Page 123 - JCAU-6-3

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Sustainability of courtyard building

aesthetic orientation, combines mystery and euphony, and Using CLT instead of modern conventional building
specifically in architecture, ambiguous design has become materials such as steel and concrete reduces the carbon
a kind of oriental glamour (Yang, 2016). footprint by about 40%. In addition, CLT can shorten
On the other hand, the first floor, which is primarily construction time by 30% and has a simpler structure,
used as bedrooms, is mainly constructed of wood, while making it more suitable for developing countries with
the ground floor is primarily made of stone. In addition limited capital investment and technology. Furthermore,
to performance considerations in terms of energy and CLT is fire-resistant, shock-resistant, and heat-resistant
IEQ, wood should also be considered for its contribution (Younis & Dodoo, 2022). CLT can also be combined
to ambiance. Compared to concrete and steel, wood is with concrete layers to create CLT-concrete composites,
considered to be more esthetically pleasing as a building which improve the structural performance of floors and
material and can create positive living environments can be used in mid-to high-rise buildings (Van Thai
(Larasatie et al., 2018). Timber rooms relieve fatigue and et al., 2022). The structure of the Chinese courtyard
benefit the autonomic nervous system, respiratory system, building, as demonstrated by the Flag Stall building,
and visual system (Zhang et al., 2017). can enhance thermal pressure ventilation and cooling,
reduce humidity, and increase naturally lit areas. This
6. Discussion design ensures connectivity with the outdoors while
maintaining privacy. In addition, it reduces the need for
The present study examines the performance of additional investment in HVAC systems. The results of
environmental sustainability in traditional Chinese this study reflect the advantages of the case study building
courtyard buildings, as represented by the Flag Stall in some aspects, suggesting that other historical buildings
building in Chongren town. The results highlight the
performance of wood in terms of energy consumption, in China and other countries also have their own research
value. Based on the previous space syntax analysis, local
IEQ, energy, transport, and ambiance. Cross-laminated traditions indicate that people with higher seniority tend
timber (CLT) may be a better choice than regular timber.
to live in rooms with higher topological depth. This may
suggest a relationship between topological depth and
ancient Chinese patriarchal society, male superiority, and
centralization, which is worth further research.
However, the building’s thermal insulation performance
and thermal comfort do not meet modern standards.
Figure 24 illustrates a possible solution, which aims to
preserve the original appearance of historical buildings
while optimizing thermal performance:
(i) Add an insulation layer inside the external wall
to improve thermal insulation performance while
preserving the original appearance and murals of the
historical building
(ii) Add a ceiling under the roof: the pitched roof results in
a first-floor height of 4.2 m, while the recommended
floor height is not higher than 2.8 m (NBS, 2012). This
Figure 22. Total topological depth. Source: Drawing by Chuan He is because an increase in the floor height results in
higher heating and cooling loads
(iii) Replace the glazing on the original roof with a solar
tube, as the glazing is no longer applicable due to
occlusion by the proposed ceiling (Figure 25)
(iv) Lay HVAC ducts above the ceiling. This will not
be visible and will not detract from the original
appearance of the building
(v) Replace conventional glazing with low-E glass.
Following the adjustment of the SketchUp model
according to the optimization plan and subsequent
Figure 23. Depth by room. Source: Drawings by Chuan He simulation with Sefaira, the results are shown in

Volume 6 Issue 3 (2024) 15 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.3187