Design strategies for renovation of public space in Beijing's traditional communities based on measured microclimate and thermal comfort

Abstract

This paper proposes design strategies for renovating traditional communities in Beijing based on measured microclimate and thermal comfort and preserving historical authenticity to empower residents to make autonomous decisions about the renovation process. Based on the collected data from 11 hutongs and 102 courtyards in Dongcheng District, 4 representative courtyards and 2 representative hutongs are summarized. Microclimate data were collected in the representative months of January and September 2022. The design guidelines for 4 courtyards and 2 hutongs design guidelines, including 20 renovation modes, are proposed through on-site measurement and thermal comfort analysis. Due to the difference in microclimate, the proposed design guidelines can only be applied to the public space of traditional communities in Beijing but not to the public space in traditional villages in the suburbs. The application of the results also faces two challenges: the willingness of the public to participate in the renovation work and the demolition of illegal buildings. This study emphasizes human comfort as a factor to be considered in renovation projects. This study provides a standardized method for public space renovation in historic districts through microclimate analysis and thermal comfort assessment.