Authors :
Tanjina Rahman; Rumana Rashid
Volume/Issue :
Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 3 - March
Google Scholar :
https://tinyurl.com/cmmx4nyw
Scribd :
https://tinyurl.com/5c7nw2d3
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26mar628
Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.
Abstract :
Primary school buildings in Dhaka are commonly designed with a strong emphasis on classroom functionality,
while the influence of architectural elements that affect the indoor thermal environment—such as courtyards—remains
insufficiently explored. Consequently, many school buildings do not effectively utilize courtyards as passive design
strategies to enhance thermal comfort and natural ventilation within learning spaces. Ensuring a thermally comfortable
indoor environment is particularly important for children’s health, concentration, and overall well-being, as students
spend extended periods inside classrooms during their formative years. This study aims to evaluate the contribution of
courtyards to the thermal performance of primary school classrooms and to assess their significance in contemporary
school design. The research focuses on comparing the thermal conditions of classrooms located adjacent to courtyards
with those in buildings that lack such spatial configurations. A mixed-method research approach was employed.
Quantitative data were collected through on-site environmental measurements, using instruments such as thermometers
and hygrometers to record indoor temperature and relative humidity levels in selected classrooms. In addition, a
qualitative investigation was conducted through questionnaire surveys involving 266 primary school students from four
selected schools in Dhaka, aimed at assessing students’ perceptions and comfort levels regarding classroom thermal
conditions. The findings demonstrate a significant relationship between the presence of courtyards and improved thermal
comfort in classrooms. The measurement results indicate relatively lower indoor temperatures and enhanced natural
ventilation in courtyard-oriented classrooms. These outcomes were further supported by students’ responses, which
reflected higher levels of perceived thermal comfort and improved learning conditions. Conversely, classrooms without
courtyards were more frequently associated with higher indoor temperatures and less comfortable thermal environments.
The study identifies the courtyard as a critical spatial component that contributes to improved thermal performance in
school buildings. Incorporating courtyards into primary school design can reduce indoor heat stress and promote
healthier and more comfortable learning environments. The findings provide valuable insights for architects and planners
and contribute to the ongoing discourse on climate-responsive and child-centered school design in Bangladesh and other
regions with similar hot-humid climatic conditions.
Keywords :
Courtyard, Thermal Environment, Thermal Comfort, School Architecture, Student Well-Being.
References :
- Soltanzadeh, H. (2011). The role of courtyards in the environmental performance of buildings in hot and humid climates. Journal of Environmental Studies.
- Taleghani, M., Tenpierik, M. and van den Dobbelsteen, A. (2014). Energy performance and thermal comfort of courtyard buildings. Building and Environment.
- Sia, S.Y. and Zakaria, M.A. (2024). Evaluation of outdoor thermal comfort between internal and external courtyard spaces in hot-humid climates. Recent Trends in Civil Engineering and Built Environment.
- Peter, A. and Kaushik, S.A.S. (2024). Impact of courtyard vegetation on thermal comfort performance in educational buildings in warm-humid climates. Science, Engineering and Health Studies.
- Gunasekaran, R. and Shanthi Priya, R. (2025). Simulating the thermal efficiency of courtyard houses in warm and humid climates. Architecture.
- Mallick, F.H., 1996. Thermal comfort and building design in the tropical climates of Bangladesh. Energy and Buildings, 23(3), pp.161–167.
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 2012. Indoor Air Quality and Relative Humidity Guidelines. Washington, DC: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
- Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), 2024. Climatological Data of Bangladesh. Dhaka: Bangladesh Meteorological Department.
Primary school buildings in Dhaka are commonly designed with a strong emphasis on classroom functionality,
while the influence of architectural elements that affect the indoor thermal environment—such as courtyards—remains
insufficiently explored. Consequently, many school buildings do not effectively utilize courtyards as passive design
strategies to enhance thermal comfort and natural ventilation within learning spaces. Ensuring a thermally comfortable
indoor environment is particularly important for children’s health, concentration, and overall well-being, as students
spend extended periods inside classrooms during their formative years. This study aims to evaluate the contribution of
courtyards to the thermal performance of primary school classrooms and to assess their significance in contemporary
school design. The research focuses on comparing the thermal conditions of classrooms located adjacent to courtyards
with those in buildings that lack such spatial configurations. A mixed-method research approach was employed.
Quantitative data were collected through on-site environmental measurements, using instruments such as thermometers
and hygrometers to record indoor temperature and relative humidity levels in selected classrooms. In addition, a
qualitative investigation was conducted through questionnaire surveys involving 266 primary school students from four
selected schools in Dhaka, aimed at assessing students’ perceptions and comfort levels regarding classroom thermal
conditions. The findings demonstrate a significant relationship between the presence of courtyards and improved thermal
comfort in classrooms. The measurement results indicate relatively lower indoor temperatures and enhanced natural
ventilation in courtyard-oriented classrooms. These outcomes were further supported by students’ responses, which
reflected higher levels of perceived thermal comfort and improved learning conditions. Conversely, classrooms without
courtyards were more frequently associated with higher indoor temperatures and less comfortable thermal environments.
The study identifies the courtyard as a critical spatial component that contributes to improved thermal performance in
school buildings. Incorporating courtyards into primary school design can reduce indoor heat stress and promote
healthier and more comfortable learning environments. The findings provide valuable insights for architects and planners
and contribute to the ongoing discourse on climate-responsive and child-centered school design in Bangladesh and other
regions with similar hot-humid climatic conditions.
Keywords :
Courtyard, Thermal Environment, Thermal Comfort, School Architecture, Student Well-Being.
