Page 26 - JCAU-7-3

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Natural ventilation in courtyard dwellings

3.3. Inclusion and exclusion criteria analysis was used to categorize the findings into several key

Although the inclusion and exclusion criteria cannot themes:
eliminate all forms of bias, the following guidelines were (i) Impact of spatial arrangement on airflow: This theme
focuses on analyzing the effect of courtyard location,
adopted to ensure relevance and quality in the selection building orientation, and window sizes on ventilation
of studies. Five key criteria were used to include studies, performance.
with a focus on those addressing the hot-temperate (ii) Building geometry and ventilation efficiency: Studies
climate of Inner Mongolia (Haig et al., 2016). Only focusing on the size, shape, and height of courtyard
literature published within the past 20 years (2003 – buildings were grouped under this theme, aiming to
2023) was considered, and only peer-reviewed journals, identify relevant configurations for enhancing fresh
conference proceedings, technical and research papers, air intake.
and case studies were included. Studies incorporating field (iii) CFD simulations and empirical validation: This theme
measurements or analytical methods such as CFD were combines data from CFD models and case studies,
prioritized to provide a comprehensive perspective on evaluating both the findings of the models and the
natural ventilation. feasibility of computational techniques.
Conversely, studies focused on commercial or non- (iv) Climate-specific design considerations: This theme
residential architectural structures were excluded, as the explores courtyard building features in hot-temperate
present study exclusively targets residential architecture. climates, such as Inner Mongolia, and identifies
Articles presenting only CFD simulations or conceptual topological adjustments needed to enhance natural
designs without assessing the architectural incorporation ventilation in such contexts.
of HVAC systems were also excluded. Additionally, non- Thematic analysis enabled the synthesis of similar
peer-reviewed sources and studies that did not address results and the identification of methodological
natural ventilation enhancement at the building level were shortcomings across reviewed studies. For instance,
omitted. These criteria ensured that the review remained while CFD analysis provides detailed insights into airflow
focused on high-quality, relevant material that directly patterns (Gopang et al., 2017), it is often not supported by
addressed the research questions. sufficient experimental validation, highlighting the need

3.4. Data extraction for complementary field investigations.
The systematic review approach adopted in the
After screening and selecting the relevant studies, essential present study allowed for the consistent search, selection,
information was extracted using a predefined data assessment, and synthesis of the existing body of literature
extraction form to ensure consistency and quality. The on natural ventilation in courtyard housing, with a specific
following data points were extracted from each study:
focus on the climatic characteristics of Inner Mongolia.
• Study title and authors The review provides a conceptual model of how courtyard
• Year of publication design can enhance natural ventilation, integrating findings
• Study objective from CFD simulations, field studies, and empirical studies.
• Methodology (e.g., CFD, field study, case study) This thematic analysis is expected to be of significant
• Key findings on natural ventilation and courtyard relevance to architects and urban planners, supporting
design the development of efficient ventilation strategies that
• Climatic context minimize energy use and improve thermal comfort in
• Building configuration and spatial arrangement residential dwellings.
• Ventilation performance metrics. 4. Results and analysis
This structured data extraction process facilitated the
organization and comparison of findings across different 4.1. Impact of spatial arrangement on airflow
studies. All extracted data were recorded for further Layout type—particularly open compounds surrounded
analysis and synthesis. by enclosed buildings—is a key determinant of natural
ventilation. Multiple studies have demonstrated that the
3.5. Analysis and synthesis
positioning and design of structures significantly affect
Following data extraction, the collected data were subjected ventilation patterns within courtyards and surrounding
to thematic analysis. Rabani et al. (2015) describe thematic areas (Lee & Mak, 2021). Prior studies revealed that
analysis as the process of identifying patterns or themes buildings with different orientations show varying levels of
within systematically analyzed data. In this study, thematic ventilation performance, with windward façade openings

Volume 7 Issue 3 (2025) 8 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.7226