The Influence Of Climate On Chinese Traditional Courtyard Space

The courtyard space of Chinese traditional dwellings not only receives adequate sunlight for buildings, but also facilitates ventilation and heat distribution. It is the courtyard space that assumes the function to acquire energy from nature. In order to make the best use of sunlight and ventilation for the internal space, the courtyard space is required to be compatible with the local climate. Therefore, the courtyard space has a close relationship with climate.In China, as the temperature drops gradually lower from north to south, the area of courtyard becomes smaller. From the prospective of climate, this is because the sun elevation angle and the temperature of northern China are both lower. So the dwellings need to have sufficient spacing in order to ensure sufficient sunshine to keep warm. When it comes to the south, where the sun elevation angle and the temperature are higher, the spacing between dwellings should be narrower to form the shade to keep cool.The impact of climate on the courtyard space can be seen obviously from the difference of the courtyard space in Beijing Siheyuan and Huizhou dwellings, which are the typical traditional dwellings of the north and south. The courtyard space of Beijing Siheyuan is large and open, whereas that of Huizhou dwellings is small and narrow. Because the Beijing area has a lot of cold days per year, It is convenient to get enough sunlight and keep warm through large and open courtyard space. It can be also convenient to bring ventilation in summer to keep it cool. Huizhou area has a lot hot days,so it can be convenient to get ventilation and form the shade in the summer to keep cool.This article analyze the impact of climate on the courtyard space in Beijing Siheyuan and Huizhou dwellings from three perspectives, which are the shape, the interface and the water and verdurization of the courtyard. And the first aspect is the shape of courtyard space, the second is the interface of the courtyard space, the last one is water and greening of courtyard space. Through this analysis, the article sums up the microclimate regulation of the courtyard space, which could shade some light on the eco-design of today’s architecture.