The "courtyard" keeps Chinese houses cool (overseas voice)

The courtyard is a typical architectural feature of traditional residential buildings in southern China. Unlike courtyards in northern China, patios are generally smaller and less exposed to outdoor environments

The courtyard is a typical architectural feature of traditional residential buildings in southern China. Unlike courtyards in northern China, patios are generally smaller and less exposed to outdoor environments. According to the research of Chinese scholars, they are commonly found in houses in the Ming and Qing dynasties. Although the size and design of the patio vary by region, it is generally rectangular and located in the center of the house. Some large houses even have more than one courtyard.

Before the emergence of air conditioning, the courtyard could cool the building. The wind can enter the interior space of the house through the courtyard. Because outdoor air is usually cooler than indoor air, temperature difference can form Gas exchange, cool air sinks down to the lower part of the house along the wall, and hot indoor air rises and discharges through the courtyard opening.

In recent years, the Chinese government has been promoting the construction of green buildings that can save resources and reduce pollution. In order to save energy in the newly designed building, architects began to study the principles of the courtyard. One example is the National Heavy Vehicle Engineering and Technology Research Center located in Jinan, Shandong Province. This large glass curtain wall building has a huge internal courtyard in the middle. The architect stated that the elevator, bathroom, and conference room are located around the courtyard, which helps improve the lighting and ventilation of the building and reduce overall energy consumption.

Wang Zhengfeng, a researcher at the Area studies Institute of Leiden University in the Netherlands, said that ancient "green wisdom" such as patios continued to inspire the innovation of climate adaptive design and passive cooling technology for today's buildings. When asked why patios are increasingly receiving attention from modern Chinese people, Wang Zhengfeng said that one of the design purposes of traditional courtyards is to serve as a gathering place for families or communities, and to have ceremonial significance. Perhaps a change in lifestyle can evoke a nostalgic nostalgia for people living in reinforced concrete forests

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