyard buildings highlights their strengths and
when viewed through the lens of life cycle thinking, long- weaknesses. The strengths can inform the design and
term neglect and short-term financial considerations have construction of contemporary buildings, while the
led to insufficient technology and knowledge in this area weaknesses can be minimized or avoided, with both
in China. The concept of sustainable development was outcomes potentially benefiting developing countries. The
introduced relatively late in China, and practitioners of objectives of the present research include:
architectural design and construction lack knowledge of (i) To review a representative traditional Chinese
energy conservation and a sound legal framework (Zhang courtyard building
et al., 2018). One potential solution is to look back at (ii) To summarize its strengths and weaknesses from a
historical practices and learn from the ancients, whose sustainability perspective, with a particular focus on
relationship with nature was arguably more harmonious energy performance
than that of our generation. This approach may be as (iii) To identify potential reference values for contemporary
important as developing new technology. architectural design and construction.

Volume 6 Issue 3 (2024) 2 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.3187