Page 22 - JCAU-7-3

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Natural ventilation in courtyard dwellings

Courtyard architecture in Inner Mongolia is more placed windows to allow for cross-ventilation. In terms
than a passive environmental strategy, since it is deeply of zonal conception, courtyards tend to be larger in semi-
rooted in socio-cultural values. The courtyard serves not arid zones to enhance cooling during hot periods, whereas
only as a climatic buffer but also as a gathering space for in arid zones, they are smaller to retain heat during cold
families, intergenerational interactions, and community nights. These adaptations exemplify how cultural practices
rituals. Reflecting Confucian ideals of harmony, order, and and environmental considerations are integrated into
relational living, the spatial hierarchy of these compounds architectural solutions.
includes outer walls, side rooms for extended family, and a Functionally, courtyards serve as intermediary thermal
central courtyard for daily life. Similar courtyard systems buffers, regulating indoor temperatures by facilitating air
exist in provinces such as Henan and Sichuan, where spatial exchange. They act as natural venting systems, expelling
ideologies also emphasize the linkage between private and warm air and admitting cooler, fresh air into the building
communal functions (Wang et al., 2016). Some of these (Zamani et al., 2018). Traditional courtyard buildings—
designs incorporate principles of geomatics (feng shui) or especially common in arid and semi-arid areas such as
solar access strategies, such as placing the main hall to the Inner Mongolia—are designed to manage wind flow
north and guest rooms to the east and west to optimize through the courtyard, thereby facilitating passive cooling
energy flow and lighting. via airflow and pressure differentials.
Cultural traditions continue to influence design choices, Abass et al. (2016) noted that courtyard configurations
particularly in rural or peri-urban housing developments. could be adapted to meet specific climatic conditions. In
An architectural reading that accounts for cultural dry environments, introverted courtyard layouts allow
symbolism and everyday courtyard usage reveals how cool air to circulate within the interior spaces, preserving
spatial forms can support social resilience, identity, and thermal comfort. In contrast, extroverted courtyards in
continuity—while also maintaining functional ventilation moderate climates promote greater air movements and
performance (Qureshi et al., 2019). Courtyards should thermal comfort (Passe & Battaglia, 2015). This design
therefore not be viewed merely as spatial units, but rather flexibility is especially important to Inner Mongolia,
as parts of a broader dialectical framework that merges where pronounced seasonal temperature changes require
culture, environment, and architecture. architectural strategies that accommodate both cooling
Inner Mongolia encompasses diverse meteorological and heating needs.
zones—arid, semi-arid, and sub-humid—each shaping 2.3. CFDs and natural ventilation analysis
vernacular construction patterns. Traditional courtyard
houses in other provinces, such as Gansu and Henan, CFDs tools play a crucial role in analyzing airflow
also exhibit region-specific adaptations. In Gansu, where tendencies and improving natural ventilation strategies in
diurnal temperature variation is pronounced, houses courtyard-style buildings. This review identified commonly
often use thick earthen walls and sunken courtyards for used software such as ANSYS Fluent and OpenFOAM
insulation (Li et al., 2023). In Henan, where winters are for modeling airflow, thermal distribution, and stack
milder and the southern region receives more rainfall, the ventilation (Borro et al., 2021). Nevertheless, several
internal courtyards tend to be narrower, with overhanging studies have pointed out that assumptions such as steady-
eaves to collect rainwater and facilitate ventilation. In state conditions, simplified geometries, and uniform wind
Sichuan’s humid subtropical climate, courtyards are profiles can significantly limit simulation accuracy (Ricci
more compact, with an emphasis on shading and cross- et al., 2016). Neglecting elements like adjacent structures,
ventilation to manage high humidity levels. These vegetation, or microclimatic influences may lead to
regional adaptations illustrate how local geography and discrepancies between simulation results and actual field
microclimate influence courtyard geometry, material conditions.
selection, and ventilation strategies. Comparative analysis ANSYS Fluent is widely recognized for its ability to
reveals that courtyard features in Inner Mongolia—such solve complex geometries under various environmental
as north-south orientation, high thermal mass walls, conditions, making it particularly valuable for detailed
and flexibility in opening sizes—share similarities with ventilation studies. OpenFOAM, as an open-source
vernacular architecture across other regions of China, platform, offers flexibility by allowing users to modify
while also reflecting unique regional distinctions. simulations to suit specific architectural configurations.
Traditionally, courtyard houses are constructed with Most previous studies rely on Reynolds-averaged
thick walls for thermal retention, narrow floor plans Navier-Stokes (RANS) models, which are computationally
oriented away from prevailing winds, and strategically efficient but may fail to accurately predict turbulence

Volume 7 Issue 3 (2025) 4 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.7226