Field investigation of indoor thermal environments in traditional Chinese shophouses with courtyards in Malacca

Abstract

This study investigates indoor thermal conditions in traditional Chinese shophouses (CSHs) in Malacca, Malaysia, using field measurements and focuses on the cooling effects of courtyards. The results indicate that the indoor air temperature in the living rooms of CSHs was approximately 5-6°C lower than the outdoor temperature during the day primarily due to structural cooling effects with night ventilation, whereas the indoor air temperature at night was similar to the outdoor temperature. If the thermal adaptations of the occupants were considered, then the thermal conditions in the living rooms were acceptable for most of the day. The results indicate that the front courtyards functioned as a cooling source for the surrounding spaces in the CSHs.