Courtyard Climate Control explores how hacienda courtyards historically functioned as natural cooling systems.
By analyzing colonial records and architectural plans, the book reveals the principles behind passive cooling and microclimate regulation in these spaces.
Readers will discover how the strategic use of materials, orientation, vegetation, and water features in courtyard design contributed to temperature moderation.
The book progresses from an introduction to passive cooling and hacienda architecture to specific elements of courtyard design.
It uses climate data and historical documents to support its analysis.
The book uniquely bridges environmental and architectural history, offering a practical, historically informed approach to creating energy-efficient buildings.
Ultimately, Courtyard Climate Control argues that understanding vernacular architecture, like that of colonial haciendas, provides valuable insights for sustainable design today.
It demonstrates how these time-tested strategies can be adapted for contemporary projects, offering architects and landscape designers a resource for creating more comfortable and environmentally friendly spaces.
