Page 33 - JCAU-7-3

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Natural ventilation in courtyard dwellings

but also culturally meaningful. The orientation, layout, Methodology: Shangbing Ma, Sharifah Salwa Syed Mahdzar
and use of courtyards reflect values such as collectivism, Visualization: Shangbing Ma
seasonal rituals, and harmony with nature. These values Writing – original draft: Shangbing Ma, Sharifah Salwa
remain applicable in modern sustainable housing design, Syed Mahdzar, Nor Izura Tukiman, Pau Chung Leng
where thermal efficiency and community well-being Writing – review & editing: Sharifah Salwa Syed Mahdzar,
are equally important. Cultural grounding can inform Nor Izura Tukiman, Pau Chung Leng
modern design in reconceptualizing courtyards in urban
housing, from high-density developments to mixed-use Ethics approval and consent to participate
communal living spaces, thereby promoting human- Not applicable.
centered architecture. Retaining the courtyard as a shared
microclimate and passive ventilation hub fosters more Consent for publication
holistic and resilient urban environments.
Not applicable.
Finally, although this study focuses on Inner Mongolian
architecture, its findings have broader applicability across Availability of data
China. Comparative analysis with other regions—such The data that support the findings of this study are available
as Gansu, Henan, and Sichuan—demonstrates how from the corresponding author, upon reasonable request.
courtyard design principles evolve in response to varying
climatic conditions, from arid deserts to humid basins. The References
regional examples confirm the adaptability of courtyard
ventilation strategies, validating design principles such Abass, F., Ismail, L. H., & Solla, M. (2016). A review of courtyard
house: History evolution forms, and functions. ARPN
as cross-ventilation, stack effects, and passive cooling. Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 11(4), 2557-
Such comparative insights help to shape a flexible 2563.
design framework that can guide sustainable residential
development not only in Inner Mongolia but throughout Abuhussain, M. A., Al-Tamimi, N., Alotaibi, B. S., Singh,
China and potentially in similar climatic contexts M. K., Kumar, S., & Elnaklah, R. (2022). Impact of courtyard
worldwide. concept on energy efficiency and home privacy in Saudi
Arabia. Energies, 15(15), 5637.
Acknowledgments https://doi.org/10.3390/en15155637

None. Afshin, M., Sohankar, A., Manshadi, M. D., & Esfeh, M. K.
(2016). An experimental study on the evaluation of natural
Funding ventilation performance of a two-sided wind-catcher for
various wind angles. Renewable Energy, 85, 1068-1078.
This study was funded by the Sarawak Government
through Jabatan Tanah dan Survei Sarawak. The funding https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2015.07.036
includes Project No. PY/2024/00847 (vote No. R.J 130000. Azimi, Z., & Shafaat, A. (2024). Proposing design strategies for
7352.1R062), titled “SWK 13.1: Study on Centrality contemporary courtyards based on thermal comfort in cold
Potential on Smart Infrastructure via Space Syntax Network and semi-arid climate zones. Building and Environment, 266,
Analysis of the Strategic Sustainable Growth Development 112150.
for Petra Jaya,” and Project No. PY/2024/00864 (vote No. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2024.112150
R.J130000.7352.1R061), titled “SWK 13.0: Space Syntax
Approach in Achieving a Sustainable Quality of Life Azmi, N. A., & Ibrahim, S. H. (2020). A comprehensive review
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Heritage-Based Tourism Attraction: The Case of Petra https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2020.107305
Jaya, Kuching.” Benni, S., Tassinari, P., Bonora, F., Barbaresi, A., &
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Conflict of interest ventilation: Environmental monitoring and CFD simulations
The authors declare that they have no competing interests. of a study case. Energy and Buildings, 125, 276-286.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2016.05.014
Author contributions
Borro, L., Mazzei, L., Raponi, M., Piscitelli, P., Miani, A., &
Conceptualization: Shangbing Ma Secinaro, A. (2021). The role of air conditioning in the
Investigation: Sharifah Salwa Syed Mahdzar diffusion of Sars-CoV-2 in indoor environments: A first

Volume 7 Issue 3 (2025) 15 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.7226