Outdoor Microclimate in Courtyard Buildings: Impact of Building Perimeter Configuration and Tree Density
As the effects of climate change and urbanisation intensify, liveability and comfort in outdoor spaces decrease. Because of large spaces exposed to solar radiation and low crossing of airflows, courtyard buildings are extremely vulnerable in this regard. However, there are significant gaps in the li...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Buildings |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/13/11/2687 |
| _version_ | 1797459914971414528 |
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| author | Lia Marchi Jacopo Gaspari Kristian Fabbri |
| author_facet | Lia Marchi Jacopo Gaspari Kristian Fabbri |
| author_sort | Lia Marchi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | As the effects of climate change and urbanisation intensify, liveability and comfort in outdoor spaces decrease. Because of large spaces exposed to solar radiation and low crossing of airflows, courtyard buildings are extremely vulnerable in this regard. However, there are significant gaps in the literature on outdoor comfort in courtyards, especially regarding the effect of border configuration (including gap position and features), as well that of tree density. The study proposes a methodology—to be used during preliminary design—to compare the effect of alternative scenarios for courtyard buildings on outdoor microclimate, varying both the building perimeter configuration and courtyard vegetation layout. A matrix is set to combine the two variables and select relevant scenarios, which are then simulated in ENVI-met focusing on air temperature, wind speed and physiological equivalent temperature (PET). A case study in Bologna, Italy (humid subtropical climate) is presented as an example of the implementation. The resulting outdoor microclimate maps and frequency diagrams are compared and discussed. It emerges that both variables have a role in outdoor comfort: while gap configuration affects air temperature more (up to a difference of 1 °C), tree density impacts PET by up to 2 °C difference. The methodology can be replicated in several other contexts to support the optimisation of courtyard building design from the early stages. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:58:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7d8870f74fcf4bc89e0336f9bf2ec721 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-5309 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:58:42Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Buildings |
| spelling | doaj.art-7d8870f74fcf4bc89e0336f9bf2ec7212023-11-24T14:32:59ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092023-10-011311268710.3390/buildings13112687Outdoor Microclimate in Courtyard Buildings: Impact of Building Perimeter Configuration and Tree DensityLia Marchi0Jacopo Gaspari1Kristian Fabbri2Department of Architecture, University of Bologna, 40136 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Architecture, University of Bologna, 40136 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Architecture, University of Bologna, 40136 Bologna, ItalyAs the effects of climate change and urbanisation intensify, liveability and comfort in outdoor spaces decrease. Because of large spaces exposed to solar radiation and low crossing of airflows, courtyard buildings are extremely vulnerable in this regard. However, there are significant gaps in the literature on outdoor comfort in courtyards, especially regarding the effect of border configuration (including gap position and features), as well that of tree density. The study proposes a methodology—to be used during preliminary design—to compare the effect of alternative scenarios for courtyard buildings on outdoor microclimate, varying both the building perimeter configuration and courtyard vegetation layout. A matrix is set to combine the two variables and select relevant scenarios, which are then simulated in ENVI-met focusing on air temperature, wind speed and physiological equivalent temperature (PET). A case study in Bologna, Italy (humid subtropical climate) is presented as an example of the implementation. The resulting outdoor microclimate maps and frequency diagrams are compared and discussed. It emerges that both variables have a role in outdoor comfort: while gap configuration affects air temperature more (up to a difference of 1 °C), tree density impacts PET by up to 2 °C difference. The methodology can be replicated in several other contexts to support the optimisation of courtyard building design from the early stages.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/13/11/2687outdoor microclimate mapoutdoor thermal comfortENVI-metair temperaturewind speedPET |
| spellingShingle | Lia Marchi Jacopo Gaspari Kristian Fabbri Outdoor Microclimate in Courtyard Buildings: Impact of Building Perimeter Configuration and Tree Density Buildings outdoor microclimate map outdoor thermal comfort ENVI-met air temperature wind speed PET |
| title | Outdoor Microclimate in Courtyard Buildings: Impact of Building Perimeter Configuration and Tree Density |
| title_full | Outdoor Microclimate in Courtyard Buildings: Impact of Building Perimeter Configuration and Tree Density |
| title_fullStr | Outdoor Microclimate in Courtyard Buildings: Impact of Building Perimeter Configuration and Tree Density |
| title_full_unstemmed | Outdoor Microclimate in Courtyard Buildings: Impact of Building Perimeter Configuration and Tree Density |
| title_short | Outdoor Microclimate in Courtyard Buildings: Impact of Building Perimeter Configuration and Tree Density |
| title_sort | outdoor microclimate in courtyard buildings impact of building perimeter configuration and tree density |
| topic | outdoor microclimate map outdoor thermal comfort ENVI-met air temperature wind speed PET |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/13/11/2687 |
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