Adel, R; Megahed, N; Hassan, A M and Shahda, M (2025) Evolution of the courtyard to the skycourt: A bibliometric analysis of research trends. International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation, 43(2), pp. 257-280. ISSN 2398-4708
Abstract
Purpose: Passive design strategies contribute to improving indoor comfort conditions and reducing buildings' energy consumption. For several years, courtyards have received wide attention from researchers because of their significant role in reducing energy demand. However, the abundance of multi-story buildings and the courtyards' incompatibility with them, the courtyard is currently limited. Therefore, it is necessary to search for alternatives. This paper aims to bridge the gaps in previous limited studies considering skycourt as a passive alternative on the vertical plane of the facades in contrast to the courtyard. Design/methodology/approach: This research presents an overview and a bibliometric analysis of the evolution of the courtyard to the skycourt via VOSviewer software and the bibliometrix R package. Findings: The research provided various concepts related to skycourt as a promising passive design strategy, which can be suitable for multi-story buildings, starting with its evolution, characteristics, configurations, benefits, and challenges. Practical implications: The findings can urge designers, researchers and policymakers to incorporate such an important passive alternative. Social implications: Researchers, instructors, educational specialists, faculty members, and decision-makers can provide design motivation for skycourt in buildings, in addition to achieving awareness about skycourt and its significant benefits and its role as an important passive design strategy. Originality/value: The research highlights the possibilities of the skycourt and its role as a passive design element as an extension of the courtyard in addition to identifying design indicators that help designers determine the appropriate designs.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | bibliometrics; courtyard; energy consumption; passive design; skycourt |
| Index terms: | instructor, motivation, passive design, bibliometric analysis, strategy, configuration, bibliometrics, methodology, evolution, multistory building, energy demand, package, designer, comfort, energy consumption, courtyard |
| Subjects: | management, occupational health and safety management, research evaluation and metrics, systems engineering, profession, sustainability and energy, energy systems, research methods, architectural elements, construction type, practitioner, psychology, contractual arrangements, environmental science |
| Topics: | Procurement, Sustainability, Engineering Principles, Health and Safety, Construction Technology, Roles and Professions, Research Practice, Information Management, Business Strategy, Human Resources, Design Practice |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here