Traditional Courtyards as a Microclimate in the Improvement of Human Thermal Comfort Condition

Abstract

According to population growth, urban sprawl, as well as global warming, attention to the impact of design on thermal comfort in open spaces is important. Thus, it is essential to climate studies and understanding environmental features, as well as results usage in improving designs. The courtyard as open space in residential buildings which is an important factor in the absorption of sunlit in the courtyard surfaces. Therefore, controlling shading performance with regard to thermal comfort condition is one of the most effective factors in reducing the ambient temperature during hot days. This paper focuses on the impact of shading performance in traditional courtyard houses in the hot (Kashan) and cold (Ardabil) climate of Iran. For better understanding four traditional courtyard houses of Kashan and Ardabil selected randomly. By Design Builder software shaded areas were analyzed for each case. The results showed that the best form for the courtyard in these climates is rectangular. The results indicate that increasing the ratio of length to width and also increasing the height of the walls of the courtyard increases the percentage of shading. As conclusion during a day, there is a high correlation between the MRT and the PMV index, and reducing the MRT improve the PMV index.