Micro-environment characterization of Beijing courtyard houses based on ENVI-met

The Beijing courtyard house, a typical representative of traditional Chinese residential architecture, features unique micro-environmental characteristics. The investigation of its internal micro-environmental variations is significant for its contemporary conservation and adaptive renovation. Therefore, ENVI-met was used to simulate the microenvironment of Beijing courtyard houses, with Mao Dun's former residence as the case study. Two different simulation scenarios were established for summer and winter to evaluate the key micro-environmental parameters, including Mean Radiant Temperature (MRT), air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET). The results show that the environmental thermal comfort of the courtyard houses was primarily influenced by solar radiation in both winter and summer. Owing to differential solar exposure, diversely oriented rooms demonstrate varied thermal performances, particularly in terms of warming rate, MRT, PET, and their peak value and temporal distribution. The wind speed within the courtyard is substantially higher during summer compared to winter, with a pronounced influence on PET. It is recommended that seasonal and directional variations should be seriously considered when taking diversified and targeted measures to optimize the internal environment, while the courtyard is being renovated.