The application of sustainable concepts of courtyard in the architectural design of urban primary schools

Sustainability in urban primary school architecture remains a complex challenge, with existing research having largely focused on materials energy efficiencies, and structures, while neglecting spatial theory. This paper, rooted in Peng Yigang's Architectural Space Combination Theory , defines “spatial sustainability” as three dimensions: Sustainability of capacity, Sustainability of form, and Sustainability of quality within the enclosed space. By analyzing the Sino-German collaborative “New City Four Primary Schools” project as a case study, the research examines the design principles and concepts to explore how the courtyard concept achieves spatial sustainability. Adopting a method of case-based analysis integrated with the “Architectural Space Combination Theory”, this study defines the unique sustainable features of the courtyard concept and proposes a new integrated framework for its sustainable spatial design. This framework aims to integrate the courtyard concept's sustainable learning space philosophy into urban primary school architecture, offering a clearer understanding of spatial sustainability and practical guidance for educational building design.