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Hydraulics & Micro-Climates
Yoruba Courtyards, Impluvium Systems, and Environmental Exchange
Yoruba Courtyards, Impluvium Systems, and Environmental Exchange
STATUS
Forensic Research / Hypothesis Testing
REGION
Southwestern Nigeria
CLIMATE
Tropical wet-and-dry conditions
SUBJECT TYPOLOGY
Yoruba Afin and domestic courtyard systems
THE ARCHITECTURAL SYSTEM
THE ARCHITECTURAL SYSTEM
The impluvium is studied not simply as a water-collection device and not automatically as a cooling machine.
The impluvium is studied not simply as a water-collection device and not automatically as a cooling machine.
Its performance may emerge from the interaction of:
Its performance may emerge from the interaction of:
Roof geometry
Courtyard proportion
Openings
Shading
Rainfall
Water presence
Air movement
Material surfaces
Thermal exposure
Patterns of occupation
Roof geometry
Courtyard proportion
Openings
Shading
Rainfall
Water presence
Air movement
Material surfaces
Thermal exposure
Patterns of occupation
The investigation therefore treats the courtyard as an integrated architectural system.
The investigation therefore treats the courtyard as an integrated architectural system.
THE QUESTION
THE QUESTION
How did courtyard and impluvium configurations mediate water, air, light, shade, and domestic space, and which environmental effects can be demonstrated from surviving evidence?
How did courtyard and impluvium configurations mediate water, air, light, shade, and domestic space, and which environmental effects can be demonstrated from surviving evidence?
THE HYPOTHESES
THE HYPOTHESES
A|WA will test several possible relationships.
A|WA will test several possible relationships.
H1 — Air Movement
H1 — Air Movement
Courtyard geometry may influence buoyancy-driven and pressure-driven air movement within the surrounding building.
Courtyard geometry may influence buoyancy-driven and pressure-driven air movement within the surrounding building.
H2 — Thermal Conditions
H2 — Thermal Conditions
Shading, material mass, geometry, and air movement may produce measurable differences between courtyard, interior, and exterior conditions.
Shading, material mass, geometry, and air movement may produce measurable differences between courtyard, interior, and exterior conditions.
H3 — Water and Humidity
H3 — Water and Humidity
Rainwater collection and the presence of water may influence localized humidity and temperature under specific conditions.
Rainwater collection and the presence of water may influence localized humidity and temperature under specific conditions.
H4 — Seasonal Performance
H4 — Seasonal Performance
Environmental effects may vary significantly according to season, time of day, occupancy, and weather.
Environmental effects may vary significantly according to season, time of day, occupancy, and weather.
H5 — Multiple Functions
H5 — Multiple Functions
The environmental performance of the courtyard may be inseparable from its social, spatial, and hydrological functions.
The environmental performance of the courtyard may be inseparable from its social, spatial, and hydrological functions.
These are research questions, not established conclusions.
These are research questions, not established conclusions.
FIELD METHOD
FIELD METHOD
Where suitable surviving structures can be documented, A|WA may deploy a mobile field documentation system to record:
Where suitable surviving structures can be documented, A|WA may deploy a mobile field documentation system to record:
Air Movement
Localized measurements and airflow modeling.
Air Movement
Localized measurements and airflow modeling.
Temperature
Repeated measurements across courtyard, interior, and exterior conditions.
Temperature
Repeated measurements across courtyard, interior, and exterior conditions.
Relative Humidity
Comparative environmental logging.
Relative Humidity
Comparative environmental logging.
Rainfall / Water
Documentation of collection, drainage, and retention conditions where present.
Rainfall / Water
Documentation of collection, drainage, and retention conditions where present.
Geometry
Precise documentation of roof pitch, courtyard dimensions, openings, and spatial relationships.
Geometry
Precise documentation of roof pitch, courtyard dimensions, openings, and spatial relationships.
THE QUESTION
THE QUESTION
How did courtyard and impluvium configurations mediate water, air, light, shade, and domestic space, and which environmental effects can be demonstrated from surviving evidence?
How did courtyard and impluvium configurations mediate water, air, light, shade, and domestic space, and which environmental effects can be demonstrated from surviving evidence?
DIGITAL RECONSTRUCTION
DIGITAL RECONSTRUCTION
A digital model can be developed from measured or historically documented geometry.
A digital model can be developed from measured or historically documented geometry.
The model should identify:
The model should identify:
Known geometry
Inferred geometry
Assumed geometry
Unknown conditions
Known geometry
Inferred geometry
Assumed geometry
Unknown conditions
Alternative reconstructions should be considered where uncertainty could materially affect the environmental result.
Alternative reconstructions should be considered where uncertainty could materially affect the environmental result.
THE EXPECTED OUTCOME
THE EXPECTED OUTCOME
The investigation is not designed to prove that every impluvium courtyard produced a fixed temperature reduction.
The investigation is not designed to prove that every impluvium courtyard produced a fixed temperature reduction.
Instead, it seeks to determine:
Instead, it seeks to determine:
Which environmental effects are measurable,
Which environmental effects are measurable,
under what conditions they occur,
under what conditions they occur,
what architectural variables influence them,
what architectural variables influence them,
and how confidently those effects can be attributed to the courtyard configuration.
and how confidently those effects can be attributed to the courtyard configuration.
Any numerical cooling range reported by A|WA will be published together with its measurement or modeling conditions.
Any numerical cooling range reported by A|WA will be published together with its measurement or modeling conditions.
APPLICATION
APPLICATION
Where findings are sufficiently supported, the research may inform contemporary studies of:
Where findings are sufficiently supported, the research may inform contemporary studies of:
Passive ventilation
Courtyard housing
Rainwater management
Shaded outdoor space
Off-grid environmental strategies
Passive ventilation
Courtyard housing
Rainwater management
Shaded outdoor space
Off-grid environmental strategies
The objective is translation of demonstrated principles—not direct replication of historical form.
The objective is translation of demonstrated principles—not direct replication of historical form.
NEXT STEP
NEXT STEP
Document surviving examples, establish a comparative measurement protocol, reconstruct selected geometries, and test competing environmental hypotheses.
Document surviving examples, establish a comparative measurement protocol, reconstruct selected geometries, and test competing environmental hypotheses.
CASE FILE STATUS: IN DEVELOPMENT
CASE FILE STATUS: IN DEVELOPMENT
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