COURTYARD DESIGN STUDY:

PASSIVE DESIGN STRATEGY REPORT

THERMAL SCIENCES

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ABSTRACT

With increasing population and limitation of nonrenewable resources, a paradigm shift towards
efficient passive design strategy is an emerging attitude in built environment. Passive cooling
is also one of the main strategies to decrease dependency of mechanical resources & burning
of fossil fuels. Increased cooling loads resulting in huge energy consumption has adversely
affected to the environment and also generated a dilemma of energy crisis. Where, several
strategies are being adopted in recent decades for energy efficient design, to reduce cooling
load. Passive cooling techniques are non-mechanical systems to attain a comfortable indoor
level of temperature, hence an indirect reduction in adverse effect on the environment.

Courtyard effect is an efficient passive cooling design strategy. Courtyard effect is an old
technique, used in last several centuries to obtain human comfort, from ages when no
mechanical & electrical systems were developed. This paper will get a detailed review of this
strategy and its effectiveness & principle of functioning.
TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 4
2. PURPOSE OF COURTYARD IN BUIDLINGS .................................................................. 6
2.1. ANCIENT CONCEPT OF COURTYARD DESIGN .................................................... 6
3. METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................................ 7
4. DISCUSSION & EXPLANATION ....................................................................................... 8
4.1. COURTYARD EFFECT ................................................................................................ 8
4.2. VENTILATION ASPECT OF COURTYARD .............................................................. 8
4.3. CONVECTIVE COOLING EFFECT IN COURTYARD .............................................. 9
4.4. DAYLIGHT FACTOR PERFORMANCE IN COURTYARD .................................... 10
5. APPLICATIONS OF DISCUSSION .................................................................................. 10
6. CONCLUSIONS.................................................................................................................. 11
7. BIBLIOGRAPHY ................................................................................................................ 12

LIST OF FIGURES and TABLES

Figure 1 Plan & Section of Historic Courtyard Building in Ur (Tabesh & Sertyesilisik, 2015 ) ........... 4
Figure 2 Plan & 3D view of Chinese Civilization (Tabesh & Sertyesilisik, 2015 ) ............................... 4
Figure 3 Plan & 3D view of Artium (Italy) (Tabesh & Sertyesilisik, 2015 ).......................................... 5
Figure 4 Plan & picture of Roman Courtyard (Tabesh & Sertyesilisik, 2015 ) ...................................... 5
Figure 5 Iranian Traditional courtyard (Tabesh & Sertyesilisik, 2015 ) ................................................. 6
Figure 6 Courtyard Effect; Passive Design Strategy............................................................................... 7
Figure 7 Courtyard Effect ....................................................................................................................... 8
Figure 8 Courtyard Effect Principle ........................................................................................................ 9
Figure 9 Courtyard as a moderator of thermal Effect ........................................................................... 10

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1. INTRODUCTION

Historic development and classical perception of building with courtyard design, is the most
well adopted technique of passive cooling in hot arid climates. The design of courtyard was
originally initiated with idea of collection of cold air at night and shading during the day
time. This passive cooling technique was adopted from far ago periods, when even no
mechanical systems were developed even. Examples from several old civilizations are as
below.

A house 2000B.C in Mesopotamia was found with the central courtyard, mainly used for
sitting, cooking & several activities as a family room. Rooms were designed around the
courtyard.

Figure 1 Plan & Section of Historic Courtyard Building in Ur (Tabesh & Sertyesilisik, 2015 )
The Chinese courtyard is also comprising of water & plants effect, resulting a more
comfortable environment. Going from outer side to inner, more private places were designed.
Chinese courtyard was a more cooling technique in hot climate.

Figure 2 Plan & 3D view of Chinese Civilization (Tabesh & Sertyesilisik, 2015 )
Around 700 b.c a different kind of courtyard was designed in Italy, several rooms were
organized around a small opening, open to sky, which was intended to collect rain water from
roof also.

Figure 3 Plan & 3D view of Artium (Italy) (Tabesh & Sertyesilisik, 2015 )
In 275b.c Romans started to make building with two courtyards, after conquering Italy. One
outer atrium and one courtyard at back.

Figure 4 Plan & picture of Roman Courtyard (Tabesh & Sertyesilisik, 2015 )
Courtyards also remained in design of middle east and Muslim countries, to achieve thermal
comfort. Most of the domestic activities were relocated within courtyard as suited with the
thermal comfort by the season.
Figure 5 Iranian Traditional courtyard (Tabesh & Sertyesilisik, 2015 )

Briefly narrating, courtyards designed in the hot-arid climates with high walls and with water
& trees inside the courtyard, caused a decrease level of temperature and proved an efficient
old passive cooling strategy.

2. PURPOSE OF COURTYARD IN BUIDLINGS

2.1. Ancient Concept of Courtyard Design

Courtyard in old building have been as a must design feature because of several reasons.

• An enclosed private space for the family

• A cultural aspect which isolates the private & public boundaries
• It generates a private protected space for women of the family
• Courtyards are proved as microclimate modifiers, because of increased breeze,
decreased temperature, raised humidity & a shaded place.
• Functionally it proves a central place connecting all spaces of a building
• Religiously an enclosed space but still open to sky
• Economically a low cost built up as saving land with effective building design in small
areas.

2.2. Modern Perspective of Courtyard Design

Energy efficient design buildings are of significant importance now adays, because of
severe energy crisis due to lacking of nonrenewable resources and in balance caused by
human activities with the nature elements. Consequently, an approach to attain energy
efficient design is becoming a great attention of researchers. Not only the effective cooling,
a central courtyard is also proved an efficient mean of day light usage for the building
 occupants. Researchers are thriving to design courtyard carefully in commercial buildings
as well. Where central courtyard is not only a source of day light, but should be carefully
designed to achieve target of reduced cooling load as well. Height, geometry, orientation,
glazing controlling strategy & thermal mass of walls are main aspects of consideration for
courtyard design.

3. METHODOLOGY

One of the most effective strategy in solar passive design is courtyard effect. Principle of
courtyard revolves around fundamental principles of thermodynamics, which includes that air
moves because of difference of air pressure caused because of difference of temperature of
enclosed air. In this report, results of a comprehensive study of literature about courtyard, its
effects & its effectiveness are presented as an effective passive cooling strategy.

Figure 6 Courtyard Effect; Passive Design Strategy

4. DISCUSSION & EXPLANATION

4.1. Courtyard Effect

Figure 7 Courtyard Effect

4.2. Ventilation Aspect of Courtyard

From ancient times courtyard has been considered as an efficient source of ventilation. In
modern period, with invention of mechanical systems has induced huge burden on energy
losses. However, a passive cooling strategy of courtyard effect has a significant decrease in
cooling loads as well. Green houses, a long with wind towers wing walls, doom roofs are also
being designed with atrium or courtyard effect. Objective is to improve the indoor quality with
natural movement of air.
Figure 8 Courtyard Effect Principle
Researchers have studied many aspects of increasing efficiency of ventilation in courtyard. It
has been found that vertical openings in courtyard cause a huge increase in air movement, as
causing a more negative pressure, which forces air drift to move speedily and leaves thru
vertical openings while rising towards top, due to stack effect.

Several investigations have generated results that windows facing to the courtyard have a more
air velocity than the windows facing towards outside.

4.3. Convective Cooling Effect in Courtyard

The research showed that at night times the courtyard acts as a heat sink and with natural
convective cooling such courtyard regulates the upward movement of hot air, so works as a n
efficient mean of thermal comfort. Courtyard area at ground works as an insulated plate, and
captured heat during day time moves up with buoyant effect, resulting enhanced thermal
comfort within enclosed space of courtyard.
Figure 9 Courtyard as a moderator of thermal Effect
4.4. Daylight Factor Performance in Courtyard

Researchers have proved that an overall increased daylight factor is introduced with the design
of courtyard. Causing a reasonable decrease in lighting loads. Reduced electrical lighting loads
also result in reduced cooling load in addition too. As thermal heat factor associated with
natural daylight is lesser than heat associated with electrical lights. Hence a significant reduced
lighting and cooling load reduction is result of courtyard design.

5. APPLICATIONS OF DISCUSSION

The following was found to be true for the base case when oriented due true south:

• Shape and size of courtyard generates different level of captured solar light. Which
varies in each side as well as all around the year.
• In Winter, when sun altitude is less, solar radiations are obstructed so, courtyard ground
is widely affected.
• Spring weather response is more efficient to the courtyard as compared to the fall
period.
• The response of courtyard ground varies drastically with weather change. In very hot
period small shadow is generated where in cold weather much shade is generated
causing an undesirable cooling in winter. Solar radiation collection is more effective at
higher level than ground in the courtyard.
• East & West sides of building behave in similar manner. Effect of courtyard in morning
towards east wall be same in west side in afternoon.
• In hot, spring & fall season east & west side behavior is same but significantly different
in winter.
 • The adjacent spaces to courtyard are designed based in the factor that east side collects
morning solar rays & west side collects afternoon rays.
• The north faced side of building gets only reflected rays, so is designed as a space of
transitional area for courtyard adjacent to the outdoor area.
• The south façade of the building collects least amount of summer radiations and most
in winter.
• Two courtyards can be designed in building to create a drift of air movement. One
courtyard designed to gain heat and second designed in shaded place, achieves the best
result of fast air movement.
• Proper Vegetation and water body in courtyard area causes a significant cooling and
shading. Large trees can become an obstruction for long waves moving towards sky at
night time. A careful vegetation should be planted in the courtyard. Where evaporative
cooling can induce humid air for better environment.
• Courtyard acts like a thermostat for houses. Negative pressure in courtyard area causes
air movement from rooms to the sky.

6. CONCLUSIONS

The design aspects of buildings with courtyard are almost same in all climates with minor
variations. These variations are based on building envelope materials, strategies used,
orientation and effective geometry of the courtyard design responding to that particular climate.
The intelligent design of courtyard geometry, considering solar collection or shading
generation as required to that climate, is of utmost importance, causing desirable & successful
implementation of courtyard effect as an efficient passive design strategy.
7. BIBLIOGRAPHY

1 Bibliography
1Mehwish Soomro, 2Bhai Khan Shar, 3Ghulam Mustafa Soomro, 4Muhammad Akram
Akhund,5Ali RazaKhoso. (2018). Assessment of Energy Performance of Courtyard in
sustainable Architeture. International Research Journal of Innovations in Engineering
and Technology (IRJIET), Volume 2, Issue 6, pp 5-9.

Kamal, M. A. (2012). An Overview of Passive Cooling Techniques in Buildings: Design

Concepts and Architectural Interventions . Acta Technica Napocensis: Civil
Engineering & Architecture Vol. 55, No. 1 .

KOCAGİ, İ. E., & ORA, G. K. (2016). The effect of solar heat gain on climate responsive
courtyard buildings. ITU A|Z • Vol 13 No 2, 39-46.

Nikpour, M., Shamsolmaali, S., Dehghani , H., & Kandar , M. Z. (2012). Creating
Sustainability in Central Courtyard Houses in Desert Regions of Iran.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL of ENERGY and ENVIRONMENT, 226-233.

Tabesh, T., & Sertyesilisik, B. (2015 ). An Investigation on Energy Efficient Courtyard

Design Criteria. International Conference on Chemical, Civil and Environmental
Engineering (CCEE-2015) , (pp. 60-65). Istanbul (Turkey).