1. Introduction

Courtyard architecture and biophilic design have attracted increasing attention within sustainable architecture because of their potential to improve environmental performance and human well-being simultaneously. Courtyards have historically functioned as passive climatic regulators by enhancing natural ventilation, daylight penetration, shading, and thermal comfort. Meanwhile, biophilic design emphasizes the integration of natural elements and human–nature relationships to promote restorative and psychological benefits. Although both approaches share common objectives, they have generally been investigated independently, resulting in a limited understanding of their combined contribution to sustainability.

2. Courtyards and Biophilic Design

Courtyards represent one of the oldest architectural typologies used across different climatic regions. Beyond their environmental functions, they provide opportunities for social interaction, visual connection with vegetation, and cultural continuity. Biophilic design, derived from the biophilia hypothesis, seeks to strengthen human connections with natural systems through direct and indirect experiences of nature. Recent studies have demonstrated positive effects of biophilic environments on stress reduction, cognitive performance, and occupant satisfaction.

3. Need for an Integrated Assessment Framework

Despite the growing literature on both courtyard performance and biophilic design, existing assessment approaches primarily focus on isolated dimensions such as energy efficiency, thermal comfort, or psychological well-being. Few frameworks systematically evaluate the multidimensional relationships between environmental performance, human experience, and architectural quality. This fragmentation limits evidence-based design and comparative evaluation of alternative courtyard solutions.

4. MIVES Methodology

The Integrated Value Model for Sustainability Assessment (MIVES) is a multi-criteria decision-making methodology based on Multi-Attribute Value Theory. It organizes complex problems through a hierarchical structure consisting of requirements, criteria, and indicators. The methodology incorporates weighting procedures and value functions to transform heterogeneous variables into normalized scores, allowing multiple dimensions of sustainability to be aggregated into a single index.

5. Proposed Framework

The proposed framework consists of four requirements: Environmental Integration, Biophilic Quality, Human Well-Being, and Functional Resilience. These requirements are subdivided into seven criteria and sixteen indicators derived from the literature. Environmental indicators address thermal comfort, daylight availability, ventilation, vegetation coverage, biodiversity, and water management. Biophilic indicators evaluate nature presence and sensory experiences, while human-centered indicators capture restorative quality, stress reduction, and place attachment. Functional indicators assess spatial connectivity and multifunctionality.

Different value functions, including linear, concave, convex, and S-shaped functions, are employed to represent threshold effects and diminishing returns. Weighted aggregation produces an Integration Sustainability Index that enables systematic comparison among design alternatives.

6. Potential Applications

The framework can support architects, planners, and researchers in evaluating courtyard-based buildings across different climatic and cultural contexts. It may be applied during early design stages, post-occupancy evaluations, and comparative studies of residential, educational, healthcare, and public buildings. Future studies may incorporate simulation tools, user surveys, and expert-based weighting techniques to validate the framework empirically.

7. Conclusions

The integration of courtyard architecture and biophilic design represents a promising direction for human-centered sustainable architecture. The proposed MIVES-based framework provides a structured approach for assessing environmental, experiential, and functional dimensions within a unified model. By extending conventional sustainability assessment toward restorative and nature-based qualities, the framework offers a foundation for future empirical research and evidence-based architectural decision-making.

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