Determining the courtyard thermal efficiency and its impact on urban fabric: A contextual study of Baghdad, Iraq

Many researchers advocate readopting the courtyard pattern in hot climate regions for being more thermally efficient than the modern western ones, such as the detached housing. The courtyard helps through reducing heat gain and having sufficient natural ventilation to have a comfortable indoor environment. But, it is suggested that this building pattern loses its efficiency by being out of its compact urban fabric context due to having high exposure to the solar radiation. Aiming at finding a thermally efficient solution for the hot climate regions, this research investigates the thermal efficiency of courtyard pattern and examines its relevance in the present urban context. To achieve this aim, the thermal performance of a courtyard and a detached non-courtyard house was simulated. The courtyard house was tested in two locations: a traditional compact urban fabric and a modern less compact one. DesignbBuilder simulation tool was used for this purpose. The simulation results are derived from fieldwork carried out in Bagdad, where both traditional and contemporary neighbourhoods can be found. They clearly demonstrate the efficiency of courtyard pattern in the compact urban environment. These results support adopting the courtyard pattern in contemporary and future buildings, with due consideration for the urban environment.