Natural ventilation as a passive cooling strategy for multi-story buildings: analytic vertical skycourt formations

Abstract

Abstract Natural ventilation has been one of the most important passive cooling strategies for conditioning the built environment. However, several challenges influence natural ventilation in multi-story buildings. Consequently, skycourt presents a passive cooling strategy to provide a direct airflow into the space to cool the surroundings, increase thermal comfort, and reduce the need for mechanical ventilation. Therefore, this study proposes utilizing the skycourt as a passive cooling strategy that helps to enhance natural ventilation in multi-story buildings. The aim of the research is achieved by analyzing various global examples of buildings, based on the skycourt, in different climatic zones; dry, tropical, temperate, and cold. These examples covered all classifications of multi-story buildings (e.g., mid-rise, high-rise, and skyscrapers). Through this analysis, the influence of skycourt in providing natural ventilation is determined, which contributes to reduce energy consumption. Finally, a reference matrix for designers and decision-makers in the four studied climatic zones can be conducted to promote natural ventilation using the skycourt strategy.