Page 21 - JCAU-7-3

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Natural ventilation in courtyard dwellings

Figure 1. Single-sided natural ventilation in winter and summer in an office building. Source: Da Graça & Linden, 2016. Copyright © 2016 Building and
Environment.
systems, thereby saving energy (Maghrabie et al., 2022).
In hot temperate zones, natural ventilation is imperative
to sustaining thermal comfort without relying on heating,
ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. It is
most effective when the building design aligns with local
climatic conditions, including wind direction and speed,
temperature variation, and humidity (Figure 1).
Inner Mongolia experiences a continental climate
characterized by hot summers, significant diurnal temperature
fluctuations, and moderate winds. Average annual
temperatures range from −20℃ to 30℃, and relative humidity
is approximately 30% (Rakhmanov et al., 2022). To assess the
effects of these climatic factors on traditional courtyard house
architecture, wind rose diagrams were created (Figure 2).
Figure 2. Wind rose diagram of Inner Mongolia. Source: Maeng & Hyun, These diagrams indicate that westerly winds dominate in
2020. Copyright ©2020 Applied Sciences. winter, while northwesterly and southeasterly winds prevail in
summer (Xu et al., 2020). This climatic data underscores the
need for architectural solutions tailored to seasonal variations.
1.7. Structure of the research
In residential buildings, natural ventilation typically
This article is structured as follows: involves the strategic placement of openings such as
• Section 1: Introduction - Outlines the research windows and doors, as well as spatial layouts that facilitate
problem, objectives, and the rationale for conducting natural ventilation throughout the building. Elshafei
the study et al. (2017) emphasized that the design of external
• Section 2: Literature review - Reviews key studies on spaces provides the required orientation for effective air
natural ventilation in courtyard buildings circulation. This is especially evident in courtyard layouts,
• Section 3: Methodology - Describes the systematic where central open spaces function as air inlets and
review approach and synthesis framework outlets, enabling the wind to pass through the built form
• Sections 4 and 5: Presentation and discussion of and promoting natural airflow.
findings - Analyze the reviewed literature and case
studies, with a focus on implications for design 2.2. Courtyard architecture and natural ventilation
practice and innovation in established firms The architectural design style examined in this study—
• Section 6: Conclusion - Summarizes the research and courtyard-style architecture—is a culturally embedded
presents design recommendations. design principle intended to enhance natural ventilation
and thermal comfort. Traditional 2- and 3-story courtyard
2. Literature review dwellings in Inner Mongolia represent a historically and
2.1. Natural ventilation in residential buildings environmentally responsive model for integrating natural
ventilation in residential structures (Zhang, 2015). The
Natural ventilation is generally referred to as an integrative orientation of these courtyards in relation to prevailing
ventilation technique that relies on the architectural wind directions is critical to enhancing airflow within
aspects of a building to influence the indoor environment the building. The flow of natural ventilation is further
and enhance airflow for both cooling and ventilation. influenced by the size and distribution of the courtyards,
Typically, naturally ventilated buildings are designed to the number and openness of the inner courtyards, and the
minimize the use of mechanical ventilation and cooling overall spatial alignment of the building.

Volume 7 Issue 3 (2025) 3 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.7226