Ecological wisdom of settlement heritage from the perspective of climate adaptability: a case study

As urbanization advances and environmental challenges like global warming become more pronounced, the traditional wisdom in constructing rural settlement spaces has garnered increasing attention. This study focuses on the dispersed branches of the Tujia ethnic group in northeastern Sichuan Province, China. It comprehensively analyzes the spatial characteristics of their settlements and their adaptive relationship with the environment, comparing these features to those in the core distribution area of the Tujia people. Through field investigations, spatial mapping, and microclimate measurements, the study accurately identifies the adaptation strategies of traditional settlements to harsh climatic conditions. Consequently, it summarizes spatial patterns that can be applied to similar climate environments. Research findings indicate that: (1) Traditional settlements of the Tujia ethnic group in northeastern Sichuan exhibit strong adaptability to the region’s unique climate characterized by hot summers; (2) Numerous ventilation corridors are observed within architectural courtyards, and the resulting spatial configurations are associated with variations in wind circulation and indoor thermal-humidity conditions; (3) The indoor microclimate has been significantly improved. Both wooden board walls and brick-stone walls effectively mitigate the harsh climatic conditions, with brick-stone walls demonstrating superior performance compared to wooden board walls.