Wong Chung Wai Ray. / "Architecture Department, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Master of Architecture Programme 2007-2008, design report." / Includes bibliographical references (p. 166-169). / Foreword --- p.6 / Abstract --- p.8 / Defining the Thesis --- p.10 / Chapter ´Ø --- Political Background - Great Leap Forward and Open Door Policy / Chapter ´Ø --- Social Background - Soviet Experts and Superblock Planning / Chapter ´Ø --- Social Background - Hong Kong and Privatized Gated Communities / Chapter ´Ø --- Urban Phenomenon - Candybox' Urbanism / Chapter ´Ø --- Challenge - Generic and Enormous Superblock / Chapter ´Ø --- Problem - Privatized Landscape and Infrastructure / Chapter ´Ø --- Problem - Destroying Beijing Urban Hierarchy / Chapter ´Ø --- Intention - What can we do for the superblock? / Chapter ´Ø --- Precedent - Superblock of Ancient China / Chapter ´Ø --- The Way of Making Ancient Chinese Cities - Courtyard Urbanism / Chapter ´Ø --- Typological Reasoning - Type Evolution for Adaptation / Researching the Type --- p.36 / Chapter ´Ø --- History - The Emergence of Courtyard Type / Chapter ´Ø --- Type Classification - Courtyard Types in China / Chapter ´Ø --- Type Evolution - Courtyard as a Species / Chapter ´Ø --- Type Variations - Element and Composition / Chapter ´Ø --- Type Variation - Environment and Response / Chapter ´Ø --- Type Proliferation - Type and the Urban Field / Intervening the Site --- p.58 / Chapter ´Ø --- Site Selection - A Decay Industrial Site of Beijing / Chapter ´Ø --- Site Analysis - Parametric Field Research / Chapter ´Ø --- Site Proliferation - Parametric Transformation Process / Chapter ´Ø --- Effect - FAR not equivalent to Height / Chapter ´Ø --- Effect - Gaint Mesh of Variable Courtyards / Chapter ´Ø --- Effect - Multi-level Moving Voids and Mixed Programme / Chapter ´Ø --- Effect - Variable Courtyard Urbanism / Investigating the Space --- p.120 / Chapter ´Ø --- Modeling - Three Different Architectural Parameters / Chapter ´Ø --- Architectural Parameter - Wall and Void / Chapter ´Ø --- Architectural Parameter - Skin and Void / Chapter ´Ø --- Architectural Parameter - Structure and Void / Chapter ´Ø --- Effect - Multi-public Ground / Chapter ´Ø --- Effect - Multi-functional Structural Void System / Theorizing the Urbanism --- p.140 / Chapter ´Ø --- Continuous Mixed-Density Development / Chapter ´Ø --- Multi-layer Land Use Plan / Chapter ´Ø --- Integrated Floorplates and Neighborhood / Chapter ´Ø --- Multi-functional Public Void / Chapter ´Ø --- Refabricating Beijing Urban Hierarchy / Chapter ´Ø --- Proliferated Adaptable Mesh / Chapter ´Ø --- Evolution of Chinese Type - An Authentic Urban Form / Appendix --- p.156 / Chapter ´Ø --- Panel and Models / Chapter ´Ø --- Footnote / Chapter ´Ø --- Bibliography / Chapter ´Ø --- Extracted Articles

Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of Queensland, 2004. / Includes bibliography.

Beijing courtyard is a traditional type of residence in Beijing, China. In ancient times, a courtyard would be occupied by a single, usually large family. Today, Beijing courtyard are still used as housing complexes, however, many lack modern facilities, and also the users of courtyard become multi-families, instead of one single big family. The overpopulation issue also changed the courtyard's appearance and function, reducing its formality, consistency and traditionality, because people living in courtyard started to add extra elements to meet their growing demands. Moreover, because the land value around courtyard is so high that governement can only provide a limited number of public toilet to people living in courtyard, which lead to a poor standard of hygiene in the traditional courtyard area. And also, there are other issues, like lacking necessary facilitiess, inconvenient transportation and negative aspect for historic preservation. In a word, there is a great protential to make people living in the traditional courtyard enjoy a better life. / text

Master of Architecture / Department of Architecture / Gary J. Coates / This research explores the bioclimatic and socio-cultural benefits of Kolkata’s courtyard houses. A typological and historical analysis of courtyard houses from around the world, as well as in Kolkata, provides a context for the field research. The main intention of this study is to explore the roles of solar shading and natural ventilation in courtyard houses located in the hot-humid climatic region. For this purpose interviews with the heads of household of ten courtyard houses in Kolkata were conducted in January 2005, to finally choose three houses for detailed experimental analysis. All three houses have high thermal construction and similar socio-economic conditions. This helped in comparing the results of the temperature (both ambient and surface temperatures) and air speed measurements among the three houses referred to as House A, House B and House C houses. House A and House C houses have shallow courtyards (high aspect ratios which in both cases equal 0.95), while House B house has a deep courtyard (low aspect ratio equal to 0.21). Further, ventilation analysis has been done with the help of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software. The simulation study and the experimental data measurements focused on the comfort conditions generated within the house based on their differences in proportion of form and massing. The effects of solar shading and natural ventilation on activity patterns and uses of a space are also examined through occupant surveys. Finally, this research explores the historic courtyard houses in Kolkata, with a view to address the benefits of the universal courtyard form of design and speculate the appropriateness of the vernacular courtyard form in the modern architectural arena of Kolkata.

Fatehpur Sikri is a world heritage monument. It was commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Akbar and was constructed in less than fifteen years (1569-1574). Fatehpur Sikri served as the capital of the Mughal empire for a very short time, from 1569 to 1585. At present, most of its buildings remain in excellent condition. It is a city frozen in time. This dissertation has examined the city of Fatehpur Sikri in the context of its history, design theory, rituals, settings and principles of spatial design. The layout of the imperial complex of Fatehpur Sikri is unique in its spatial organization. It has no streets, but consists of a series of interlocking courtyards set to the cardinal points. The design of individual monuments is based on symmetry but in the layout of the complex, the rules of symmetry are broken and asymmetry is deliberately employed. The dissertation concludes that this unique layout may have been employed to provide flexibility in order to accommodate different buildings and spatial conceptions. It creates a rich and dramatic visual environment within the complex. The layout also reflects the themes of Din-i Ilahi, the religion founded by Akbar and which was a synthesis of Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Zoroastrianism and Christianity. The plan of Fatehpur Sikri is analyzed in the framework of the mandala, a Hindu concept of architectural spatial planning and town planning. The research concludes however, that the plan was not developed within this rigid framework. The dissertation also examines the layout of Fatehpur Sikri in terms of its social and court activities. It was found that there is a strong connection between the layouts of the imperial complex of Fatehpur Sikri and the Mughal camp. The spatial structure of the Mughal camp plan was organized on the concepts of functional zoning based on public, semi-public and private space. The dissertation proposes solutions to the functions of the Diwan-i-Khas, the Turkish Sultana, Birbal's palace and the royal bazaar. The functions of these buildings are in controversy among various architecrural historians. The research establishes that the Diwan-i-Khas had a symbolic meaning. The interior arrangement of the building consists of four bridges connected to the circular platform on the richly carved column in the center. The central column symbolized the axis from which the emperor ruled; this axis was also a connection between the Emperor Akbar, God and the earth. The Turkish Sultana was used by the emperor as a special meeting place. Birbal's palace was the residence of one of Akbar's favorite queens. The building next to this was a royal bazaar where merchants came regularly to sell valuable items to the women of the harem. The spatial structure was created through the use of the principles of asymmetry, multiple axes, enclosure, change in level, transparency, and the element of surprise. Human scale was achieved by emphasizing horizontal facades and lines. To create visual interest horizontal facades were punctuated by introducing monumental scale in the Panch Mahal, the Buland Darwaza and the Badshahi Darwaza. The buildings were also crowned by small pavilions which create a dramatic skyline. The visual image of Fatehpur Sikri is therefore reflected in its unique skyline as well as its landmarks: the Panch Mahal, the Buland Darwaza, Salim Chisti's Tomb, and the profusely carved central column of the Diwan-i-Khas. At present, very few visitors are introduced to the Rang Mahal, the Stone Cutters' Mosque, the caravanserai, the Hiran Minar and the Hathi Pol. The study recommends that a unified circulation system be developed to join together all these major monuments of Fatehpur Sikri in accordance with the historic era. / Ph. D.

Thesis (M.Arch.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 1982. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ROTCH. / Bibliography: p. 145-147. / by Carol Rose Schwartz. / M.Arch.

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 1981. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ROTCH. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 160-167). / Historically, atria were protected interior patios; well perceived for their climate tempering and spatial amenity to the building; matching a peaceful private outdoor with the yearly climate cycles. Public buildings adopted this in larger scale, and with the ending 18th century, atria and arcades merged to a period of architectural highlights of glass covered interiors in steel and glass. Passages, hotels and public buildings of an emerging industrial society in Europe and Northern States spurred the evolution of the "Great Indoors" as an urban feature. The ecology of these indoors were consciously achieved by passive means of temperature control. With the rise of mechanical conditioning and excessive use of glass at facades by the beginning of this century, atria and arcades disappeared more or less from the architectural vocabulary. The late 1950s though experienced a revival of atria as a commercial amenity in malls, hotels and similar type of public places. These atria, however, were generally mechanical conditioned; just typically being enormous energy wasters. With the growing urge for energy conservation today, new parameters form our buildings. For this, atria and arcades of urban scale and passive control achieve a new validity as energy conscious urban form. As the key to our energy future in buildings lies well in the urban context, whose inventory per se offers already a fair degree of energy efficiency, improvements there would yield greatest rewards compared to current suburban solar sprawl. The re-interpretation of atria and arcades will provide a perfect planning tool for this urban energy conservation. The glass covered indoors will match with urban scale and site restraints and spur urban life for livable norther winter cities. Exploring atria and arcades as climate buffers and interior amenity for snow belt latitudes, this thesis presents an architectural review, and concludes with design patterns for habitable and energy conscious urban indoors. / by Joachim W. Glässel. / M.S.

This thesis peruses the programmatic elements that are considered and implemented by designers and administrators and whether these elements contribute to creating successful residential campus courtyards in the southeast United States. A web-based survey questionnaire was administered to designers and administrators who have been involved in projects that were built in the region. Based on literature, site observations, and the results of the survey the researcher illustrates which program elements were the most important, as well as whether each element was implemented on site and why.

The aim of this essay is to investigate the physical aspects in and around inner courtyards, as well as the use of them, in the city district of Ålidhem in Umeå. Ålidhem was built as part of “the million programme” in Sweden in the 1960’s and 70’s and present an example of how these large courtyard areas can function in this aspect. The essay will be centred around four themes, namely size, primary and secondary delimitation, belonging and activities. The form of the courtyards, their contents and their immediate surroundings will be investigated through eight example-courtyards in a field study from the district in question, as well as from the residents' point of view. The residents' answers were gathered through a questionnaire, that also examines how the residents view and use their closest courtyard in addition to the physical aspects. On top of this a shorter analysis of social activities in these types of areas will be examined, as a part of the concept of “life between buildings”. The results of this study find several connections to theories about how inner courtyards are framed by, among others, buildings, and how this affects residents view and use of them.

Define a courtyard. Buildings form the Walls of the Room of the courtyard. Define its center, a pool of water. Define the axis, controlled by the center, leading to it, flowing from… the entry, the Door to the courtyard, the microcosm of the whole, the source of the water. / Master of Architecture