Methodology to Improve the Hygrothermal Performance of Traditional Buildings

This thesis establishes a new methodology and provides instructions for the practical use to analyze and find forward-thinking solutions to improve the hygrothermal performance of traditional lightweight constructions. The research focuses on traditional courtyard houses in the Hot-Summer-Cold-Winter zone in southern China and their sustainable preservation and energetic renovation.

---

Traditional buildings provide many lessons regarding their climate responsive design strategies to accommodate their occupants' requirements on safety, living comfort, and affordability, which help us design new energy-efficient buildings. However, the investigation of traditional buildings should be conducted from a stance of dynamic development considering the changing requirements on energy-efficiency and indoor thermal comfort at different times.
Therefore, this thesis establishes a new methodology and provides instructions for the practical use to analyze and find forward-thinking solutions to improve the hygrothermal performance of traditional buildings in lightweight construction. The research focuses on traditional courtyard houses in the Hot-Summer-Cold-Winter zone in southern China with a humid summer and a moderately cold winter. The developed methodology, guidelines, obtained measurement data, calibrated numerical building simulation model, and the developed method to conduct parameter study and to propose feasible insulation systems can fill gaps in the research area of the preservation and energetic renovation of traditional buildings.