Courtyard building configuration and performance across climate zones: A systematic review of thermal comfort, energy, and daylight with implications for Chinese courtyard architecture

Buildings account for a substantial share of global energy consumption, much of which is associated with heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems for indoor climate control. Passive strategies rooted in historical architectural typologies, such as courtyard buildings, offer potential to enhance energy efficiency and indoor comfort. This Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses-guided systematic review analyzed 83 peer-reviewed studies published between January 2014 and September 2025. Using thematic content analysis, we synthesized evidence on how key configuration parameters (orientation, aspect ratio, height-to-depth ratio, window-to-wall ratio, and length-to-width ratio) affect three performance domains—thermal comfort, energy efficiency, and daylight performance—across major climate zones (tropical, hot-arid, temperate, and continental). The literature is concentrated in hot-arid and temperate climates, whereas tropical and continental zones remain comparatively underexplored. Orientation and aspect ratio were the most frequently investigated parameters, and simulation-based methods predominated. The review also identifies critical gaps in theoretical grounding, methodological standardization, and empirical diversity. Most of the studies show limited interdisciplinary integration, minimal consideration of occupant/population differences, and restricted real-world applicability, particularly for public and institutional buildings. By consolidating global evidence, this review further proposes a performance-oriented framework to interpret and advance Chinese courtyard architecture, including siheyuan, sanheyuan, and tulou, across diverse climatic and urban–rural contexts. These findings highlight priorities for China-focused research, including multi-objective performance assessment, empirical validation, and climate-sensitive design strategies. Overall, the review provides actionable insights for architects, urban designers, and policymakers seeking to advance climate-adaptive and context-responsive architectural practice.