Coupling occupants’ behaviour and natural ventilation potential analysis in the design of a Chinese rural house

Abstract

In chapter 11, the VGA analysis method proposed by the author was used for the evaluation of the layout designs of Chinese rural houses proposed by the local government. Type 10 was selected as best design type, because it can most easily achieve thermal summer comfort for occupants in passive ways. The optimised layout has a high potential to achieve natural cross-ventilation, especially in the public spaces, which are important for the local occupants’ thermal summer comfort in hot and humid climates. Chapter 11 also shows occupants’ movement behaviour in the spaces. The public spaces in the house are the most attractive spaces for occupants. This is related to the occupants’ spatial perception. This helps the occupants to enjoy the natural ventilation in the public spaces because there is a high potential to achieve natural ventilation there.

In this chapter, the optimised layout design of chapter 11 will be developed for a new rural house design in the studied area. The focus of the design is still on the occupants’ behaviour and natural ventilation potential with respect to the spatial configuration. This study will demonstrate how to use the VGA analysis method for the optimisation of spatial configuration, coupling occupants’ behaviour and natural ventilation analysis to design practice.