Passive Strategy Based on Courtyard Building Morphology Impact on Thermal and Luminous Environments in Hot and Arid Region

Abstract

The aim of the present research is to establish a dual relationship between thermal and the luminous environments of courtyard building in hot and arid regions. In hot and arid regions a design dilemma has always been problematic; lighting and protecting the building from insulation. To estimate the degree of correlation (thermal/luminous) which could be beneficial for designers, an on-site measurement campaign has been conducted in many old and new courtyard buildings with morphological variations, the software “DesignBuilder” has been used as the simulation tool, the simulations were under a clear sky condition in different seasons. The results are then to establish the optimal design solutions based on a special morphological analysis. The simulation testing with geometric modifications has proved essential in carrying out a comparative examination between the courtyard type and other Architectural form such as mono block type. The results show that courtyard building type performs well in terms of daylighting. However, it seems less efficient as thermal regulator. The comparative analysis determined the optimal architectural configuration in terms of building’s daylighting and thermal performances of in hot and arid regions.