Courtyards in arid zones. Thermal behaviour of two school courtyards and their adjacent classrooms.

CANTÓN, ALICIA; GANEM, CAROLINA; FERNANDEZ LLANO, JORGE

Louvain-la-Neuve

Conferencia; 27th International Conference on Passive and Low energy Architecture (PLEA 2011- 30th anniversary) Architecture and sustainable development.; 2011

Université Catholique de Louvain. Architecture et climat

In traditional architecture the courtyard has improved, though in a passive way, local micro-climatic conditions with the objective to produce comfortable interior spaces. It is important to take into account that incorrect design decisions may turn courtyards to be less comfortable than open surroundings and could jeopardise adjoin spaces comfort conditions. This work proposes to evaluate the influence of form and shadow on thermal conditions of the open space in itself and its influence on the adjacent internal space in educational buildings in arid zones. Two similar courtyards partially protected by ?shading fabric canopies? and their adjoin classrooms within the same building, were evaluated in summer in the city of Mendoza, Argentina (32º40? SL, 68º 51? WL, 750 metres above sea level). A series of variables such as form, materiality, orientation and solar protections have been considered to characterize courtyards and classrooms. Air temperature measurements were performed on a fifteen minutes basis during forty days. Results discuss thermal behaviour, courtyard and classroom performance. It is concluded that, in arid zones, with important amounts of clear sky days, the exterior space shadow condition is the variable with higher impact on the interior space behaviour of classrooms.