Influence of Architectural Detail Geometry on the Thermal Performance of Historic Masonry Walls: A Case Study

The energy-efficient renovation of historic buildings requires solutions that improve thermal performance while preserving their architectural character. This study investigates the influence of architectural detail geometry on the thermal performance of historic masonry walls using a case study of the historic psychiatric hospital complex in Rybnik, Poland. Four characteristic architectural details, including cornices, brick projections, a semicircular arch, and a reinforced-concrete cornice, were analysed. For each detail, four construction variants were considered, taking into account different wall thicknesses and the presence or absence of an air cavity, resulting in sixteen two-dimensional numerical models. Thermal analyses were performed using the THERM 7.6 software based on the finite element method. The temperature distribution and selected thermal parameters were used to assess the effect of detail geometry on local thermal conditions. The results indicate that architectural details can significantly modify the local temperature field and surface temperature, while their influence on global thermal parameters may be less pronounced. The analysed cases demonstrate that the actual geometry of preserved architectural details should be considered in the thermal assessment of historic masonry walls, particularly when planning energy-efficiency improvements that require the preservation of existing façades.