Regional adaptive and eco sustainable revitalization of Hui ethnic village: traditional dewelling design practices in Western China

Abstract With the advancement of China’s rural revitalization strategy, the sustainable renovation of traditional ethnic minority architecture has gained increasing significance. The central focus of this study is to preserve the aesthetic and cultural heritage of traditional buildings while leveraging locally sourced materials and employing passive sustainable renovation methods, offering an effective approach for sustainable development. This research investigates Hui residential architecture in the ancient city of Songpan, located in Aba Prefecture, Sichuan Province, China. Currently, Hui villages feature two primary types of housing: historically preserved residences and self-built homes constructed by local residents. These self-built structures exhibit varied forms and random orientations, often leading to inadequate indoor thermal comfort. The primary aim of this study is to develop a comprehensive improvement strategy by analyzing the residents’ living habits, local climatic conditions, and the thermal comfort of both traditional and existing residential buildings through green technology. By integrating local construction techniques and craftsmanship, the study evaluates the influence of natural ventilation, building orientation, window and door openings, and construction materials on indoor thermal performance, as well as addressing thermal unevenness within the interior. A holistic retrofit strategy was proposed for Hui residential buildings, which includes an optimal westward orientation, appropriate window dimensions of 900 × 1200 mm, and the use of oak, maple (aligned with the wood grain), or concrete as enclosure materials. Additionally, it was recommended that residential activity areas be situated in the southwest portion of the building. The results demonstrated that this approach led to a 6.4% improvement in indoor thermal comfort compared to the baseline conditions. This study provides a comprehensive framework for the sustainable retrofitting of residential buildings in Hui ethnic villages in Songpan, offering valuable insights for the conservation and sustainable revitalization of traditional ethnic architecture.