Improving daylight performance and energy efficiency of traditional dwellings through multiple courtyards: a case study in Suzhou.

The lack of open spaces in many high-density traditional dwellings in urban areas has resulted in poor environmental performance. This study aims to improve the performance by introducing multiple courtyards into dwelling contour. A parametric design framework, based on multi-objective genetic algorithm is developed to enhance daylighting, PV potential, and reducing energy consumption in winter, summer, and spring. This framework is applied to a case dwelling selected from Changmen district in Suzhou.

The ideal solutions validate the effectiveness of the framework, showing improvements in daylighting and PV potential by 49.0%, and 15.3%, reduced energy consumption by 7.3%, 12.1% and 12.1% for the three seasons. Correlation analysis reveals the impact of multiple courtyards on performance indicators. Form strategies are proposed to serve as references for early design decision in high-density dwelling renovation.