An interdisciplinary debate on project perspectives
Table 5 Comparative analysis of skycourts in selected mid-rise buildings, based on (Alnusairat 2018; Alsheghri et al. 2015; Bai et al. 2015; Abass et al. 2016)
Building Name | Masdar Institute | Business Promotion Center | Dongguan’s Eco-Park Office Buildings | The Courtyard House | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Skycourt attributes | Geometry | Shape | Semi- rectangular | Semi elliptical | Square | Semi- rectangular |
Form | Open-sided (two-sided) | Closed | Open (four-sided) | Open (four-sided) | ||
Central/sided | Central | Sided | Central | Central | ||
Open/closed | Open | 2 walls closed/open from external façade | Core/centralized/open from 4 sides | Core/centralized/open from 4 sides | ||
Section |
|
|
|
| ||
Type | Skygarden | – | √ | – | √ | |
Skyroof | √ | – | – | – | ||
Skycourt | √ | – | – | √ | ||
Skyentrace | – | – | √ | – | ||
Spatial Morphology | Hollow space | √ | √ | √ | √ | |
Corner space | √ | √ | – | – | ||
Lateral space | √ | √ | – | √ | ||
Interstitial space | – | – | – | – | ||
Chimney | – | – | √ | – | ||
Filling space | – | – | – | – | ||
Function | Social space | – | √ | √ | – | |
Well-being | √ | – | √ | √ | ||
Transitional space | – | √ | √ | √ | ||
Environmental filter | √ | √ | √ | √ | ||
Biodiversity enhancer | √ | – | √ | – | ||
Passive design element | √ | √ | √ | √ | ||
Productivity enhancer | – | – | √ | – | ||
Environmental Benefits | Air intake, extraction | √ (Only intake) | √ (Both) | √ (Both) | √ (Both) | |
Inducing ventilation | √ | √ | √ | √ | ||
Stack ventilation | √ | √ | √ | √ | ||
Lighting | √ | √ | √ | √ | ||
Acoustics | – | – | – | √ | ||
Thermal buffer zone | √ | – | √ | – | ||
