COURTYARD ENHANCES NATURAL VENTILATION AND DAYLIGHTING IN BUILDINGS IN NIGERIA

Nwifa, Le-emaK, Prof Imaah Ono Napoleon

Department of Architecture,  

Rivers State University, Nkpolu Oroworukwo, Port- Harcourt, Nigeria.

Email: Nwifakenneth01@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Building designs are aim at creating comfort for humans through various means either mechanical or natural. Thus ventilation of spaces is very important in building design and construction, ventilation can be achieved through artificial or natural means, either way is good but the most important thing is that every space within a building should be properly ventilated. One way of enhancing natural ventilation in buildings is through the incorporations of courtyards, it enhances air movement as it provides a microclimate within the building envelop and increases day lighting as well. This journal paper examines how courtyards enhance natural ventilation and day lighting in buildings. The method adopted for the research paper is the secondary methods of sources of information which includes review of existing literatures (papers) written by others, with emphasis on ventilation and day lighting. This paper is to encourage the incorporation of courtyard design in buildings as a means of enhancing ventilation and day lighting as to the reliance on mechanical means of using artificial cooling systems such as air conditioners which is not eco-friendly and it is more expensive and causes high energy consumption in buildings which is a major factor to   climate change.

Keywords: courtyards, ventilation, day-lighting, energy-consumption, therapeutic, micro-climate, eco-friendly and organic.